Posted on: Saturday, May 25, 2002

Latest release pits Eminem against world

By Edna Gundersen
USA Today

EMINEM

"Everyone just follow me, 'cause we need a little controversy," Eminem instructs listeners on "Without Me," the explosive opening volley from his upcoming third album, "The Eminem Show."

Rap's pied piper, leading another charge against tedium and civility, again has summoned an abundance of followers and controversy. The song denounces Limp Bizkit, 'N Sync, techno guru Moby, Elvis fans, the FCC, his mother and Lynne Cheney. (The wife of veep Dick also is skewered in the song "White America.") Pouring gasoline on the fire, Eminem portrays a dancing Osama bin Laden in the video version.

Listeners can't get enough. "Without Me" jumps to No. 3 this week on "Airplay Monitor's" rhythmic top 40 chart, after earlier achieving that list's biggest leap ever. The song is No. 11 at mainstream top 40, Eminem's highest placing ever, two weeks after setting the year's record for highest debut. On the rap chart, it climbs to No. 5.

Piracy has prompted the label to hasten "Show's" release to Tuesday, and to bundle a bonus DVD with the first 2 million copies. Despite these leaks, "The Eminem Show" is expected to sell upward of 1 million copies its first week; an estimated 2 million copies have been shipped.