Another deeply personal rap written by Eminem’s Mockingbird is certainly one of his more “grown-up” releases. After the in-your-face antics of the Slim Shady LP and the rage-fueled tracks of the Marshall Mathers LP, Mockingbird is the sign of a rapper finally becoming a man.
The track begins with Em addressing his daughter Hailey and her cousin Lainie, who are obviously worried about Eminem and his wife, Kim’s turbulent relationship. He acknowledges his feelings “I can see you’re sad, even when you smile…deep down you want to cry” and tries to explain how things came to be this way “Daddy’s on the go, Mommy’s on the news” . it won’t change anything.
For Eminem, Mockingbird is a way of speaking to a child on his own terms; the song lacks the profanity found on so many other Eminem tracks (for example, “Kim” or “97 Bonnie and Clyde” in which he murders his wife).
Marshall Mathers also credits Kim for her role when they were new parents. He is not embarrassed by the fact that she was too poor to afford the gifts, and that Kim actually bought some for Hailey, telling her that it was Eminem who paid for them. It takes a lot of guts to admit something like that, and it’s another telltale feature that Em is growing up.
Encore as a whole cannot be compared to his previous releases, however for Eminem, Mockingbird is a throwback, in terms of quality, to tracks like “Stan”. It shows a lyricist that he is capable of digging below the surface and finding the emotions that most people refuse to admit. The fact that he admits these emotions to millions of people on a platinum album makes the emotional intensity that much more impressive.
Despite the problems brought on by Marshall and Kim’s relationship “Dad was a rolling stone, Mom developed a habit”, Eminem’s love for his daughter and niece remains strong, even as his world came crashing down around him. . The song concludes with Em realizing that both of her daughters are growing up fast, and for someone who has lived life in the fast lane, he can appreciate what’s in store for both of them.
For long term fans of Eminem Mockingbird it may be one of the best Encore tracks. For new fans, it serves as an introduction to one of hip hop’s most legendary rappers at the height of his career, even if the album as a whole lacks the sheen of previous releases.