Detroit, 2025.
A single piece of torn notebook paper was found tucked behind a rusted speaker in Eminem’s old studio — the iconic, now-abandoned basement where The Marshall Mathers LP was born. The note was never meant to be found. But what it contained shocked even the people closest to him.

Eminem, ông hoàng nhạc rap

It wasn’t a song. It wasn’t a rap. It was a goodbye.

Written in Eminem’s unmistakable handwriting and dated late 2007 — the same year he famously disappeared from the spotlight — the note began:

“If this is the end, let them know I tried. I’m tired of being the villain in everyone’s story — even my own.”

The letter went on to confess his growing detachment from music, fame, and life itself. He described long nights drowning in pills, haunted by his past, afraid to face his daughter, and convinced that he had become everything he swore he’d never be.

“I built a kingdom out of pain and called it success.”

And then, at the bottom of the page — a line that sent chills down the spine of anyone who read it:

“By the time you read this, I might be gone. But maybe that’s what Slim deserves.”

Eminem: The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) review – guess who's back, with less bite than ever | Eminem | The Guardian

What Saved Him?

Around that same time, Dr. Dre reportedly flew to Detroit unannounced. Sources close to the label said Dre hadn’t heard from Em in weeks and feared the worst. When Dre found Eminem, he wasn’t writing music — he was just staring at the walls. Silent. Empty.

That night, Dre didn’t talk about beats. He didn’t talk about albums. He just said one thing:

“You’ve got one life. Either spit it — or waste it.”

It was the turning point that led to Relapse, and later Recovery. But no one — not even fans — ever knew how close Eminem came to quitting everything.

Why Is This Coming Out Now?

A producer working on a new Eminem documentary accidentally found the letter while digging through old equipment in the basement. The letter is now confirmed authentic by Eminem’s camp — but Em himself has refused to comment.

When asked if he ever planned to release it, he reportedly said:

“That wasn’t a verse. That was a scream. And it damn near killed me.”

Legacy or Cry for Help?

What this means for Eminem’s legacy is up for debate. Some say it proves he’s always been raw and real — others say it shows just how fragile the crown can be, even for a rap god.

But one thing’s clear:

The world almost lost Eminem before it ever truly understood him.