Another deeply personal rap written by Eminem’s Mockingbird is without a doubt one of his more “grown-up” releases. After the antics of the Slim Shady LP and the anger-filled tracks of the Marshall Mathers LP, Mockingbird is the sign of a rapper finally turning into a man.
The track begins with Em addressing his daughter Hailey and his cousin Lainie, who are obviously concerned about the troubled relationship between Eminem and his wife, Kim. Acknowledge their feelings “I can see you’re sad, even when you smile … deep down you want to cry” and try to explain how things came to be like this “even though dad is on the move, mom is on the news” nothing will change.
For Eminem, Mockingbird is a way of speaking to a child on his own terms; the song lacks the profanities found in many other Eminem songs (eg “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 ashamed of the fact that he was too poor to pay for 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 such a thing, and it’s another telltale feature that Em is growing up.
Encore as a whole cannot be compared to their 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 beneath the surface and finding the emotions that most people refuse to admit. The fact that you admit 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, “Daddy was a rolling stone, Mommy developed a habit,” Eminem’s love for his daughter and niece remains strong, even as their world collapses around them. . The song concludes with Em realizing that his two daughters are growing up fast, and from someone who has lived life in the fast lane, he can appreciate what awaits them both.
For long-term Eminem fans, Mockingbird may be one of Encore’s best tracks. For new fans, it serves an introduction to one of hip hop’s most legendary rappers at the top of his game, even if the album as a whole lacks the glitz of previous releases.