Meeting Marshall Mathers: The Slim Shady Era

Chapter 105

It wasn't the best start to the morning, I was still racked with guilt from my situation with Karlie. Marshall was already gone and surprise surprise I was alone in my own company which didn't help the thoughts on going home.
The only thing restraining me from booking a flight and packing was Marshall and what he'd say or how he'd react. It was tragic to think that me going home would result in an argument, usually ones partner wouldn't be too bothered, but Em had a side that not many knew, vulnerability. I knew if I was to go he'd work his mind into overload over my level of faithfulness and trust, that going hand in hand with Kim's sentencing and him working over time on all of his music projects, I knew it would be a harsh mix that would most definitely end up in disaster.
I had to think hard. There was the obvious fact of just asking Marshall to come with me, but that was impossible with him working so hard, his famous status and of course his daughters. Plus I didn't want him to start back on the Ambien, he'd never actually told me that I helped him sleep better but I knew that I did because when our relationship was in the early stages he was up and down, whereas now he'd be in bed at the same time as me and we was both in our own little routine. If there was one thing I'd learnt about Marshall it was that he had an addictive behaviour, addict traits and once he got used to something say for example his fitness regime he'd stick at it like religion.
After a long deliberation and lunch I was driving up to the studio to meet Marshall and discuss me going back to England after Christmas was over, yet he didn't know what I was coming for.

I'd arrived at the studio waiting around in the seating area, someone came in blowing gum and then he noticed me,

"Jodie right?" He asked,

"Yeah um.."

"I'm Mark Batson, I'm one of the producers on the new album, he's just working on some drum patterns, how are you?"

"Oh no problem I'll.."

"Would you like a drink or anything?"

"No, I'm okay thanks. How's he to work with?" I smiled,

"Who Em? Brilliant, he's hilarious when he wants to be but uh, ever the strict professional when things get on a roll"

"I can imagine. I don't get to see him work all to often"

"No? It's certainly a good thing witness"

"What do you enjoy most?"

"Working with him? Hmm.. I guess just creating and coming up with ideas and kind of getting to know him. It's kind of rare to be in a room with a guy like that. Just meeting him as a person was probably the coolest part"

"I bet it gets difficult working with such a perfectionist though right?" I smiled,

"Its to be expected. I mean, working with him in the studio is pretty standard, you write songs, you record them, you put down ideas, make beats. He is a lot more serious than most artists I've worked with though. He takes his business and craft and music very seriously. He is very.. detail-oriented, so it could be something like a mix of drums on a record, and he is going to be really crucial about how it sounds, and crucial about instrumentation, his lyrics, his delivery things like that"

"Sorry for asking, I'm just interested"

"It's fine, I don't mind" he kind of chuckled,

"There's a few of you producing this so I'm told?"

"Thats right me, Dre, Em of course, uh Luis Resto and Mike Elizondo. Not taking anything away from Dre because he's a genius, but between me and you I think this is a way for Em to grow and learn more from different people. I'm always learning, no matter who I work with I learn different things, and I think the same thing goes for Eminem. If you're working with new producers, you're seeing different angles, and different sounds being used, different motivation and things like that."