Not Afraid

Album

Make Yourself Comfortable EP

Label

Shady Records

Genre

Hip hop

Duration

10:00

Composer(s)

Marshall Mathers;Drake Cooper;Luis Resto;Matthew Samuels;Jordan Evans;Matthew Burnett

Entered Chart

May 22, 2010

Peak Date

May 22, 2010

Released

April 27, 2010

Recorded

2009–2010 Studio Effigy Studios (Ferndale, Michigan) Encore Studios (Burbank, California) Boi-1da S

Catalog #

Web/Shady/Aftermath Digital

This reflective cut is the first single from American rapper Eminem's seventh studio album Recovery. Originally Marshall Mathers planned to do a sequel to his 2009 album, Relapse, but the rapper scrapped that idea to go in a different direction. He said on Twitter: "The music on Recovery came out very different from Relapse, and it deserves its own title." In a pre-release interview with Billboard magazine, Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, said that Recovery will be "more accessible to more fans. He [Eminem] had pretty much completed a whole second album worth of material but at some point he took a step back, looked at it and said, 'I think I want to record some more.' But in recording, the album started to sound so different and was going in such a different direction that he decided to keep it going and turn it into a whole new album. The last album was really for the core Eminem fans. I think this record will open that up a bit." "Not Afraid" reflects the more positive mood of the album and finds Eminem rapping on how he has tried to overcome his personal troubles such as his battles with drug addiction. He goes on to admit to some artistic mistakes including dissing his previous album: "Let's be honest/ That last Relapse CD was ehh." Eminem finally declares that he wants to concentrate just on his family and music. Rosenberg commented to Billboard magazine, "It's an uplifting song. It's not a dark song, it's an uplifting song." The single was produced by Toronto beatmaker Boi-1da, whose résumé also includes "Best I Ever Had" for Drake, "4 My Town (Play Ball)" for Birdman and the all star MC gathering including Eminem, "Forever." This was the sixteenth single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to debut at #1. The previous artist to do so was Britney Spears whose hit "3" opened at the top position on the chart dated October 17, 2009. Report this ad The song was Eminem's third chart-topper following "Lose Yourself" in 2002-03 and "Crack a Bottle" in 2009. The song became a sports anthem after receiving repeat play on national network TV during the NBA playoffs. It also aired frequently during HBO's 24/7, whilst showcasing the preparations of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley fight and was featured on the commercial of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers. Recovery was Eminem's sixth #1 album in a row in the UK. In doing so, the Detroit MC became the American act with the most consecutive UK #1 albums, overtaking Bon Jovi's five successive sets between 1988 and 2000. Eminem also became the solo act with the most consecutive UK #1 albums beating Robbie Williams' five long players in a row between 1998 and 2002. Recovery was also Eminem's sixth consecutive #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. In a similar fashion to the UK Eminem became the solo act with the most consecutive US #1 albums beating three artists with five long players in a row: Elton John (1972-74) Paul McCartney (1973-77) DMX (1998-2003) The Detroit MC also became the American act with the most consecutive US #1 albums, overtaking the five consecutive chart-toppers of DMX and Chicago (1972-75). Recovery sold 741,000 copies in its first week, the best weekly sales figure since AC/DC's Black Ice debuted at #1 with 784,000 copies in November 2008. Recovery's seven non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the US album chart were the most for any album since Taylor Swift's Fearless topped the charts for 11 non-consecutive weeks in late 2008/ early 2009. It was also the most for any male artist since Usher's Confessions spent nine weeks on top of the chart summit in 2004. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Recovery was the United States' best-selling album of 2010, with 3.42 million copies sold. This was the second time that Eminem had achieved the top-selling album of the year, as back in 2002 The Eminem Show moved 7.61 million. Recovery was the first album to sell over a million digital copies in the United States. This clocked up over ten million sales and streams, resulting in Eminem becoming the first ever artist to earn a second RIAA Digital Diamond Award. The rapper's "Love The Way You Lie" had previously topped ten million units. Paul Rosenberg wasn't particularly enthused by the song's original version. Eminem recalled to Interview Magazine: "When I played him 'Not Afraid' for the first time, he wasn't too fond of it. Then we had a conversation a few days later, and he was like, 'Do you think it needs a bridge?' And I was like, 'I knew you were going to say that.'"

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
Yeah
To take a stand (to take a stand)
It's been a ride
Everybody (everybody)
I guess I had to go to that place
Come take my hand (come take my hand)
To get to this one
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Now some of you might still be in that place
Whatever weather, cold or warm
If you're tryna get out (just lettin' you know that you're not alone)
Just follow me (holla if you feel like you've been down the same road)
I'll get you there

You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em
But you won't take the sting out these words before I say 'em
'Cause ain't no way I'ma let you stop me from causin' mayhem
When I say I'm a do somethin', I do it
I don't give a damn what you think
I'm doin' this for me, so fuck the world, feed it beans
It's gassed up, if it thinks it's stoppin' me
I'ma be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtedly
And all those who look down on me, I'm tearin' down your balcony
No if, ands or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he
From "Infinite" down to the last "Relapse" album he's still shittin'
Whether he's on salary, paid hourly, until he bows out or he shits his bowels out of him
Whichever comes first, for better or worse
He's married to the game, like a fuck you for Christmas
His gift is a curse, forget the Earth, he's got the urge to pull his dick from the dirt
And fuck the whole universe

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand come (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin' you know that you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road

Okay, quit playin' with the scissors and shit, and cut the crap
I shouldn't have to rhyme these words in the rhythm for you to know it's a wrap
You said you was king
You lied through your teeth, for that, fuck your feelings
Instead of gettin' crowned you're gettin' capped, and to the fans
I'll never let you down again, I'm back
I promise to never go back on that promise
In fact, let's be honest, that last "Relapse" CD was eh
Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground
Relax, I ain't goin' back to that now
All I'm tryna say is get back, click-clack, blaow, 'cause I ain't playin' around
There's a game called circle and I don't know how
I'm way too up to back down
But I think I'm still tryna figure this crap out
Thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn't, this fuckin' black cloud
Still follows me around but it's time to exercise these demons
These muh'fuckers are doin' jumpin' jacks now

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand come (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin' you know that you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road

And I just can't keep living this way
So starting today
I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, I'ma face my demons
I'm manning up, I'ma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now (now)

It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me
Admittedly, I probably did it subliminally for you
So I could come back a brand new me, you helped see me through
And don't realize what you did, ('cause) believe me you
I been through the wringer, but they could do little to the middle finger
I think I got a tear in my eye, I feel like the king of
My world, haters can make like bees with no stingers and drop dead
No more beef lingers, no more drama from now on
I promise to focus solely on handlin' my responsibilities as a father
So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof like my daughters and raise it
You couldn't lift a single shingle on it, 'cause the way I feel
I'm strong enough to go to the club or the corner pub
And lift the whole liquor counter up 'cause I'm raising the bar
I'd shoot for the moon but I'm too busy gazin' at stars, I feel amazing and I'm not

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand come (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin' you know that you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road