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It’s rare that I learn anything new about artists….ok, scratch that. It’s rare that I want to learn anything new about artists. But with experience (and even more so, with struggle) comes context and clarity. Which makes for great interview subjects and interviewers. My friend Noah Callahan-Bever reunited with Eminem for the new issue of Complex, and when you know and grow with folks over the years, you have the freedom to be honest with them, and you get the same honesty back. This is an advantage that doesn’t rely on exclusivity or speed. In the intro, NCB shares fascinating memories of Em’s change from hungry emcee to drug-fogged superstar….and usually those kind of descriptions don’t precede a friendly Q&A, but (even with Em’s manager, Paul Rosenberg, sitting in on the chat) Eminem is incredibly candid with Noah about his pre-sobriety and his post-sobriety life. You have to read the entire feature to learn: why Eminem used to run 17 miles a day, how A&E’s Obsessed snapped him out of that habit (Sidenote: I was just saying how Intervention and Hoarders makes me phobic about drugs and clutter), Eminem’s acceptance of denim, and his resistance to the internet. (Is that possible? LOL!)
Here’s a few more choice quotes….

Eminem:…We were at a video set a couple months ago and I’m bumping [Lil Wayne's Carter 3] in the trailer and I’m like, “Yo, Wayne is dope!” And Paul is like, “Really? You’re just now figuring this out? Where the fuck have you been?” They think it’s funny, but you know, being sober, my eyes have opened up to so much more shit that I was missing, that I should have been hip to.
(Noah Callahan-Bever: Like what?)
Eminem: Like The Wire! I slept on so much shit when I was in my addiction. Man, it was crazy. Now I’ve literally watched all five seasons of The Wire—I think I’m on my fifth time watching them all—and I’m about to sit and watch it all again because it’s the best show ever. It’s literally the best show ever. Oh man, what else did I sleep on? Entourage, I’m watching that now. My eyes were just fucking closed to everything. It was like I woke up.

(NCB: I’m sure sobriety has changed more than just your rapping. Has it changed your friendships?)
Eminem: Yeah, I’ve gone back and rekindled some old friendships—people I knew from back in the day. I feel like I’m closer with everybody now, certainly—probably a lot easier to get along with, too….
(NCB: So you feel better?)
Eminem: [Laughs.] Hell yeah, I feel better. I feel like a human being again. There was one point in time where I felt like…[Sighs.] I don’t know—I felt like plastic.

Continued after the jump….(and, Complex’s cover video)

(NCB: In what way?)
Eminem: I think I looked plastic. My face, fat plastic. [Laughs.] I was eating, but the Vicodin made me hungry because it eats up your stomach lining, so you want to fill your stomach back up, but then it stops you up so you can’t shit, you just—
(NCB: Jesus.)
Eminem: That’s why I was gaining so much weight, I was just so fucking bloated. It’s a trip when people take sobriety for granted. Feeling trapped in my addiction and then getting sober—you appreciate it so much more, because I didn’t know if I would ever know what it’s like to feel normal again, ever.

(NCB: Speaking of which, you’ve always said you don’t use computers or the Internet. Is that really still the case in 2009?)
Eminem: I don’t even know how to turn a computer on and it’s probably better that way. I look at stuff, but as far as actually sitting there and knowing how to work it and knowing what sites to go on….
(NCB: So you’re saying you still buy porn on DVD, then?)
Eminem: Um… (Paul Rosenberg: There’s a lot of free porn on the Internet, I think, is what Noah’s trying to tell you.) Eminem: Oh, is there? Maybe I should go on the Internet.