Verse 1 — Eminem

Check the bio, born in New York, but the fire was lit in Baltimore,

Then the move to Cali, where the snakes lie on the marble floor.

Started digital underground, then the truth got raw,

"Brenda's Got a Baby", "Keep Ya Head Up", fuck the law.

He was prophetic, man, he saw the Illuminati in the mix,

While the radio was playin' MC Hammer's baggy tricks.

Got shot five times, jumped up, did the session for the picture,

"Makaveli" on the contract, Death Row's new conductor.

I was sittin' in Detroit, just a broke white trash kid,

Bumpin' "Me Against the World", thinkin' "This is what I did..."

In my head. The paranoia, the rage, the pain in the verse,

He was teachin' me to breathe before I even left the hearse

Of my own mind. Two vials of truth, one mic, one chance,

He was dancin' with the devil at the very first dance.

Verse 2 — Eminem (as the narrator)

September 'ninety-six. The Mike Tyson fight in Vegas,