Beats, Boxing and Mayhem

The creative process is agonizing. From the self-doubt to writer’s block and fan expectations, Eminem lays it all bare in the video for the Beyonce-assisted “Walk On Water.” The reception was mostly negative when the audio dropped a few weeks ago, but the visuals, which show Eminem trying to find that creative spark in desolate conditions, aptly conveys the pressure Em goes through with every album. Which persona do I use this time? More accents? Am I too old for “Slim Shady” Eminem? It’s reminiscent of Nas’s “Book of Rhymes” and Em finds his inner confidence in the final classroom setting (“Bitch I wrote Stan!”).

Revival is available now.