Before The Throne {The Prequel to Kingdom} {An Eminem Story}

Chapter Eight.

Tuesday

2:00 p.m.

Los Angeles, California

Marshall sat in the booth of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles with D12 and his daughter Hailie Jade, enjoying their food as the reporter for Vibe magazine sat across from them with her notepad and pen. He didn't mind doing interviews as long as the reporters didn't try to pry too hard into his personal business. He rarely trusted any of them, but he admitted that there were a very select few that he actually liked.

He cut into the waffle, feeding Hailie a small piece as she sat on his lap before taking the bigger piece for himself.

"So Em, you're an incredible rapper and lyricist. But some people, parents especially, feel that your lyrics are too graphic and violent and influence younger people in the worst way possible. Yet the younger people love and adore you. How do you feel about that?" She asked him.

"I don't care, to be honest wit' you. I'm just doin' me and that's all I can do. I love my fans and I never thought I'd get as big as I am to where I'd be influencing a whole generation and then some, ya know? I got into the game because I love rap and hip-hop and also because I wanted my daughter to have a better life and not struggle like me and her mom did. The violent stuff I talk about in my music ain't really what I'm about. It's just how I can express my anger on stuff. I never thought I could do more damage wit' a pen, paper and a mic than I could actually doin' it." He chuckled softly.

"So the whole raping, killing, shooting and everything you say that you'd do to women is not something you'd actually just go out and do?"

"Hell nah. Contrary to what my music says, I love the ladies. They just piss me off wit' some things they do or say. Much like anybody else. It ain't nothin' against them personally." He nodded his head, taking a bite of his chicken.

"So how are you and Slim Shady parallel to one another?"

"Obviously...." Marshall covered Hailie's ears, "We both some moody ass, angry ass motherfuckers."

That response caused everyone at the table to share a laugh.

"But Slim is more out there wit' it than myself personally. But everybody loves Slim more than just me as Marshall and I rolled wit' it. Can't get too mad about it. We both winnin' at the end of the day." He laughed.

"You're right about that. I see you have little Hailie with you and she is such a cutie pie."

"Thank you. This is daddy's baby girl right here. Ain't that right, Hails?" Marshall smiled at the young child and kissed the side of her temple. "I adore and love this little girl. Anything I do, I do for her. That's it."

"Now I know that you and your ex-wife Kim were married for a couple of years and you're no longer together now. What's in store for Slim Shady now that he's back on the market?" She wondered.

"Enjoyin' all the cooch that gets thrown at me!" Marshall laughed jokingly, "Nah, I'm playin'. Honestly, I don't know what's in store for me when it comes to women. I'm just doin' me and enjoyin' life. If Mariah calls me, then maybe. But Cupid can take a break for now."

The reporter chuckled, "Well, you have been hanging out with R&B singer Lexi Parsons, right? She celebrated your birthday with you?"

"Yeah, she came out wit' me and my boys here to celebrate my birthday. I ain't big on presents, but she ignored everything I said and got me a lil somethin'." He shook his head, chuckling to himself and took another bite of his waffle.