GUILTY CONSCIENCE

« Guilty conscience » from the « Slim Shady LP » is a great example of the ingenious work Dr Dre and Eminem can make together. The song was supposed to be called « Night and Day ». Eminem was supposed to say the exact opposite of what Dre said.
About his collaboration with Dr Dre on the Slim Shady LP, Eminem hoped it would « help break down the fuckin’ barriers of stereotypes. » Of course, the stereotypes that were meant were racial stereotypes. Unfortunately some of them are still alive.

During the whole song, we are brought into three different real situations that could have happened anywhere in America. Dr Dre, plays the role of a good angel, Eminem being the bad angel. They both oppose their points of view and Slim Shady is driving Dr Dre mad. In the end, Dre agrees with Eminem.
But let’s have a deeper look at the song.
We are introduced to three different characters : Eddie, Stan and Grady. Eminem pushes them to their worst side while Dr Dre is trying to reason them. Dr Dre’s voice is like the voice of each man’s conscience. Dr Dre shows his good side until Eminem points out his former mistake. It is a known fact that Dr Dre was charged for slapping TV host Dee Barnes.

(read January and February 1991 topics)

When Eminem was working with Dr Dre, he didn’t exactly know how his producer would react if he said :
“You gonna take advice from somebody who slapped DEE BARNES??!”

But he dared trying and Dr Dre just started laughing and remained cool.
The video is made like a comedy. You have the impression to be at the theatre and the piece you’re watching plays in three major acts. A speaker explains the context at the beginning of each story.
Eddie wants to rob a liquor store and Dr Dre and Eminem’s statements try to influence Eddie.
In the second part,Stan, a young man is trying to take advantage of an underage girl. While Eminem is encouraging him to go to the end, Dr Dre’s discourse remains dissuasive. But at the third act, when Dre’s former mistake is discovered, both men (or should I say both angels, good and evil) encourage Grady to murder his wife who is caught cheating on him).
Bad triumps from good this time.
Much more than a comedy, “Guilty Conscience” pictures a realistic and pessimistic image of the contemporary American society.
Eminem said that this track reflects his vision of America. Not only the positive side of a wealthy country needs to be described but also the dramatic and evil side which brings us back to the harsh reality. America is also the land of the gangsters and killers. Rapes also belong to the tough reality.
Some people prefer to be blind to that kind of reality and do as if they lived in a perfect world and if they were surrounded by perfect people. The myth of Candid needs to be destroyed. Facts and realities needs to be exposed in their uglyness. That’s what Eminem is trying to tell you.

A few months ago, a 70 years old lady, Harlene Stein, filed a lawsuit against Dr Dre and Eminem because of the melody of « Guilty conscience » pretending it has been stolen to her husband from « Pigs Go Home », a melody that had been written for the film « Getting Straight », although the melody has never been credited to her husband :

Appearently, Eminem’s fortune still causes a lot of envy and 10 million dollars are a reasonable amount to live a comfortable life in America…Guilty

Conscience – Eminem
{sound of static}

[Announcer]
Meet Eddie, twenty-three years old.
Fed up with life and the way things are going,
He decides to rob a liquor store.
(“I can’t take this no more, I can’t take it no more homes”)
But on his way in, he has a sudden change of heart.
And suddenly, his conscience comes into play…
(“Shit is mine, I gotta do this.. gotta do this”)

[Dr. Dre]
Alright, stop! (Huh?)
Now before you walk in the door of this liquor store
And try to get money out the drawer
You better think of the consequence (But who are you?)
I’m your motherfuckin conscience

[Eminem]
That’s nonsense!
Go in and gaffle the money and run to one of your aunt’s cribs
And borrow a damn dress, and one of her blonde wigs
Tell her you need a place to stay
You’ll be safe for days if you shave your legs with an aged razor blade

[Dr. Dre]
Yeah but if it all goes through like it’s supposed to
The whole neighborhood knows you and they’ll expose you
Think about it before you walk in the door first
Look at the store clerk, she’s older than George Burns

[Eminem]
Fuck that! Do that shit! Shoot that bitch!
Can you afford to blow this shit? Are you that rich?
Why you give a fuck if she dies? Are you that bitch?
Do you really think she gives a fuck if you have kids?

[Dr. Dre]
Man, don’t do it, it’s not worth it to risk it! (You’re right!)
Not over this shit (Stop!) Drop the biscuit (I will!)
Don’t even listen to Slim yo, he’s bad for you
(You know what Dre? I don’t like your attitude..)

{sound of static}

(“It’s alright c’mon, just come in here for a minute”)
(“Mmm, I don’t know!”)
(“Look baby..”)
(“Damn!”)
(“Yo, it’s gonna be alright, right?”)
(“Well OK..”)

[Announcer]
Meet Stan, twenty-one years old. (“Give me a kiss!”)
After meeting a young girl at a rave party,
Things start getting hot and heavy in an upstairs bedroom.
Once again, his conscience comes into play… (“Shit!”)

[Eminem]
Now listen to me, while you’re kissin her cheek
and smearin her lipstick, I slipped this in her drink
Now all you gotta do is nibble on this little bitch’s earlobe..
(Yo! This girl’s only fifteen years old
You shouldn’t take advantage of her, that’s not fair)
Yo, look at her bush.. does it got hair? (Uh huh!)
Fuck this bitch right here on the spot bare
Til she passes out and she forgot how she got there
(Man, ain’t you ever seen that one movie _Kids_?)
No, but I seen the porno with SunDoobiest!
(Shit, you wanna get hauled off to jail?)
Man fuck that, hit that shit raw dawg and bail..

{sound of static}
{pickup idling, radio playing}

[Announcer]
Meet Grady, a twenty-nine year old construction worker.
After coming home from a hard day’s work,
He walks in the door of his trailer park home
To find his wife in bed with another man.
(“What the fuck?!?!”)
(“Grady!!”)

[Dr. Dre]
Alright calm down, relax, start breathin..

[Eminem]
Fuck that shit, you just caught this bitch cheatin
While you at work she’s with some dude tryin to get off?!
FUCK slittin her throat, CUT THIS BITCH’S HEAD OFF!!!

[Dr. Dre]
Wait! What if there’s an explanation for this shit?
(What? She tripped? Fell? Landed on his dick?!)
Alright Shady, maybe he’s right Grady
But think about the baby before you get all crazy

[Eminem]
Okay! Thought about it, still wanna stab her?
Grab her by the throat, get your daughter and kidnap her?
That’s what I did, be smart, don’t be a retard
You gonna take advice from somebody who slapped DEE BARNES??!

[Dr. Dre]
What’chu say? (What’s wrong? Didn’t think I’d remember?)
I’ma kill you motherfucker!

[Eminem]
Uhhh-aahh! Temper temper!
Mr. Dre? Mr. N.W.A.?
Mr. AK comin’ straight outta Compton y’all better make way?
How in the fuck you gonna tell this man not to be violent?

[Dr. Dre]
Cause he don’t need to go the same route that I went
Been there, done that.. aw fuck it…
What am I sayin? Shoot em both Grady, where’s your gun at?

{gun fires, is cocked, and re-fired}