Role Model (song)

"Role Model"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Slim Shady LP
Released	May 26, 1999
Genre	Comedy hip hop horrorcore
Length	3:25 (album version) 3:22 (radio version)
Label	Aftermath Interscope Web
Songwriter(s)	Marshall Mathers Andre Young Melvin Bradford
Producer(s)	Dr. Dre Mel-Man
Eminem singles chronology
"My Name Is" (1999) "Role Model" (1999) "Guilty Conscience" (1999)
Music video
"Role Model" on YouTube

"Role Model" is a song by American rapper Eminem, that features on his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP. The song also appears on the deluxe edition of his compilation album, Curtain Call: The Hits. Released as a single on May 26, 1999, following "My Name Is", a music video was made, using the heavily censored radio edit. It became a minor hit on the US charts.

Critical reception

David Browne described this: "In Role Model, he gleefully debunks the idea of rappers as heroes (So if I said I never do drugs, that would mean I lie and get f ---ed more than the President does)." RapReviews highlighted following lyrics: "I get a clean shave, bathe, go to a rave/ Die from an overdose and dig myself up out of my grave/ My middle finger won't go down, how do I wave?/ And this is how I'm supposed to teach kids how to behave?"

Music video

The video is a darker comedic offering than "My Name Is", directed by Dr. Dre and Phillip G. Atwell. The opening of the song, where Eminem announces his attempt to drown himself, is left out. In the video, there's a scene where Eminem is transformed into an animated superhero and attacks a chicken character that resembles Foghorn Leghorn from Looney Tunes.

On June 23, 2023, Lyrical Lemonade uploaded Doomsday by Juice WRLD and Cordae which uses the instrumental.

Track listing

Promotional CD single

12" vinyl

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)	11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.