Love the way you Lie.

"So maybe I’m a masochist
I try to run but I don’t wanna ever leave
Till the walls are goin’ up in smoke with all our memories..."

Rihanna starts by singing, “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, well, that’s alright because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry, well, that’s alright because I love the way you lie.” From there, Em raps three verses which provide the details of a troubled relationship. There’s arguing, domestic violence, apologies and (eventually) a resolution that those within these types of romantic relationships are probably all too familiar with. Despite the subject matter, Em doesn’t pull any punches (no pun intended, obviously) and does a nice job of driving home the point that domestic violence is a vicious cycle.



The reason it works, though — and the reason I’d say “Love The Way You Lie” is Em’s most important track to date — is that he sends a clear message about domestic violence without making it so blatant that you’re forced to hit the “Next Track” button.

It’s as if Eminem and Rihanna have tricked us into thinking about domestic violence in our society.

There’s no intro or outro with Em addressing the subject matter. There’s no bridge where Rihanna breaks down in tears and sings her heart out. They just let the song speak for itself.

That Em practically made a living off rapping about domestic violence in the past (“KIM,” anyone?) only makes it that much stronger. It gives a lot of those older tracks purpose, almost as if they’ve set Em up to make a statement on domestic violence today without it seeming corny or over-the-top. It’s as if he’s saying,

“Here’s all the twisted thoughts that go through the mind of someone that batters a female—are you sure this is what you want? And are you sure that you’re ready to go through this over…and over…and over again if it is?”

By adding Rihanna — who struggled through domestic violence with her former boyfriend Chris Brown — the song becomes more believable, too. It’s the type of track that will do more than just become a hit on the radio. It’ll give girls (and guys) in troubled relationships something to think about. It’ll get played at schools and shelters and on the radio and generate discussion. It’ll make a difference.

“Love The Way You Lie” may not be Em’s best song of all-time. It not may feature him taking shots at pop stars, raging against the machine or giving the middle finger to the rest of the world. It may not dazzle you with wordplay or make you want to stand in front of the mirror and rap every word. But when it comes to his legacy, it very well may go down as the most socially important track of Eminem’s career. Of course, only time will tell. But for now: I love what “Love The Way You Lie” says about how far Em has come.