By CHRIS TALBOTT
In this April 15, 2012 file photo Eminem performs at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Eminem gave his estranged mom quite the Mother’s Day gift, releasing a music video for an apologetic song that depicts her struggles raising the rebellious rapper. The Detroit rapper released the video for “Headlights” featuring fun.’s Nate Ruess on Sunday, May 11, 2014. The song, released on Eminem’s 2013 album “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” is an extended apology to his mother Debbie for the difficulties he caused her over the years. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Eminem gave his estranged mom quite the Mother’s Day gift, releasing a music video for an apologetic song that depicts her struggles raising the rebellious rapper.
The Detroit rapper released the video for “Headlights” featuring fun.’s Nate Ruess on Sunday. The song, released on Eminem’s 2013 album “The Marshall Mathers LP 2,” is an extended apology to his mother Debbie for the difficulties he caused her over the years.
Eminem has had a very public feud with his mother since early in his career, disparaging her in song and blaming her for a tough childhood. The reflective “Headlights” signals a different direction for the rapper, at least in song, as he apologizes for the trouble he caused and for the shots he took in his lyrics.
A publicist for Eminem said there was no comment from the rapper Monday.
The video is shot by filmmaker Spike Lee from the mother’s perspective with a hand-held point-of-view camera capturing some of the more difficult episodes from their life together, including the destruction of a Christmas tree, moving Eminem out of the house and repeated spurned attempts to visit her adult son at his mansion. At one point in the video Eminem sees his mother at the gate of his estate. He hugs the actress who plays his mom, but the two drive off in opposite directions a short time later.
The two exchange letters in the video as well. One of the last shots focuses on the final line in the rapper’s letter to his mother: “I hope you get this message that I will always love you from afar! ‘Cause you’re my Ma!”
