Amadeo wrote:Eminem seems to be in full-blown Abstract Mode with his videos.
I think the point of the video (reinforced by the final scene) is that Eminem is still trying to be as dope as he used to be (hence his old self handing him lyrics from his prime), but is trying to stay away from everything that ruined his old self and eventually drove him mad.
Basically, it's a visual affirmation of his latest mantra, "I just rap." He doesn't want any of the other bullshit that comes with it...just wants to rap.
If you want to look even further into it (probably further than Eminem looked into it), Eminem's saying he's not as cool as he used to be but he's happier and his life is more stable now.
Yeah, he is reflecting on all the bad topics hes touched during his climb of fame
(Violence, addiction, family issues etc) and seeing big headline events that propelled him even further (8mile, elton john collab, the way I am, hi my name is etc) and then ending it with what he became because of it (a insane drugaddict so mental hes being kept in a box surrounded by pill bottles)
Shady is the part of him still stuck in that problematic era, the one that feeds him with insane lyrics. So he carefully keeps that part of him locked away and visits it form time to time to stack ammo.
Its so funny when people actually believe Marshall has two personalities. Everybody has a sick side of them that we keep away from the publec. Marshall just named his Slim Shady and used it to gain fame, but then lost touch of reality somewhere down the road.