From Publishers Weekly
The demand for all things Eminem is big, and rock journalist Bozza aims to fill in the gaps with some personal notes of his own. Culling from his own past interviews with the often-reviled rapper, Bozza's portrait begins four years ago, when he first met and interviewed 27-year-old Marshall Mathers III. He stumbled upon a young man growing into his fame and struggling with the demons of his past life. Eminem's music-propelled by Dr. Dre's beats and Mathers's own controversial lyrics-gave rise to a new era. But it was before this big break, before the awards, movie offers and protests, that Bozza met and connected with Eminem. The two would become irrevocably linked-Bozza gained prominence after writing a remarkable in-depth piece on Em for Rolling Stone, which took the cover and helped catapult the artist to superstardom. It is Bozza's relationship with Eminem that lends credibility to this bio, as well as his ability to fold personal reminiscence into longer analytical sections on Eminem's life, the Detroit rap scene and pop culture. Bozza's unprecedented access to Mathers then and now has given rise to one of the only fully honest accounts of the now brilliant star. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The sine qua non of white rappers gets star treatment by Rolling Stone-r Bozza. Eminem's "sense of timing and image management are nothing short of exceptional," you see, and he "lives in the world he dreamed of . . . when he birthed [musical alter ego] Slim Shady," which is supposed to be a compliment to Eminem's grasp on reality. Still, this is a serious enough book, crammed with facts and the musings of its subject. Yes, it is legend-making stuff, urgently delivered and pretty constantly giving the subject more than his "props" as Bozza dotes on the oh-so-awesome importance of the Great White Rapper's every act. But as the rap analog of Elvis (the white guy who sounds black), Eminem commands a huge audience, and as they did with the King, informed observers (the critics) debate his musical value and import. Oh, what the heck, get the book, display it, and reel in some of the highly prized YA breeder-male demographic. Hey, it's only rock and roll (and they like it). Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
“While most scribes, with eyes closed, have long been pushing pens in hot pursuit of international rap phenom Eminem, Anthony Bozza has wisely devoted his time to exploring the trials and tribulations of Detroit native Marshall Mathers III. And he who understands Mathers understands the fabric of American society—beautiful stitches, stains, rips, and all.”—Sacha Jenkins, former Vibe magazine music editor, writer at large for Spin magazine, and coauthor of Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism! and Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists

“Anthony Bozza was granted an access to Eminem that no journalist is likely to see again soon—and so Whatever You Say I Am offers the most intimate glimpses yet of the most towering, complicated figure of our culture.”
—Alan Light, former editor in chief of Vibe and Spin magazines, and editor of The Vibe History of Hip-Hop.


From the Hardcover edition.


Review
?While most scribes, with eyes closed, have long been pushing pens in hot pursuit of international rap phenom Eminem, Anthony Bozza has wisely devoted his time to exploring the trials and tribulations of Detroit native Marshall Mathers III. And he who understands Mathers understands the fabric of American society?beautiful stitches, stains, rips, and all.??Sacha Jenkins, former Vibe magazine music editor, writer at large for Spin magazine, and coauthor of Ego Trip?s Big Book of Racism! and Ego Trip?s Book of Rap Lists

?Anthony Bozza was granted an access to Eminem that no journalist is likely to see again soon?and so Whatever You Say I Am offers the most intimate glimpses yet of the most towering, complicated figure of our culture.?
?Alan Light, former editor in chief of Vibe and Spin magazines, and editor of The Vibe History of Hip-Hop.


From the Hardcover edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Here is the definitive profile of Eminem, by the only journalist ever granted full access to the Eminem camp. Whatever You Say I Am shines a spotlight on one of the most successful yet enigmatic performers of our time, the man behind the multimillion-selling records, the outrageous lyrics, the public battles with his wife and mother, the Grammys and the Oscar, and the blistering rhymes that appeal to fans of many ages and many different backgrounds. Whatever You Say I Am is not a simple biography of a rap artist. Anthony Bozza has created a thought-provoking look at American culture and the impact that the first white rap superstar has made on a public that in quick turn reviled and celebrated him. Using the insights of other well-known hip-hop performers such as Dr. Dre and Andre 3000 and Snoop Dogg-members of Eminem's entourage, sociologists, critics, and the man himself, Whatever You Say I Am shows why Eminem matters, and how his career will evolve and his significance will grow in the years to come.

FROM THE CRITICS

USA Today

Bozza's personal insights alone would have given the book credibility, but he digs deeper to put Eminem in the context of hip-hop and his impact on American popular culture. Bozza deftly weaves intimate details about the star's past and his burgeoning celebrity with revelations from those closest to him. — Steve Jones

The New York Times

Although Whatever You Say I Am sometimes bogs down in the minutiae of hip-hop rivalries and cites endless critical yammering about the star's importance, it will still interest anyone seriously impressed with Eminem's abilities and his prospects.Dismissing reflexive invocations of Bob Dylan and the Beatles as fellow musicians who helped shape the lives of their listeners, Mr. Bozza points instead to the more protean and mercurial David Bowie and post-Beatles-breakup John Lennon as forebears. — Janet Maslin

Publishers Weekly

The demand for all things Eminem is big, and rock journalist Bozza aims to fill in the gaps with some personal notes of his own. Culling from his own past interviews with the often-reviled rapper, Bozza's portrait begins four years ago, when he first met and interviewed 27-year-old Marshall Mathers III. He stumbled upon a young man growing into his fame and struggling with the demons of his past life. Eminem's music-propelled by Dr. Dre's beats and Mathers's own controversial lyrics-gave rise to a new era. But it was before this big break, before the awards, movie offers and protests, that Bozza met and connected with Eminem. The two would become irrevocably linked-Bozza gained prominence after writing a remarkable in-depth piece on Em for Rolling Stone, which took the cover and helped catapult the artist to superstardom. It is Bozza's relationship with Eminem that lends credibility to this bio, as well as his ability to fold personal reminiscence into longer analytical sections on Eminem's life, the Detroit rap scene and pop culture. Bozza's unprecedented access to Mathers then and now has given rise to one of the only fully honest accounts of the now brilliant star. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Bozza, a freelance journalist who introduced Eminem to the world with a 1999 cover story in Rolling Stone, offers the first bona fide biography of the bad-boy rapper. He first charts his subject's rags-to-riches rise to superstardom in concert, on CD, and in the film 8 Mile, continuing with the press reaction to his outrageous public persona and a sketchy history of hip-hop. In the strongest sections, Bozza links the melding of black and white cultures so evident throughout rock history to the intricate confluence of race in Eminem (n Marshall Mathers), who created white yet authentic rap in his class-divided and racially tense birthplace of Detroit. The author ends with an examination of Eminem's homophobia and misogyny, the latter exemplified in part by his strained relationships with his mother and ex-wife. Though the book would have benefited from a few more insights from Eminem rather than quotes from the established rock press (Bozza did not interview the rapper for the purposes of this book, but he did gain an audience with his manager and entourage), it nevertheless provides a provocative look into the world of recent rap and the violent, sensationalist, and many times dysfunctional American culture that serves as its bedrock. Recommended for serious music fans and the scores of people interested in America's new pop icon.-Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews