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  1. Tracks
  2. Eminem
  3. Recovery
  4. Not Afraid
Not Afraid by Eminem

SINGLE

Eminem

Not Afraid

Release date: 17th June 2010

From Recovery
Track 7
4:08
Hip-Hop/RapMusicHardcore RapRap
Spotify Apple Music More on Eminem

About This Track

The lead single from 'Recovery', released in April 2010, finds Eminem emerging from the wreckage of addiction and personal chaos with a declaration of artistic rebirth. The production, handled by Boi-1da alongside Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans and Luis Resto, builds a defiant scaffold for what the rapper frames as a public recommitment to his audience and his craft.

The lyrics adopt the voice of someone who has hit bottom and is now extending a hand to anyone still in that place, the chorus built around a gesture of solidarity. Eminem acknowledges the missteps of his previous album 'Relapse' directly, admitting he ran certain creative choices into the ground, and promises not to retreat to that approach. The verses move between self-recrimination and resolve, the tone confrontational but grounded in a kind of earned humility.

The track became a commercial breakthrough, topping charts globally and cementing the album's narrative of recovery as both personal and professional. It remains one of the most-streamed releases in his catalogue, the message of perseverance through chaos resonating well beyond its initial moment.

"Not Afraid" is a single by Eminem, from the album Recovery, released 17th June 2010. The track is 4:08 long. It's filed under Hip-Hop/Rap. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Eminem.

About the Artist

Eminem

Eminem

Lyrics

Not Afraid

Yeah, It's been a ride...
I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one
Now some of you might still be in that place
If you're trying to get out, just follow me
I'll get you there

You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em
But you won't take this thing out these words before I say 'em
Cause ain't no way I'm let you stop me from causing mayhem
When I say 'em or do something I do it, I don't give a damn
What you think, I'm doing this for me, so fuck the world
Feed it beans, it's gassed up, if a thing's stopping me
I'mma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly
And all those who look down on me I'm tearing down your balcony
No if ands or buts don't try to ask him why or how can he
From Infinite down to the last Relapse album he's still shit'n
Whether he's on salary, paid hourly
Until he bows out or he shit's his bowels out of him
Whichever comes first, for better or worse
He's married to the game, like a fuck you for Christmas
His gift is a curse, forget the earth he's got the urge
To pull his dick from the dirt and fuck the whole universe

I'm not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road

Ok quit playin' with the scissors and shit, and cut the crap
I shouldn't have to rhyme these words in the rhythm for you to know it's a rap
You said you was king, you lied through your teeth
For that fuck your fillings, instead of getting crowned you're getting capped
And to the fans, I'll never let you down again, I'm back
I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact
Let's be honest, that last Relapse CD was "ehhhh"
Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground

Relax, I ain't going back to that now
All I'm tryna say is get back, click-clack BLAOW
Cause I ain't playin' around
There's a game called circle and I don't know how
I'm way too up to back down
But I think I'm still tryna figure this crap out
Thought I had it mapped out but I guess I didn't
This fucking black cloud still follow's me around
But it's time to exorcise these demons
These motherfuckers are doing jumping jacks now!

I'm not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road

And I just can't keep living this way
So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, Imma face my demons
I'm manning up, Imma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now

It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me
Admittedly I probably did it subliminally for you
So I could come back a brand new me, you helped see me through
And don't even realise what you did, believe me you
I been through the ringer, but they can do little to the middle finger
I think I got a tear in my eye, I feel like the king of
My world, haters can make like bees with no stingers, and drop dead
No more beef flingers, no more drama from now on, I promise
To focus only on handling my responsibility's as a father
So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof like my daughters and raise it
You couldn't lift a single shingle on it
Cause the way I feel, I'm strong enough to go to the club
Or the corner pub and lift the whole liquor counter up
Cause I'm raising the bar, I shoot for the moon
But I'm too busy gazing at stars, I feel amazed and

I'm not afraid to take a stand
Everybody come take my hand
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just let you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel that you've been down the same road

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Recovery

4:082010Single
Listen
Album
Recovery
Recovery
Eminem
18th June 2010
Track number
7
Release year
2010
  1. 1Cold Wind Blows
    5:04
  2. 2Talkin’ 2 Myself (feat. Kobe)
    5:00
  3. 3On Fire
    3:33
  4. 4Won't Back Down (feat. Pink)

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4:26
  • 5W.T.P.
    3:58
  • 6Going Through Changes
    4:59
  • 7Not Afraid
    4:08
  • 8Seduction
    4:35
  • 9No Love (feat. Lil Wayne)
    5:00
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    4:39
  • 11Cinderella Man
    4:39
  • 1225 to Life
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  • 14Almost Famous
    4:52
  • 16You’re Never Over
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  • 17Untitled
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  • —Love the Way You Lie
  • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Boi-1da, Eminem, Jordan Evans, Luis Resto, Matthew Burnett
    Producer
    Boi-1da
    Engineer
    Joe Strange
    Drums
    Boi-1da
    Keyboards
    Luis Resto
    Additional Production
    Eminem, Jordan Evans, Matthew Burnett
    Choir
    Christal Garrick II, Kay Cola, Kip Blackshire, Rich King, Sly Pyper, Terry Dexter
    Mastering Engineer
    Brian Gardner
    Mixing Engineer
    Eminem, Mike Strange
    Recording Engineer
    Boi-1da, Mike Strange, Robert Reyes
    Strings
    Jordan Evans, Matthew Burnett
    READ MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEM
    READ MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEMREAD MORE ABOUT EMINEM
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