In a cool behind-the-scenes look at the making of Eminem’s video for “Berzerk,” producer Rick Rubin talks about how the song came about.
Watch the video below, which features Rubin speaking about the song, along with footage for the making of “Berzerk.”
Rubin begins by saying that he had met Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg a few years prior and there had been interest in working together. It took a while, but The Marshall Mathers LP 2 was that collaboration. “It was meant to be,” Rubin says.
“I think it’s unlike any current hip-hop songs,” Rubin says, speaking of “Berzerk.” “Em wanted to do something, kind of a throw-back to some of the early records that we were making in the old days, and it more reflects that energy of the early days of hip-hop.”
Rubin has worked with a plethora of artists, including the Beastie Boys, which were certainly an inspiration for this song.
“The song sort of evolved,” Rubin explains. “It started one way. It kind of got programmed and written to, and then it changed into a whole different song. I thought the track was really strong, and didn’t really know what direction Em was going to go in vocally. And then when I heard the vocals, I was pretty excited. It was not at all what I was expecting. Just the energy in it and the lyrics, and the style of it, it’s so well done and so smart and so funny.”
The official music video for “Berzerk” features Eminem going back to his infamous blond look, rapping in front of a giant boom-box while various celebrities, including Rubin himself, make appearances.
“It reminds me of old hip-hop videos,” the producer says. “And I think it’s really entertaining.”
This video was labeled as part one, so presumably will be getting more sneak peeks into the process of making “Berzerk.” Stay tuned!