The classic sample behind Eminem’s ‘The King and I’
Eminem’s recent music has been highly polarising. The release of his album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), earlier this year didn’t quite make the impact the emcee might have hoped.
Still, over the past few years, the Detroit lyricist has contributed to several projects, including the soundtrack of the 2022 biopic Elvis.
One of the singles featured on the soundtrack was the Em song ‘The King & I’, which sampled the 1957 Elvis Presley track ‘Jailhouse Rock’. Considering the Baz Luhrmann-directed biopic was released in honour of the Rock ‘n’ Roll, the sample seemed entirely appropriate. However, one of the song’s writers wasn’t too keen.
Mike Stoller, along with Jerry Leiber, worked on some of the most renowned songs of the ‘50s and ‘60s, including Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’ and The Drifters’ ‘On Broadway.’ That said, he also helped pen some classic Elvis Presley tracks such as ‘Hound Dog,’ ‘Don’t,’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock.’
Although it is entirely normal for hip-hop MCs and producers to revive classic tracks in the form of hip-hop anthems, during a 2022 interview, Stoller revealed he really wasn’t that impressed with ‘The King & I’ and stated that he is more fond of the old-school.
Speaking about Em’s single, Stoller stated, “I’m not a super rap fan. My favourite rap was Grandmaster Flash on ‘The Message,’ which goes back a whole bunch of years; that’s the only one that I was really taken with. But hey, it’s generational, I think.”
During the discussion, Stoller explained that he doesn’t own his catalogue and didn’t have a say over its use but wished Eminem well, detailing, “I think it was presented to the guys who [own] Leiber and Stoller stuff, and they had already done it and were gonna put it in the movie. What can I say? I hope it’s a big hit!”
Although he wasn’t a fan of the track’s sonics, Stoller admitted that he liked the title, adding, “They call it ‘The King and I,’ which is a good title. It’s (Eminem performing) over the background sound of Elvis’ recording of ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ which Jerry and I virtually produced as well as wrote — not the movie version, but the single version that Jerry and I were in the studio with Elvis working on back in 1957.”
Stoller most definitely wasn’t a big fan of ‘The King & I but asserted that the song shows the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is still influential and highly popular.
Strangely, Eminem has previously unveiled that he is not even a fan of Elvis, although he dressed as Elvis in the video for ‘Without Me’. However, he has disclosed that as an entertainer and performer, Presley is “one of the great artists” and praised his dancing skills.