Cleanin' Out My Closet

"Cleanin' Out My Closet" was the second song Eminem wrote for the album.{{Cite magazine|title=Eminem: The Rolling Stone Interview|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eminem-the-rolling-stone-interview-55203/|last1=Bozza|first1=Anthony|date=2002-07-04|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25}} The instrumental for "Cleanin' Out My Closet" was created by Eminem during the making of D12's debut studio album, Devil's Night. According to group member Kuniva, Bizarre was on the song first, but was talking "crazy" on the record and was encouraged to tone it down. Despite receiving the approval of Dr. Dre, Bizarre decided to pass on the record, and Eminem picked it up from there: "The whole group was like 'Yo, you can't say this shit. It's too much.' So, he got a call from Dr. Dre. And Dre was like 'Say that shit, man. You gotta say it.' [...] He ultimately gave into the group and was like 'You know what? Fuck it, man.{{' "}}{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.36084/title.eminems-cleanin-out-my-closet-originally-a-d12-song-according-to-kuniva|title=Eminem's "Cleanin' Out My Closet" Originally a D12 Song, According to Kuniva|website=HipHopDX|last=Harling|first=Danielle|date=October 30, 2015|access-date=February 10, 2022}}

"Cleanin' Out My Closet" is a hardcore hip hop and rap rock song written and produced by Eminem and Jeff Bass, the latter of whom provided the guitars, bass, and keyboards. The song's drum programming was handled by DJ Head. At the beginning of the song, after the music begins to play, Eminem asks "Where's my snare? I have no snare in my headphones." Eminem explained that this actually happened; the recording engineer had muted the snare drums in his headphones during the recording of the song. During the editing process, Eminem chose to leave it in.{{cite web |url=https://thesource.com/2016/03/18/eminem-actually-didnt-have-any-snare-in-his-headphones/|title=Eminem Actually Didn't Have Snare In His Headphones |website=The Source |date=March 18, 2016}}

In the song's first verse, Eminem criticizes his mother. The second verse then moves on to how his father abandoned him and his mother did drugs. At the start of the third verse, Eminem states that his comments regarding his mother are not made for the sake of public attention.

AllMusic highlighted this song.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-eminem-show-mw0000140333|title=The Eminem Show - Eminem - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=28 December 2017}} David Browne was lukewarm: "The unhealed scars of his childhood are pored over in Cleanin' Out My Closet: In the chorus, he apologizes for making his mama cry, but in the verses, he lashes out at her (you selfish bitch) and vows to be a better dad than his own absentee father (I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye). The song is both fragile and furious, and the syncopated music-box arrangement matches it in tension."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Browne|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/06/07/eminem-show/|title=Music Review: The Eminem Show, by Eminem|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 7, 2002|access-date=August 17, 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029212137/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C254406%2C00.html|url-status=live}} J-23 was positive: "Cleanin' Out My Closet" features the album's most personal rhymes as he lets us know just how he feels about his parents. His third verse, dealing with his mother, is truly something to behold."{{cite web|author=J-23|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.164/title.eminem-the-eminem-show-advanced-copy|title=Eminem - The Eminem Show (Advanced Copy)|website=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030103838/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.164/title.eminem-the-eminem-show-advanced-copy|archive-date=30 October 2013|url-status=dead}} NME also praised the single: "Cleanin' Out My Closet", a stunning outpouring of grief-stricken anger against his mother."{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/eminem/6410|title=Eminem : The Eminem Show|work=NME|date=12 September 2005|access-date=28 December 2017}} RapReviews agreed: "The jokes don't last very long though, because Eminem's next song "Cleanin' Out My Closet" is a direct attack on his mother for not really being one."{{cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2002_05F_emshow.html|title=RapReviews.com Feature for May 28, 2002 - Eminem's "The Eminem Show"|website=Rapreviews.com|access-date=28 December 2017}} Rolling Stone praised the song's production: "Cleanin' Out My Closet" feature electric-guitar rhythms fraternizing with hip-hop-sensible drum patterns" and he noted that his (Eminem's) relationship with his estranged mother creates "Cleanin' Out My Closet," possibly the record's most powerful moment."{{cite magazine|first=Kris|last=Ex|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-eminem-show-20020606|title=The Eminem Show|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 6, 2002|access-date=December 28, 2017}}

All personnel taken from Tidal{{Cite web|title=Credits / The Eminem Show / Eminem|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/573283/credits|access-date=August 26, 2020|website=listen.tidal.com|language=en}}

• Eminem – vocals
• Jeff Bass – bass guitar, guitar, keyboards
• DJ Head – drum programming
• Ross Halfin – cover photography

Two remixes of the song feature as European bonus tracks on the Straight from the Lab mixtape later released as a compilation: a Drum and bass remix (which was produced by DJ Green Lantern) and a remix combining the song with "God Is a Girl" by Groove Coverage entitled "(God Is) Cleanin' Out My Closet."

In the mashup video "Atomic Closet" (a fusion of Eminem's original "Cleaning Out My Closet" and Blondie's "Atomic"), Blondie's hit was heavily sampled as the background song, with Eminem rapping throughout. The video was directed by Dr. Dre and Philip Atwell.

The B side "Stimulate" appears on the deluxe edition bonus disc of the soundtrack Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile, and also appears on Straight from the Lab.

The song was mashed up with "Hotel California" by The Eagles, which appears on DJ Vlad and Roc Raida's mashup mixtape, Rock Phenomenon.

Jon Connor's 2012 mixtape The People's Rapper LP included a remix of the song, as well as other Eminem remixes.

In October 2012, New York City hip hop artist Angel Haze released a reworked version of "Cleanin' Out My Closet" using their own lyrics, in which they graphically recount their experience with child sexual abuse.{{cite news|first=Kia |last=Makarechi|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/angel-haze-cleaning-out-my-closet_n_2006943.html |title=Angel Haze's 'Cleaning Out My Closet' Recounts Sexual Abuse & Eventual Triumph |work=Huffington Post |date=October 23, 2012|access-date=June 16, 2013}}

{{main|Headlights (Eminem song)}}

Eminem's 2013 album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, featured a song titled "Headlights" which serves as an apology to Eminem's mother for things he said about her in his songs, "Cleanin' Out My Closet" being the only song mentioned by name. The music video, directed by Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee, shows Eminem's rise to fame through his mother's eyes. In the song, Eminem says he no longer plays "Cleanin' Out my Closet" at shows – with the song last being played at Leeds Festival in England on 25th August 2013 – and says he cringes every time he hears it on the radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/10/30/eminem-apologizes-to-his-mother-on-headlights/|title=Eminem Apologizes to His Mother on 'Headlights'|website=Rap-up.com|access-date=28 December 2017}}

{{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Eminem}}

;Digital download{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cleanin-out-my-closet-ep/id16328846|title=iTunes - Music - Cleanin' Out My Closet - EP by Eminem|publisher=iTunes|date=2002-10-15|access-date=2013-06-16}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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;Maxi #1 International Version[https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/album/6e396c538331499e8ba2349f3eb39d4f/Eminem/Cleanin_Out_My_Closet_Maxi_1_International_Version_ Maxi #1 International Version]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} on Music Unlimited{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Eminem|title=Cleanin' Out My Closet|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2002|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=January 23, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Gold|artist=Eminem|title=Cleanin' Out My Closet|type=single|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|accessdate=April 17, 2020|refname="Sweden cert"}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=Eminem

|title=Cleanin' Out My Closet|relyear=2002|certyear=2018|digital=true|accessdate=April 25, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

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Category:Eminem songs

Category:2002 singles

Category:Songs about poverty

Category:Songs about child abuse

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Category:Songs about drugs

Category:Songs written by Eminem

Category:Song recordings produced by Eminem

Category:Shady Records singles

Category:Aftermath Entertainment singles

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:2002 songs

Category:Songs about mothers