Trivia
- “Kim” serves as a prequel to “’97 Bonnie & Clyde” from The Slim Shady LP. The only gap in the narrative between the two songs is the drive back to the house after Slim puts Kim’s body in the trunk and before collecting Hailie.
- Even in censored form, the track was deemed too explicit for the clean edition of the album and was replaced with a clean version of “The Kids.”
- The song was originally intended to feature a sample of No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak,” which would have played on the radio before Eminem says, “Change the station, I hate this song,” but the sample was ultimately removed. It can still be heard on the leaked instrumental version.
- “Kim” is one of only two original Eminem songs produced entirely by the without any input from Eminem himself. The other is “Bad Influence,” which was recorded back-to-back with “Kim.”
Words from Eminem
“This little media favorite was actually the first official song that I wrote for the album. I had completed it back in ’98, when the first album was done. I remember watching a movie one day that inspired me to write a love song, but I didn’t want to make a corny love song. It had to be some bugged-out shit.
Though I don’t remember what movie it was, I do remember feeling the frustration of us breaking up and having a daughter all in the mix. I really wanted to pour my heart out, but yet, I also wanted to scream.
Surprisingly enough, “Kim” was the only track on the album that I had nothing to do with in terms of production. F.B.T. created the track and had it ready for me in the studio.
When I started writing the song, I thought that maybe I could tie it into “’97 Bonnie And Clyde,” so I decided to make it a prequel. I did the vocals in one take. The mood I wanted to capture was that of an argument me and her would have.