| "Cinderella Man" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Eminem | |
| from the album Recovery | |
| Released | June 18, 2010 |
| Recorded | 2009–2010 |
| Genre | Hip-hop |
| Length | 4:39 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter | Marshall Mathers |
| Producer | Script Shepherd |
Cinderella Man is a song by American rapper Eminem from his seventh studio album Recovery (2010). Produced by Script Shepherd, it features uncredited vocals by Kobe and incorporates a sample of Queen's "We Will Rock You".
In a 2010 interview with Billboard, Eminem explained that the lyric "Technically, I'm not even supposed to be here right now" reflected challenges he faced between his previous albums Encore and Relapse , including the death of his friend Proof and his recovery from addiction. [1] The song was later featured on his 2022 greatest hits album Curtain Call 2 .
"Cinderella Man" was produced by Script Shepherd and features a prominent sample of Queen's 1977 hit "We Will Rock You," giving the track a stadium-style rhythm characterized by the song's famous "boom-boom-clap" pattern. [2] [3] XXL commented that the drums resemble those used in Eminem's previous work on The Eminem Show , highlighting the track's "stadium status" energy. [3]
HipHopDX reported in 2024 that the track is "named after the 1930s world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock." [2] The song portrays a narrative of comeback and resilience, with lyrics reflecting Eminem's return to music following struggles with addiction and the death of Proof.
"Cinderella Man" received positive commentary from multiple independent sources. The Guardian highlighted the track's production, stating: "Best beat? The extraordinary stamp of 'Cinderella Man' by producer Script Shepherd, which sounds nothing like the standard-issue work of producer Dr. Dre that usually accompanies Em." [4] NME noted Eminem's lyrical reflection on his previous album: "'Fuck my last CD, that shit's in my trash', says the most famous rapper in the world about his multi million selling album 'Relapse' on 'Cinderella Man'. You can see why he's keen to disown it." [5] XXL referenced the Queen sample and the song's stadium-style energy, calling it "Stadium Status again. 'We will, we will rock you'" and concluding it is "a XXL rated song right here." [3]
Eminem performed "Cinderella Man" during a 2024 appearance supporting boxer Terence Crawford, between Till I Collapse and Lose Yourself. [2]
The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. It later received certifications in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [6] | 11 |
| Region | Certification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | [7] |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | [8] |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | [9] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | [10] |