| Role Model | |
| Cover: | Role Model CD.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Eminem |
| Album: | The Slim Shady LP |
| Released: | May 26, 1999 |
| Length: | 3:25 (album version) 3:22 (radio version) |
| Prev Title: | My Name Is |
| Prev Year: | 1999 |
| Next Title: | Guilty Conscience |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
"Role Model" is a song by American rapper Eminem from that features on his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP (1999). It was later released as a single on May 26, 1999. A music video was made, using the heavily censored radio edit. It became a minor hit on the US charts. "Role Model" was written and produced by Eminem himself, Dr. Dre, and Mel-Man.
"Role Model" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song for Eminem best tackling how others perceive him, as well as Dr. Dre's production.
The song also appears on the deluxe edition of his compilation album, . In 2023, a sample of "Role Model" was used for the Lyrical Lemonade track "Doomsday", off the album All Is Yellow (2024). Eminem appeared on a sequel to the track, also appearing on the same album.
David Browne described this: "In Role Model, he gleefully debunks the idea of rappers as heroes (So if I said I never do drugs, that would mean I lie and get f ---ed more than the President does)."[1] RapReviews highlighted following lyrics: "I get a clean shave, bathe, go to a rave/ Die from an overdose and dig myself up out of my grave/ My middle finger won't go down, how do I wave?/ And this is how I'm supposed to teach kids how to behave?"[2]
The video is a darker comedic offering than "My Name Is", directed by Dr. Dre and Phillip G. Atwell. The opening of the song, where Eminem announces his attempt to drown himself, is left out. In the video, there's a scene where Eminem is transformed into an animated superhero and attacks a chicken character that resembles Foghorn Leghorn from Looney Tunes.[3] Also in the music video Eminem jokes about the Murder trial of O.J. Simpson where he says that O.J. Simpson's friend Marcus Allen and Eminem framed O.J. for the murder and he says "We did it!" and run up to the camera leaving behind a glove and his hands are bloody.