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"Not Afraid"
Single by Eminem
from the album Recovery
ReleasedApril 27, 2010 (2010-04-27)
Recorded2009–2010
Studio
GenreHip hop[1]
Length4:10 (album version)
3:54 (without first chorus)
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Boi-1da
  • Jordan Evans (add.)
  • Matthew Burnett (add.)
  • Eminem (add.)
Eminem singles chronology
"Drop the World"
(2010) 		"Not Afraid"
(2010) 		"Love the Way You Lie"
(2010)
Music video
"Not Afraid" on YouTube

"Not Afraid" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his seventh studio album Recovery (2010). It was released as the album's lead single on April 27, 2010, by Interscope Records. "Not Afraid" was first revealed as a single by Eminem via Twitter, after which the song debuted on radio. To promote the single's release, a freestyle rap, "Despicable", was released on the Internet and received attention for its tone and lyrical content. "Not Afraid" was written and produced by Eminem, Boi-1da, Jordan Evans, and Matthew Burnett; keyboardist Luis Resto was also attributed with songwriting credit. According to Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg and music critics, "Not Afraid" carries a positive message and depicts Eminem's change in direction from drugs and violence. The hip hop song features a choir that assists Eminem in a heavily layered chorus and vocals are sung over a guitar, synthesizer, and piano; no Auto-Tune was used on the sung vocals, but many reverberation tools were.

"Not Afraid" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song for being anthemic in nature and carrying a positive message. The song did, however, face criticism for its sudden change in theme from previous singles, and was considered to be less affecting than some of his other songs. "Not Afraid" became the 16th song in Billboard history to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one; it also debuted as a chart-topper in Canada.[2] In June 2014 the song was certified 10× Platinum by RIAA, making Eminem the first artist with digital diamond awards for two songs.[3] "Not Afraid" has earned Eminem MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards Japan, Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Detroit Music Awards.

The song was accompanied by a music video, which Rich Lee directed in May 2010. New York City and Newark, New Jersey, were chosen as settings to shoot the video. Reviewers praised the video as it followed the lyrics and praised the video for such depictions. However, the product placement in the video by Nike shoes and Beats by Dr. Dre headphones was criticized. In 2010, Eminem performed "Not Afraid" at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 (E3 2010), Oxegen 2010, T in the Park 2010, and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. He has also performed the song at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and the V Festival. Rolling Stone ranked it the 24th best song of 2010, making it Eminem's most successful single since "Lose Yourself", until it was surpassed by "Love the Way You Lie".

Writing and recording

[edit]

In 2009, Eminem planned to release Relapse 2, a sequel to his sixth studio album Relapse. However, he cancelled the project and released a completely different studio album titled Recovery.[4] He said, "as I kept recording and working with new producers, the idea of a sequel to Relapse started to make less and less sense to me, and I wanted to make a completely new album."[4] "Not Afraid" was primarily produced by the Canadian hip hop musician Boi-1da.[5] According to Mike Strange, who recorded "Not Afraid", he wanted to work with Boi-1da after listening to his "Forever", which he had produced for the rapper Drake.[5] Boi-1da sent Strange many tracks, to some of which Eminem wrote lyrics. These tracks were opened in Pro Tools, as Strange proceeded to record Eminem's vocals.[5] Recording sessions took place at Effigy Studios, in Ferndale, Michigan, but Boi-1da was absent during the sessions of the track.[5][6]

The original tracks sent to Strange included mostly drums and keyboard pads; they were placed under an inactive track titled "Orig beatz". The instrumentation included a Roland TR-808 kick, a regular live kick, a hi-hat, a ride cymbal and a snare drum.[5] Underneath the track, there were horn, orchestra hit and pads, including a Mellotron sound that plays the chord progression.[5] Strange told Sound on Sound magazine, "I like to have the vocal tracks at the top of the Session, because in hip-hop they are the most important element."[5] Two of Eminem's were placed underneath his main vocal track, as one of them featured his introductory words. Each play of the chorus was an overdub and not copies of a sample; the only exception was the intro.[5] The vocals for the bridge were overdubbed six times; Auto-Tune was not used at all in the song. The Detroit musician Luis Resto provided keyboard tracks on the bridge, including piano and guitar sound effects. Resto also added orchestration in the chorus and bridge of the song.[5]

Strange arranged the Pro Tools session in a more traditional manner by laying out the drums, bass instruments, guitars, keyboards, main vocals and overdubs from left to right. While mixing, he began with drums, then the main vocals.[5] He added the chorus and bridge, followed by other instrumentation. Strange mixed the track to satisfy Eminem, who, after entering the studio, made his own adjustments, providing additional production; by then, Resto's tracks were added.[5] Strange made adjustments to Boi-1da's tracks, using SSL equalization (EQ) and some compression. To keep the track in tune from pitch fluctuation, Strange used Trim and Auto-Tune on Resto's TR-808 kick. Strange arranged reverberation tools, including the Bricasti, Eventide 2016, the Lexicon 480, Lexicon PMC70, and the Yamaha SPX90.[5]

The two rap tracks in the session used the Massenburg EQ plug-in, "the '9' send goes to the eighth-note delay track immediately above the two rap tracks" and Digidesign Extra Long Delay.[5] Strange also used compressors, including the Alta Moda Unicomp, which he felt works well on vocals, as well as the kick and snare drums. Boi-1da's track mostly used SSL and compression, but the bass used an API 550a. A Digidesign compressor limiter was set up on one of the horn sounds while the Massenburg EQ was used on an OB8 sound. Answering Eminem's request, string overdubs were arranged and recorded by Jordan Evans and Matthew Burnett—providing additional production—and Robert Reyes recorded the choir's vocals.[5]

Composition

[edit]
"Not Afraid"
A sample of the song with the chorus, in which a choir assists Eminem
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Not Afraid" is a hip hop song written and produced by Rick Crowe, Eminem, Evans and Burnett; Resto did additional writing. Boi-1da provided drums; Evans and Burnett provided string sounds.[6] The lyrics focus on a positive change from Eminem's past experiences, including an end to drug abuse, feuds and violence.[7] The Los Angeles Times noted that a person hearing this song for the first time may identify it as Christian hip hop.[8] MTV News writer Shaheem Reid noted that "There are no jabs at pop-culture icons, no jovial goofballing."[7] Led by a guitar, synthesizer and piano,[9] "Not Afraid" is published in the key of C minor and has a moderate tempo of 86 beats per minute, according to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[10] A writer for MuchMusic website noted that Eminem chose to use his Marshall Mathers ego for the song, rather than Slim Shady.[11] He follows a chord progression of Cm–A♭(maj7)–E♭–B♭ in the chorus.[10]

The song begins with a brief introduction in which Eminem says while the chorus plays underneath, "Yeh, it's been a ride. I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one."[12] When he begins the first verse, his lyrics threaten people who have looked down on him: "You can try to read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em/ But you won't take the sting out these words before I say 'em."[7] On the second verse, Eminem says that he has indeed made mistakes, commenting on his Relapse album: "That last Relapse CD was ehh/ Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground/ Relax, I ain't going to do that now."[7] When he says "All I'm trying to say is get back, click clack, pow", a gunshot is heard.[5] Approaching the end of the second verse, Eminem raps about his personal experiences: "But I think I'm still trying to figure this crap out/ Thought I had it mapped out, but I guess I didn't/ It's time to exercise these demons/ These motherfuckers are doing jumping jacks now."[7] After the chorus, Eminem sings a bridge and focuses on a positive change, as he says "I just can't keep living this way, so starting today I'm breaking out of this cage."[12] Before the final chorus, he says that he "shoots for the moon".[12] The song features a choir composed of Kip Blackshire, Christal Garrick II, Terry Dexter, Rich King, Kristen Ashley Cole and Sly Jordan.[6] This song is also about how Slim Shady is leaving Eminem so he can "handle his responsibilities as a father." He promises to get his life together for better. In his 2018 studio album Kamikaze, Fall shows him getting the Slim Shady part of him "back." As he desperately runs away from the shadow, it catches up with him and he realizes he can't escape it.

Release and reception

[edit]

On April 26, 2010, Eminem posted a message through his Twitter account that read, "I'm 'Not Afraid'", without any elaboration.[13] Fans and news organizations were able to interpret the message and announced that Eminem's first single from his seventh studio album, Recovery would be titled "Not Afraid".[13][14] Radio personality Angela Yee, from radio station WWPR-FM, confirmed that the new single would debut on Eminem's uncensored radio station, Shade 45.[15] Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, told Billboard that "It's not a dark song, it's an uplifting song."[16]

The new single was initially slated to impact radio on April 30, 2010;[17] however, the date was changed to three days earlier and the song eventually aired at 10 am ET, on Shade 45's show The Morning After with Angela Yee.[18] On May 5, 2010, the single was made available for digital download at online retailers through Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.[19][20] In the song, Eminem makes a reference to Relapse and spoke at Friday Night with Jonathan Ross about it: "...looking back on it now in retrospect, I feel like there was a lot of stuff on there that was humorous and shock value and I had to go back and listen to my older material and figure out why ... Relapse didn't make me feel like [what] used to and kind of put the feeling back into what I do."[21]

The song was featured in a trailer for the war film Act of Valor.[22]

Pre-release promotion

[edit]

Days before "Not Afraid"'s slated release, Eminem released a freestyle rap video to promote the release of the album's lead single.[23] Titled "Despicable", the vocals in the video are played over the instrumental versions of "Over" by Canadian rapper Drake and "Beamer, Benz or Bentley" by former G-Unit member Lloyd Banks; the verse switches to the latter well into the two-minute song.[24] Lyrics make a reference to football quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the line "I'd rather turn this club into a bar room brawl/Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall."[24] These lyrics refers to sexual assault allegations in March 2011 at a nightclub in Milledgeville, Georgia, causing controversy.[24] Other references include those to fictional comic book character Superman: "I give as much of a flying fuck as that Superman dude" and to general popular culture: "Like a leaf suck in a vacuum, y'all/there ain't nothing but a whole lotta sucking going on in rap."[23] Eminem's final lyric makes a reference to Looney Tunes character Daffy Duck.[25]

Music critics commented on the freestyle rap. Ray Roa of music website Consequence of Sound noted Eminem's obvious frustration in the song, saying that he "sounds pissed off as ever on a new freestyle".[25] He also added, "The first minute and a half of the track is mellow by his standards, but when the beat switches to Banks' track, Eminem goes apeshit."[25] Melinda Newman of HitFix gave a positive review and wrote that the freestyle sounds like a "blast that sucks all the air out of room. It's better than anything on Relapse, and the sheer dexterity of his rhyming skills is awe-inspiring."[23] Thaindian News's Madhuri Dey felt that "Eminem takes his usual route of taking a hit at some personality".[26] Adam Downer of Sputnikmusic wrote positively: "Eminem spits with the crazed desperation we remember from the albums."[27]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.comStarStarStarStarHalf star[28]
Beats Per MinuteStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[29]
Digital SpyStarStarStar[30]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[31]
Eminem performing at the Lollapalooza festival in 2011

Reception of "Not Afraid" was generally positive. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone praised the song's tone: "Over a dark, operatic beat. Eminem delivers rhymes that are typically acrobatic—and typically heavy-handed. But the anger has a gathering quality."[31] Dolan also praised the song's inspirational theme.[31] Henry Adaso of About.com gave a positive review on the song, noting "Boi-1da's bouncy charm" and "heartwrenching lyrics from a master poet" as good aspects of the song and noted no negative aspects.[28] In Adaso's guide review, he praised Boi-1da's production and Eminem's affecting lyrics; he considered the former's work "shimmering" and Eminem's "sensitive lyrics entwine on this knocker"; overall, he gave the song four and a half stars out of a possible five.[28] After the song's release, AllHipHop called it "an anthem in nature and rebellious to the core."[32] In her review of the Recovery, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone noted that even if Eminem—reaching his late 30s—is becoming "a grumpy middle-aged man, at least he's owning it".[33] Winston Robbins of music website Consequence of Sound called "Not Afraid" one of the songs on Recovery "with catchy hooks, choruses, and beats multiplied by the endless pool of wit and anger that Eminem possesses".[34] In his album review, Thomas Nassiff wrote on behalf of AbsolutePunk; he noted the song for being radio-friendly and that it "doesn't sacrifice anything to be friendly to the masses."[35] Andy Gill of The Independent said that this is where "the only completely commendable sentiment on the entire album comes" and called it a "proud rehab anthem".[36] In his review for Recovery, Benjamin Meadows-Ingram of Spin magazine called "Not Afraid" a "stadium-ready lead single"; he went on to say, "Finally, Eminem addresses his personal and professional failings head-on, rather than hiding behind a joke or inside a nightmare. It's a necessary first step in moving on."[37]

After "Not Afraid" leaked onto the Internet on April 29, 2010, Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly magazine commented on the song, noting both positive and negative characteristics; he first complimented Eminem's change of lyrical theme, calling it anthemic in nature and noting its inspirational and powerful message.[38] He compared the song's theme to Eminem's 2002 single "Sing for the Moment" and his 2009 single, "Beautiful". Vozick-Levinson called Eminem's rapping "wild" but was dismissive of the production, saying, "The track behind 'Not Afraid' has the same tinny, repetitive, wannabe-epic quality that's annoyed me on Boi-1da productions like 'Forever.'"[38] Mayer Nissem of British site Digital Spy gave the song three stars out of a possible five, and wrote a mixed review; the reviewer first commented, "Thank heavens! – Marshall Mathers III has opted against his usual trick of cobbling together a hook and some 'satire' via two-year-old back issues of the Inquirer to trail it."[30] However, Nissem criticized other aspects of the song, saying that Eminem's "decision to chronicle ... feels a little worthy and more than a touch dull."[30] He felt that Eminem's previous songs never bored the listener, unlike "Not Afraid".[30] Jeff Weiss of the Los Angeles Times commented that "Not Afraid" was an improvement from the lead singles of Encore (2004) and Relapse, "Just Lose It" and "We Made You", respectively, giving for a more serious and inspirational theme.[8] However, Weiss misses the comic nature of Eminem's classic singles, such as "My Name Is"; instead, he felt that the song was composed of "vague self-help bromides and a bombastic but nondescript beat from ... Boi-1da."[8] When discussing the chorus, Weiss commented that it "doesn't make for very engaging listening."[8] Finally, he discussed possible influences by American rapper T.I., but overall, he named it a disappointing lead single.[8]

John Ulmer of website One Thirty BPM gave the song seven points out of a possible ten, and published a mixed review; he praised it for being a more serious track compared to previous lead singles "Just Lose It" (2004) and "We Made You" (2009) but criticized it for being less powerful compared to his 2002 hit single, "Lose Yourself", and "Beautiful".[29] According to Ulmer, "Upon first listen it's a bit corny, but it's appropriately anthemic, and not bad enough to deter from the strength of the overall track."[29] He noted that although Eminem does not have as much of a frustrated voice as he does in "Despicable", he admits that Relapse was a silly album.[29] Pitchfork Media's Jayson Greene wrote a rather negative review on Recovery and was very dismissive on the song: "Eminem spends nearly half of Recovery insisting he's the best rapper alive, but for the first time in his career, he actually sounds clumsy."[39] Kitty Empire of newspaper The Guardian also wrote negatively on the song in her album review, criticizing the song's lyrics: "Rhyming 'through a storm' with 'whatever weather/ cold or warm' in the chorus is unforgivable for a master rhymer."[40] As part of his album review, Greg Kot of daily newspaper Chicago Tribune criticized Eminem's lyrics and rhymes in "Not Afraid", comparing them to his rhyming skills back when his 2002 hip hop drama film, 8 Mile, premiered: "Doesn't he realize that's the kind of cheese that the battle-rhyming Eminem of 8 Mile would've mercilessly mocked?"[41]

Chart performance

[edit]

According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Not Afraid" sold 380,000 digital copies in its first week, giving Eminem the biggest sales week for a digital single between the beginning of 2010 and the date of the song's release.[42] Three songs received higher sales during their first week: Flo Rida's "Right Round", The Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" and Eminem's "Crack a Bottle", which were all singles released in 2009.[43]

On May 22, 2010, "Not Afraid" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, a feat only 15 songs had accomplished previously. The song was Eminem's third number one single on the Hot 100 chart, coming after "Lose Yourself" and "Crack a Bottle".[42] "Not Afraid" was also the first to debut at number one since October 17, 2009, when American recording artist Britney Spears's "3" debuted atop the chart. It became the first hip hop single by an unaccompanied male artist to debut at number one, and the first hip hop song to debut atop the chart, since "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by American rapper and singer Lauryn Hill in 1998.[44]

After entering the Digital Songs chart at number one, the song fell down to number four the next week, and to number six on the Hot 100, with sales of 202,000 digital copies.[45][46][47] On June 14, 2010, "Not Afraid" rose to number five again with sales of 157,000 copies.[48][49] On July 14, 2010, it rose from 22 to 24 on the Hot 100;[50] by then, the song was downloaded a total of 1,750,000 times.[51] On July 25, 2010, the song crossed the two million mark, based on total sales.[52] As of August 2013, the song has sold 5,000,000 digital copies.[53] In June 2014 the song was certified 10× Platinum by RIAA.[3]

In Canada, "Not Afraid" debuted at the top of the Canadian Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 20 weeks.[54][55] In the United Kingdom, "Not Afraid" debuted and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on May 30, 2010 – for the week ending date June 5, 2010.[56] It dropped to number six the following week, to number ten on July 4, 2010 – for the week ending July 10, 2010 – and to number 14 the week after.[57][58][59] On August 1, 2010, the song dropped to number 20 and its last appearance on the UK Singles Chart would be on August 29, giving the song a total of 14 weeks on the chart.[60][61]

In New Zealand, "Not Afraid" entered and peaked at number eight on the New Zealand Singles Chart on May 10, 2010.[62] Lasting on the chart for a total of twenty-three weeks, the song would not make its last chart appearance in New Zealand until September 9, 2010, at number Thirty-four.[62] In Australia, the song entered at number sixteen on the Australian Singles Chart in its first week and reached its peak at number four the following week; its lowest and final chart position occurred during the song's twenty-seventh week on the chart, at number forty-eight.[63]

On the Ö3 Austria Top 40, Austria's official singles chart, May 21, 2010 marked the song's chart debut, at number 22.[64] It reached its peak on August 13, at number five and would stay at that position for another week. Before re-entering on January 14, 2011 at number 72, the song made a last consecutive chart appearance on November 19, 2011 at number 52.[64] The song dropped to the bottom of the chart (number 75) on January 21, 2011, before exiting it.[64] In Italy, the song only charted for one week, at number three;[65] the same occurred in France, on February 19, 2011, at number 97.[66]

"Not Afraid" lasted 19 weeks on the Irish Singles Chart and made a final chart appearance on September 30, 2010, at number 36.[67] Flanders' chart, Ultratop 50, gave the song a debut position at number 13 on May 15, 2010; the song would not reach a higher position and would drop to number 49 in its 16th and final week.[68] On Wallonia's chart, Ultratop 50, the song debuted at number 14 and would not chart again until July 3, 2010, at number 40.[69] Longer than on any other chart, "Not Afraid" charted in Sweden for 43 consecutive weeks, debuting at number five and charting at number 49 in its final week.[70]

Music video

[edit]

Development

[edit]

"As I got sober, I started re-discovering things about myself that I had forgotten for so long that I kinda suppressed down, you know, or whatever [...] So, the whole theme of the record [is] as a person, I'm feeling better. See, this is how I feel; I feel good enough to be this, to say this, to do this."

—Eminem, talking about the video's concept in relation to the song's theme.[71]

Before filming began, Eminem spoke to Paul Rosenberg on the telephone about his ideas for a music video of "Not Afraid"; the two shared thoughts and started collaborating in May 2010.[72] American director Richard "Rich" Lee was hired to direct the video, which was shot on Market Street, in Newark, New Jersey, as well as New York City.[73][74] On the first day, Eminem filmed the opening scene on the rooftop of the Manhattan Municipal Building.[72] Lee called the moment "sort of like a very internal feeling kind of video".[72] In an interview, while the video was being shot, Eminem spoke about working with Lee "as pretty anti-climactic, for the most part, you know what I mean... It's good working with him, you know, he's about his business".[72] The scene in which Eminem jumps from a cliff and dives, was done at Greenpoint Warehouse, in Brooklyn with Lee and video producer Justin Diener. Also working with Eminem on the video included Dennis Dennehy and Chris Clancy for marketing.[72] The final scene filmed on the first day was where Eminem would try to escape from a dark basement on a set built by production designer Ethan Tobman; shooting in Newark also continued.[72]

The second day of shooting focused on Eminem as he walked through Market Street in Newark.[71] Eminem's final shoot before wrapping up was a mirror scene, which included many glass mirrors, and a fake one among them, through which he would have to break through.[71] On May 30, 2010, Eminem confirmed the video's release date in a Twitter message: "For those 'patiently waiting,' the NOT AFRAID video will premier Saturday 6/5. Details later..."[75] The day before the video's premiere, a teaser trailer was uploaded onto video sharing site YouTube, which combines many clips from the full video.[76] The music video was uploaded on video website Vevo on June 5, 2010 at 11:30 am ET.[77] Vevo stylized their logo with the E reversed, similar to Eminem's logo. On June 7, the television premiere took place on MTV and VH1, and the former featured a primetime encore the day after.[77]

As of October 2024, the music video has received over 1.9 billion views and 12 million likes on YouTube.[78]

Synopsis

[edit]
A still of the music video, which shows Eminem flying through Market Street in Newark, New Jersey

The music video opens with a scene in which Eminem stands on the rooftop of the Manhattan Municipal Building in New York City, saying the introductory lyrics. The video cuts between scenes where he raps on the rooftop and another scene where Eminem is trapped inside a dark basement. Eminem moves closer towards the edge of the building until he leaves to go downstairs as the chorus begins. He starts walking down Market Street in Newark and jaywalks across the street, avoiding vehicles that pass by. Eminem sees distorted reflections of himself on the window of a car;[79] he continues on, only to be surrounded by a series of mirrors. Confused, Eminem tries to escape, and towards the end of the second chorus, he breaks through a mirror to find himself in the middle of the street. Interspersing scenes show Eminem as he tries to break out of the basement. As the camera zooms out, the viewers see him on the edge of a destroyed street while a subway tunnel can be seen below the road.

Eminem then jumps off the edge and makes a steep dive, but flies straight up again; his speedy flight down Market Street causes sonic booms on vehicles nearby. Eventually, Eminem flies up, back to the rooftop of the Manhattan Municipal Building, where the video began.[79]

Reception

[edit]

The video was received with generally positive reviews. Following the video's Vevo release, Monica Herrera of Billboard named Eminem's jumping sequence "a moment of triumph" and compared his flying scene to Superman.[80] She also noted similarities of the video's events and the song's lyrics, deeming them a powerful word to Eminem's haters, where Eminem raps about destroying one's balcony.[80] Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone felt that Eminem "similarly puts his redemption in the spotlight" and notices courage.[21] Kreps went on to compare Eminem's flying scene to Canadian actor Keanu Reeves from the 1999 science fiction film The Matrix.[21] In his review for Entertainment Weekly, Vozick-Levinson wrote: "We are to understand that he is once again at wit's end with the world, full of barely contained energy that he's not yet sure how to direct."[81] Although he didn't feel that the video was Eminem's best, Vozick-Levinson praised the video for its message in relation to the song's vibe; he also made a comparison to Eminem's music video for "The Way I Am", as both videos involve Eminem as he jumps from a great height.[81] Patrick D'Arcy of Spin thought that Eminem is "an satria unlikely motivational speaker, but an effective one."

With over a billion views, the video is Eminem's second-most viewed on YouTube after "Love the Way You Lie" from the same album.[82]

Live performances

[edit]
Eminem performing at E3 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles

On June 2, 2010, Eminem performed "Not Afraid" in France on the set of the French show Le Grand Journal. On June 5, 2010, Eminem performed "Not Afraid" on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.[21] In celebration of the then-upcoming release of Treyarch-developed shooter game Call of Duty: Black Ops, video game publisher Activision organized many artists to perform at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 (E3 2010)—which took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles—including Eminem.[83] Joined by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, Eminem performed songs from his album, including "Not Afraid", "Love the Way You Lie" and "Won't Back Down".[84] At E3 2011, a choir, as well as hypeman Mr. Porter sung with Eminem during the chorus of "Not Afraid", while his band played with an orchestra.[84] The audience presumed the performance was over; however, Eminem shortly returned to the stage to end with "Lose Yourself". News distributor PR Newswire wrote, "Eminem ignited the crowd as he closed the all-star event".[83] Matt Elias of MTV News also praised the show, and said that "Eminem performed an electrifying set ..., crushing any doubts that he is truly back in the game".[84] Antony Bruno of Billboard called the performance "a literal bang" while Seve Appleford of Rolling Stone wrote, "The rapper marched along the catwalk with his usual intensity, previewing new songs from next week's release Recovery."[85][86] Activision reportedly spent six million dollars on party costs.[87]

"Not Afraid" was included on Eminem's set list as the final song before Eminem's "Lose Yourself" encore in his performance at the T in the Park festival, which took place on July 10, 2010.[88] This would be his first European concert in five years.[89] Eminem wore black shorts and a hoodie.[90] He commented on the weather, saying, "I know it's muddy and sloppy and shit but this is fun", and also thanked the crowd for supporting him. "Everybody who's an Eminem fan, I just wanna say thank you so much for the support you've shown over the years, for not giving up on me," he said, "I hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did tonight. Peace."[88] At the end of the performance, Eminem said, "Edin-borg, did you enjoy yourself tonight?"[91] That evening, members of the audience accused Eminem of lip syncing, but others defended him of such accusations.[92] The T in the Park performance of "Not Afraid" is included as the second track on the "Love the Way You Lie" CD single.[93] Eminem performed "Not Afraid" for a small audience in a small room at the beginning of the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards; he performed the song once again at the Los Angeles Nokia Theatre, the main site of the ceremony, and performed "Love the Way You Lie" with Barbadian singer Rihanna.[94] The audience voted his performance the best with 34 percent of all votes.[95]

Eminem performed "Not Afraid" alongside Porter at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music Festival.[96] He arrived in a Bad Meets Evil T-shirt, camouflage shorts, a black hoodie and a black hat.[97] His set list included other hits from previous years, including "Cleanin' Out My Closet", "The Real Slim Shady", "Without Me" and "Like Toy Soldiers"; he also performed with Bad Meets Evil partner Royce da 5'9" for "Fast Lane" and "Lighters".[96][97] Almost 80,000 members of the audience chanted "Shady!" for five minutes until Eminem returned to perform an encore with "Lose Yourself".[98] Before performing "Not Afraid", Eminem told the audience, "All jokes aside... Thank you for sticking by me and not giving up on me."[99] At one point during the show, he told them, "Everybody here tonight, I just wanna say thank you for sticking by me and not giving up on me."[100] News sources praised the performance; James Montgomery of MTV News wrote, "what stood out the most about Em's performance was the sheer tenacity with which he attacked it." News agency Associated Press said that "Bonnaroo's crowd may be a hippie enclave, but you wouldn't have known it Saturday night".[98] HitFix blog's Katie Hasty considered the "Not Afraid" performance "triumphant, perhaps due to crowd buzz".[101] Patrick Doyle of Rolling Stone wrote, "Eminem's hour-and-a-half set was a triumph, with the rapper constantly bouncing across the stage, performing hit after hit with the energy of a prizefighter."[100]

Eminem performed the song as part of a set list on the second day of Chicago's Lollapalooza festival with Porter, in front of an audience of 90,000 people.[102] The Hollywood Reporter's Steve Baltin wrote, "given the infrequency with which he tours, it's sometimes easy to forget just how dynamic a performer he is, but after a spectacular 90-minute show, there was no denying the rapper's power." Adam Graham of The Detroit News said that "Eminem delivered the goods to the huge throng of people".[103] Gil Kaufman of MTV News felt that "Eminem came, saw and conquered his Lollapalooza debut."[102] Eminem performed a 28-song set list at Virgin Group's V Festival (V2011) on August 20, 2011 and the following day, which included "Not Afraid" as the final song before the encore of "Lose Yourself".[104] The first day took place in Chelmsford, Essex and the second day took place in Staffordshire.[105] Chris Salmon of The Guardian called Eminem's performance of "Not Afraid" "majestic"; he went on to writing that "It's a set fit to close any festival, pop-centred or otherwise."[106] BBC's Chi Chi Izundu noted that Eminem's performance was "fast-paced".[107]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Eminem
Year Ceremony Award Result
2010 BET Hip Hop Awards (2010)[108] Verizon People's Champ Award Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards (2010)[109] Video of the Year Nominated
Best Male Video Won
Best Hip-Hop Video Won
Best Art Direction Nominated
Best Cinematography Nominated
Best Direction Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Best Special Effects Nominated
2011 BMI Urban Awards[110] Award-Winning Song Won
Grammy Awards (53rd)[111] Best Rap Solo Performance Won
Best Rap Song Nominated
Billboard Music Awards (2011)[112] Top Streaming Song (Video) Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Japan (2011)[113] Best Hip-Hop Video Won
Detroit Music Awards[114] Outstanding National Single Won
Outstanding Video / Major Budget (Over $10,000) Won

Track listings and formats

[edit]
Digital download[115]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Not Afraid"
4:10
CD single[116]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Not Afraid"
4:10
2."Not Afraid" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Cooper
  • Resto
  • Samuels
  • Evans
  • Burnett
4:10
Total length:8:20
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Credits and personnel

[edit]

The credits for "Not Afraid" are adapted from the liner notes of Recovery.[6]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[161] 11× Platinum 770,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[162] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[163] 2× Diamond 500,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[164] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[165] Platinum 300,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[166] Platinum 30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[167] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
South Korea (Gaon Chart) — 567,119[168]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[169] Platinum 60,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[170] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[171] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[172] 11× Platinum 11,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release and radio add history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label Ref
United Kingdom June 14, 2010 CD single Polydor [173]
United States July 6, 2010
[116]
April 27, 2010 Urban contemporary radio [18]
Worldwide May 3, 2010 Digital download [42][115]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Not Afraid

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Not Afraid" is a hip hop song by American rapper , released as the from his seventh studio album, Recovery, on April 29, 2010, by . The track, produced by with additional production by Jordan Evans and , and written by Eminem and Luis Resto, features an anthemic beat and addresses Eminem's struggles with , his journey to , and a message of empowerment for fans facing similar challenges. It marked a significant shift in Eminem's public persona following his well-documented battles with , positioning the song as an inspirational anthem of resilience and self-determination. Upon release, "Not Afraid" debuted at number one on the chart dated May 22, 2010, becoming the 16th song in history to achieve this feat and Eminem's first number-one single since "" in 2002. The song also topped charts in and several other countries, peaking at number four in and number five in the on the Official Singles Chart. By 2022, it had sold over 11 million units in the United States and received 11× Platinum certification from the RIAA. As of 2024, the song has exceeded 1 billion streams on . Its success helped propel Recovery to over 741,000 first-week sales in the U.S., debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. The accompanying music video, directed by Rich Lee, premiered on June 5, 2010, on Eminem's channel and depicts the rapper leading a march through an urban landscape symbolizing personal and collective triumph over adversity. Filmed in , the video features cinematic visuals, including Eminem confronting his inner demons and rallying supporters, which reinforced the song's themes of courage and redemption. It garnered widespread attention for its high production values and metaphorical , contributing to the single's cultural impact during Eminem's recovery era. Critics lauded "Not Afraid" for its motivational tone and departure from Eminem's earlier provocative style, with noting it as a sincere break from his "jokey, poppy formula" toward genuine amends and growth. Stereogum described it as a "motivational stadium-rocker" that, despite not fitting typical hit conventions, resonated through its raw sentiment of overcoming hardship. The song's positive reception extended to its role in Eminem's broader artistic evolution, earning praise for empowering listeners while achieving lasting acclaim as one of his signature tracks.

Creation

Writing and inspiration

Eminem drew inspiration for "Not Afraid" from his personal recovery from prescription drug addiction, particularly following a near-fatal overdose in December 2007 that hospitalized him and prompted a profound reevaluation of his life. This experience, coupled with his subsequent battle against relapse, shaped the song as a motivational emphasizing and resilience, intended to inspire both himself and listeners facing similar struggles. has described the track as a declaration of his determination to overcome inner demons, reflecting the broader sobriety-themed narrative of his seventh studio , Recovery. The writing process for "Not Afraid" occurred during Eminem's ongoing recovery in late 2009, as he returned to a more straightforward lyric-writing approach reminiscent of his earlier career, focusing on raw honesty about his fears and triumphs. Initial sketches for the song emerged around November 2009, positioning it as an uplifting to herald his artistic comeback after a period of personal turmoil and creative hiatus. Longtime collaborator played a key role in encouraging Eminem to explore positive themes in his material for Recovery, a shift from the darker tones of previous works like , helping to frame "Not Afraid" as a beacon of hope amid his sobriety journey. Eminem has noted that the song's creation was deeply tied to his daily fears of , drawing from introspective reflections during and personal documentation of his emotional state, which informed the lyrics' emphasis on self-empowerment and support for others in recovery. This personal vulnerability, combined with Dre's production guidance toward optimism, marked a pivotal moment in Eminem's evolution as an artist committed to themes of redemption.

Recording and production

The recording of "Not Afraid" took place primarily at Effigy Studios in , between December 2009 and February 2010.) The track's beat was created by producer in his basement studio in , using Fruity Loops software to layer orchestral strings, a , percussion, and a loop, in collaboration with who contributed the strings and elements. acquired the beat after it was initially passed to rapper Maino, and he recorded his vocals shortly thereafter, adding further production including , a church , additional mixing, and ad-libs. Key personnel included engineer Mike Strange Jr., who handled recording and mixing at Studios using at 44.1kHz/24-bit resolution, with vocals captured via a C800 and Avalon 737 preamp. and Luis Resto provided overdubs, contributing 25 stereo tracks of keyboards and to enhance the beat's emotional depth. The process involved an iterative approach to vocals, with delivering multiple takes—five for the hook and six for the bridge—to preserve raw emotion without comping or , and he overdubbed the iconic intro chant for emphasis. Final mixing occurred at Studios, prioritizing vocal clarity over an SSL G-series console with outboard effects like TC Electronic 2290 delay and Bricasti reverb. This hands-on production mirrored 's ongoing personal recovery from .

Musical and lyrical analysis

Composition

"Not Afraid" is a hip-hop track incorporating rock and orchestral elements, with a duration of 4:08. The is composed in C minor and maintains a mid-tempo pace of 86 beats per minute, characterized by a steady that supports Eminem's delivery through heavy bass lines and subtle dynamic builds. This tempo, combined with the track's energetic yet introspective vibe, contributes to its anthemic quality, blending rap conventions with broader pop accessibility. The structure adheres to a conventional verse-chorus format, opening with an intro of layered vocal chants echoing the chorus hook to evoke a crowd-like energy, followed by two verses, two choruses, a bridge, and an outro that fades with repeating motifs. The bridge features a notable breakdown highlighted by a guitar riff, providing a moment of intensity amid the song's otherwise steady progression. This arrangement emphasizes repetition in the extended chorus sections, sung by Eminem, to reinforce the track's motivational drive. Production techniques center on a rich, layered soundscape crafted by producers Boi-1da, Jordan Evans, and Matthew Burnett, with additional orchestration by Luis Resto. The beat incorporates an 808 kick for deep bass, live drums including hi-hats, rides, snares, and cymbals for rhythmic layering, alongside orchestral hits and Mellotron-style pads that create string swells for dramatic effect. A prominent piano melody anchors the harmonic foundation, supplemented by 17 keyboard tracks including guitar-like tones, while backing vocals employ Antares Auto-Tune to achieve a choral, harmonized texture. These elements were assembled using SSL consoles for EQ and compression, ensuring vocal clarity and instrumental depth without overpowering the central rap performance.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of "Not Afraid" center on themes of overcoming , self-empowerment, and rejecting toxic influences, positioning the song as an anthem of personal redemption. confronts his history directly, rapping lines such as "It was my decision to get clean, I did it for me / Admittedly, I probably did a bit too much of this / When you add that to the pills, a fidgety, jittery bitch who just quit tripping," which underscore the resolve to break free from dependency. The chorus serves as a cry with "I'm not afraid to take a stand / Everybody come take my hand / We'll walk this road together, through the storm," inviting listeners to join in collective resilience against adversity. Eminem's lyrical style employs intricate internal rhymes and multisyllabic schemes to build , creating a motivational tone that shifts from in the verses—evident in self-critical reflections like "I'm standing up, I'ma face my demons, I'm manning up, I'ma hold my ground"—to triumphant defiance in the chorus. This technique amplifies the emotional delivery, with the solemn keyboard riff briefly underscoring the introspective verses before swelling into anthemic choruses. Specific motifs include metaphors of enduring extreme hardship, such as navigating a "field of land mines" or facing inner turmoil, symbolizing the fiery trials of recovery. Direct addresses to fans reinforce shared struggles, as in "Holla if you feel like you've had enough," fostering a sense of communal . The song marks a stylistic from Eminem's earlier work on the Relapse album (2009), which delved into drug-glorifying and chaotic narratives, toward inspirational rap focused on triumph and maturity; he explicitly critiques Relapse with "Let's be honest, that last Relapse CD was 'ehh' / Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground," signaling a pivot to cleaner, more uplifting content on Recovery.

Release

Commercial release

"Not Afraid" was released as a digital download on April 29, 2010, through Interscope Records, serving as the lead single from Eminem's seventh studio album, Recovery. The decision to select it as the lead single stemmed from its anthemic tone, which represented a shift from Eminem's earlier humorous or gimmicky opening tracks and aimed to reintroduce the artist after his hiatus and personal recovery from addiction. The single was issued in multiple formats, including a standard digital release and a containing the explicit album version alongside an instrumental track. Later, "Not Afraid" appeared on vinyl reissues of Recovery, such as limited-edition double LP pressings that included the full album tracklist. Recovery itself debuted on June 18, 2010, via , , and , with "Not Afraid" sequenced as the seventh track on the standard edition. This positioning highlighted the song's role in setting the album's introspective themes while integrating it into the broader narrative of Eminem's artistic evolution.

Promotion and marketing

Pre-release promotion for "Not Afraid" kicked off with teaser clips shared across digital platforms, including Eminem's official YouTube channel and music sites, on April 29, 2010, coinciding with the single's release. These snippets, featuring excerpts of the track overlaid with visuals from past videos, aimed to generate buzz after Eminem's hiatus from new music following the 2009 album Relapse. The teasers effectively highlighted the song's introspective tone, drawing fans back into anticipation for his upcoming project. Interscope Records supported the rollout with targeted marketing campaigns, including digital advertisements on social platforms like —where Eminem maintained a strong presence—and , the leading digital music retailer at the time. Additionally, a notable TV commercial for the parent album Recovery aired during Game 6 of the , parodying infomercials with pitchman (known from ShamWow ads) to emphasize the album's transformative themes, thereby cross-promoting "Not Afraid" to a broad sports audience. These efforts capitalized on high-visibility events during the to amplify reach. Eminem actively engaged in artist-led promotion through a series of interviews on his SiriusXM Shade 45 radio channel in 2010, where he opened up about the song's sobriety message as a personal anthem for overcoming addiction and reclaiming his life. These discussions, hosted on his own network, provided authentic insight into the track's lyrical depth and tied directly to his recovery journey. Complementing this, "Not Afraid" appeared in official Recovery album trailers released in the lead-up to the June 2010 launch, while Eminem offered early live previews of the song at intimate venues and events in the spring of that year, fostering direct fan connections before wider performances. This promotional approach underscored the single's role in the album's overarching narrative of redemption and resilience.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release as the from Eminem's Recovery, "Not Afraid" garnered generally favorable reviews from music critics, who praised its anthemic quality, emotional sincerity, and role as a motivational comeback statement following the rapper's struggles with . The track was lauded for its production, blending orchestral synths with hip-hop beats to create an uplifting, stadium-ready sound that highlighted Eminem's vocal delivery and introspective themes of redemption and resilience. Rolling Stone described the song as a powerful declaration of personal redemption, emphasizing its introspective lyrics and motivational tone as key to Eminem's triumphant return to form after years of personal turmoil. Similarly, noted its stirring grandiosity as a vow to overcome darkness, marking it as a highlight for its lyrical vulnerability despite occasional self-righteousness. highlighted how the track broke from Eminem's previous formulaic singles, offering a more genuine and amends-making approach that eschewed humor for raw honesty. commended its revenge-of-the-downtrodden sentiment as effective for reintroducing to a broad audience, even amid some clichéd elements. Critics also pointed out shortcomings, with some finding the chorus overly simplistic and sing-songy compared to Eminem's historically complex wordplay. critiqued it as a "lumpen" comeback single burdened by weak rhymes and formulaic uplift, lacking the edge of his earlier work. dismissed the track's Diane Warren-esque anthem style as cringe-worthy and bombastic, arguing it prioritized clichés over genuine wit or innovation. Aggregate reviews for Recovery, in which "Not Afraid" served as the opener and standout single, averaged 63/100 on based on 28 publications, reflecting a mixed but generally favorable reception where the song was often cited as a highlight amid broader album inconsistencies.

Commercial success

"Not Afraid" achieved immediate commercial success upon its release, selling 380,000 digital downloads in its first week and debuting at number one on the chart. This strong performance significantly boosted the sales of its parent album Recovery, which moved 741,000 copies in its debut week , marking Eminem's largest opening week since 2004. Over the long term, the single has sold over 11.8 million digital copies worldwide, reflecting sustained popularity in both physical and digital formats. By 2025, "Not Afraid" had surpassed 1.2 billion streams on alone, contributing to 's overall dominance in streaming metrics for hip-hop tracks from the . Internationally, the song topped charts in ten countries, including , , and , underscoring its global appeal beyond the U.S. market. In the United States, it received from the RIAA in 2014, denoting 10 million units as of June 10, 2014.

Accolades

"Not Afraid" received significant recognition from major music awards bodies following its release. At the in 2011, the song won Best Rap Solo Performance, marking Eminem's second win in the category after "My Name Is" in 2000. It was also nominated for Best Rap Song, but lost to and ' "." These honors were bolstered by the track's critical acclaim for its introspective lyrics on recovery and resilience. In 2010, "Not Afraid" secured the Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video, with the accompanying directed by Rich Lee praised for its cinematic storytelling. The song's video also earned nominations for Best Male Video and Best Direction at the same ceremony. Additional accolades include a win for Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Track at the , reflecting its popularity among younger audiences.

Music video

Development and production

The music video for "Not Afraid" was directed by Rich Lee, who was selected for the project based on his prior collaboration with Eminem on the 2009 video for "Crack a Bottle." Lee pitched a concept framing the visuals as a metaphorical journey depicting Eminem's path to sobriety and self-empowerment, drawing inspiration from the song's lyrical motifs of personal recovery and resilience. Eminem contributed creatively to the symbolic imagery, ensuring the surreal elements aligned with themes of confronting inner struggles. Filming commenced in May 2010 and spanned five weeks across multiple U.S. locations, including street scenes in Newark, New Jersey, on May 5; a rooftop overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City; Lake Mead in Nevada; and an oil field in Bakersfield, California. Green screen technology was employed extensively to produce the video's fantastical effects, such as Eminem's levitation, flight sequences over urban landscapes, and distorted reflections symbolizing alienation. The production was managed by DNA with Justin Si Diener as producer, under the oversight of . Key crew members included Chris Probst, production designer Ethan Tobman, editor Ken Mowe, and colorist Dave Hussey at Company 3. were handled by Animaholics VFX, enhancing the metaphorical with dynamic integrations of , crowds, and ethereal movements.

Content and synopsis

The music video for "Not Afraid" opens with standing on a rooftop overlooking a , lyrics directed at his critics before leaping from the edge. He then emerges from intense flames in a barren, desolate . Throughout the video, navigates surreal urban environments, walking through crowds of masked extras portraying "demons" while reflecting his image in car windows, building surfaces, and a . He steps into a massive in the street and levitates across a body of water, culminating in a rooftop scene where he leads a with a group of fans as the city burns around them. The visuals employ a desaturated color palette that gives much of the footage an almost black-and-white appearance, punctuated by vivid color bursts during the chorus sections, alongside surreal CGI elements for transitions such as the fiery emergence and the exploding, inferno-engulfed skyline. The video concludes with a fade on standing resolute on the rooftop amid the flames, emphasizing a sense of personal triumph.

Video reception

The music video for "Not Afraid," directed by Rich Lee, garnered critical praise for its artistic and symbolic execution, particularly its metaphorical depiction of personal recovery and empowerment. highlighted the video's "visually stunning metaphor for ," emphasizing how 's journey from the edge of a to leading a crowd through urban chaos symbolized overcoming and self-doubt. commended the innovative (VFX), describing the superhero-inspired sequences—such as leaping off buildings and defying —as award-worthy for their dynamic portrayal of resilience and transformation. Audience responses echoed this acclaim, with viewers praising the video's emotional resonance on online forums, where fans noted its inspirational imagery aligning closely with the song's message of courage. The video premiered on on June 5, 2010, quickly becoming a cultural touchstone for its blend of cinematic storytelling and raw symbolism. The video received four nominations at the , including Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. As of July 2025, the video reached 2 billion views on YouTube, Eminem's third video to achieve this milestone. As of November 2025, it has over 2.03 billion views.

Performances and legacy

Live performances

Eminem debuted "Not Afraid" live at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles on June 14, where he was backed by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and a full choir, creating an explosive atmosphere that previewed the song's motivational energy ahead of the Recovery album release. He followed this with a performance at the BET Awards on June 29, 2010, delivering the track solo with sharp delivery and minimal staging to emphasize its lyrical introspection. The song's first major televised showcase came at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, opening the ceremony with a seamless medley into "Love the Way You Lie" alongside Rihanna; the stage featured towering flames and red lighting that mirrored the music video's inferno motif, amplifying the performance's dramatic intensity. Throughout the Recovery World Tour from 2010 to 2011, "Not Afraid" served as a setlist staple, performed at over 50 dates across and with elaborate pyrotechnics, including bursts of fire and that synced with the chorus to engage massive crowds and underscore the track's triumphant theme. In 2013, performed the song live with a full band during a BBC Radio 1 session with , highlighting its emotional core in a studio setting. The track continued to appear in subsequent tours, such as the 2014 The Monster Tour and 2019 sets, often as an opener to rally audiences with its anthemic build. Later appearances included a powerful solo delivery at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 5, where integrated "Not Afraid" into a career-spanning medley, earning a for its enduring relevance. By 2024, he revisited the track live at the reopening concert in on June 6, a hometown event featuring guest appearances from local artists like and , blending pyrotechnics with the venue's industrial backdrop for a celebratory nod to his roots. Most recently, on October 19, 2024, closed out his set at the Formula 1 in , with "Not Afraid," captivating a diverse festival crowd under night lights.

Cultural impact and covers

"Not Afraid" has emerged as a prominent empowerment anthem, particularly within recovery programs and mental health initiatives, where its lyrics about overcoming addiction and personal demons resonate deeply with individuals in treatment. In therapeutic settings, the song is frequently employed in lyric analysis sessions to facilitate discussions on resilience and self-empowerment among mental health consumers. Eminem's own references to the track in marking sobriety milestones, such as his 12-year anniversary in 2020, 16-year mark in 2024, and 17-year milestone in April 2025, have further amplified its role as a symbol of recovery. The song's motivational themes have also permeated sports culture, notably appearing in high-profile NFL events. During the in , accompanied Commissioner to the stage with "Not Afraid" playing, eliciting a roaring crowd response and underscoring the track's association with boldness and hometown pride. This moment highlighted its broader societal role in inspiring athletes and fans to confront challenges fearlessly. In terms of adaptations, "Not Afraid" has inspired numerous covers and interpolations across hip-hop. Machine Gun Kelly's 2018 diss track "" notably samples the song's instrumental, repurposing its triumphant beat amid a high-profile with . Other artists, including parody creators like and rapper , have interpolated its chorus in their works, extending the original's confrontational energy into new contexts. The track's enduring legacy continues through digital platforms, where it has fueled viral content on , amassing over 1.1 million videos featuring user-generated performances, edits, and motivational montages since 2023. This resurgence has sustained its streams and cultural , reinforcing its status as a timeless call to resilience into 2025.

Formats and credits

Track listings and formats

"Not Afraid" was released in digital download and formats.

Digital download

"Not Afraid" was first released as a digital download single on April 29, 2010, through and . The standard explicit version runs for 4:08, while the clean edit is shortened to 3:58 to remove profane language for radio play. These versions were available in AAC format at 256 kbps via platforms like .

CD single

The CD single was issued in Europe in 2010 by Interscope Records. It features the explicit main version at 4:08 and an instrumental version at 4:07. Promotional CD singles with similar track listings were distributed in various regions, including and .
No.TitleLength
1Not Afraid (Main)4:08
2Not Afraid (Instrumental)4:07

Remixes

No official remixes of "Not Afraid" were released in 2010 by , the track's primary producer; however, fan-created extended versions appeared on digital platforms like as part of deluxe compilations.

Reissues

In , to mark the 10th anniversary of the Recovery album, released limited merchandise but no dedicated digital bundle for "Not Afraid" featuring live audio from the 2010 tour. The song remains available in its original formats as part of the album's standard digital catalog. "Not Afraid" was packaged as the on the Recovery album, appearing as track seven in both standard and deluxe editions.

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel "Not Afraid" credits as the lead artist, providing all vocals, contributing to songwriting, and handling additional production as well as mixing. The primary production was led by , who also provided drums and co-wrote the track, with additional production from Jordan Evans and , both of whom contributed to writing. Luis Resto is credited with songwriting, keyboards, and additional production support. served as for the Recovery, overseeing the overall project. Recording and mixing were primarily handled by Mike Strange at Effigy Studios in , with assistance from Joe Strange and mixing by and Mike Strange.

Charts and certifications

Chart positions

"Not Afraid" debuted at number one on the on May 22, 2010, becoming 's third number-one hit on the chart and the 16th song in history to enter at the top spot. The track held the position for one week and spent a total of 25 weeks on the chart. It also topped the for one week and remained on that chart for 20 weeks. On the chart, "Not Afraid" reached number one and held the position for 12 weeks, charting for a total of 28 weeks. The song ranked number 24 on the 2010 year-end chart. Internationally, "Not Afraid" achieved strong placements on several major charts. It peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and spent 28 weeks in total. In , it reached number 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart, charting for 27 weeks. The track peaked at number 9 on the German Singles Chart (Official German Charts) for 3 weeks, with a total of 30 weeks on the chart. In France, it entered the Top Singles chart at number 97 for one week. Additional strong performances included number 1 in (24 weeks total) and number 3 in Ireland (19 weeks total).
ChartPeak PositionWeeks at PeakTotal Weeks on Chart
US Billboard Hot 1001125
US Billboard Hot Rap Songs11228
Canadian Hot 1001120
UK Singles Chart5228
Australian ARIA Singles Chart4127
German Official German Charts Singles Chart9330
French Top Singles9711
New Zealand Recorded Music NZ1324
Irish Singles Chart3119

Certifications and sales

"Not Afraid" has achieved significant commercial certifications across multiple territories, reflecting its enduring popularity through sales and streaming equivalents. In the United States, the (RIAA) certified the single 10× Platinum (Diamond) on June 10, 2014, for 10 million units, marking it as 's second digital Diamond award following "". This certification was updated to 11× Platinum on March 8, 2022, encompassing 11 million units that include equivalent album sales from streaming, where 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as one unit. As of November 2025, it remains one of 's highest-certified singles, driven in part by its chart-topping performance. In the , the (BPI) awarded 3× Platinum certification on May 3, 2025, recognizing sales and streams exceeding 1.8 million units. In , the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified the track 5× Platinum, equivalent to 350,000 units, as reported in mid-2024 updates. In , certified the song 4× Platinum on August 17, 2025, for 280,000 units. Globally, "Not Afraid" has surpassed 15 million certified units as of November 2025 when aggregating major market awards, bolstered by its streaming success on platforms like , where it exceeded 1.23 billion streams as of November 2025. This milestone underscores its status as Eminem's first single to reach Diamond-equivalent certification in 2014, a feat that highlighted his recovery-era resurgence.

References

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