Em - "No Punches"

[EminemBase]

Just always noticed this and thought it's a bit odd...

In "Say What You Say" Em says:

"First take, I make mistakes, just keep it
No punches, pull no punches, that's weak shit, fake shit"

Yet he uses punches a lot himself. Especially on TES. "Till I Collapse" in particular, he said it was great when he found out he could use punches because he wasn't used to it.

Yet in that line he says "no punches" as if he doesn't and is denouncing it lmao... Odd.

[ShaBruv]

How do you know he punches on till i collapse?

[M-Pyre]

How do you know he punches on till i collapse?

he doesn't

[theJFKshow]

I guarantee he does.

And at least he does it right, instead of T.I. who spits one line, then the next, then the next, and doesn't edit them correctly so they sound like shit. This is the reason why I don't like T.I.

[EminemBase]

How do you know he punches on till i collapse?

he doesn't

Yes he does.

Get the accapella of it, you can hear the punches clearly.

He uses a lot of punches on that album to perfect delivery. Not because he has to but just for the interest of totally perfecting every line deliverance.

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

He probably uses spot punching less than you'd think. Professional musicians are generally against punches, particularly vocalists. This is mainly because of breathing and dynamics. The slightest disparity can be made relevant if put under a microscope. I think Em mostly does it the old fashioned way: keep doing the verse over until it's perfect. He does this, not only because he's a perfectionist, but because he can afford to.

[UofLCard]

I had no idea what punches were before I read this thread so I thought you were talking about Em punching people.

[Fa-Q]

No he's saying "don't hold punches" like don't hold back...nowhatimsaying

[M-Pyre]

How do you know he punches on till i collapse?

he doesn't

Yes he does.

Get the accapella of it, you can hear the punches clearly.

He uses a lot of punches on that album to perfect delivery. Not because he has to but just for the interest of totally perfecting every line deliverance.

hehe, you got me whole wrong. if you look closely, you might just notice what I'm talking about. I'm talking about YOU, not knowing if he punches on till I collapse. I too got the a cappella, and I can't hear it.


edit: btw, I know he punches in, just not so often.

[AbramIsaac]

No he's saying "don't hold punches" like don't hold back...nowhatimsaying

I agree, that's my interpretation.

As in:

No punches pulled. No punches? That's weak shit.

However, the preceding line does point to editing: First take I make, mistakes, just keep it. So, perhaps it's meant to go both ways.

[robollama]

No he's saying "don't hold punches" like don't hold back...nowhatimsaying

Nah dude, it's obviously talking about editing and the line above it puts it into perfect context when he says "first take, make mistakes."

[Evan C.]

He doesn't seem to punch in at all anymore, hence why his recent verses sound exactly the same live.

[AbramIsaac]

No he's saying "don't hold punches" like don't hold back...nowhatimsaying

Nah dude, it's obviously talking about editing and the line above it puts it into perfect context when he says "first take, make mistakes."

I disagree.

It's less than obvious because he says "No punches pulled", which is a reference to the other interpretation. While I agree that the preceding line does indeed place it into the context you are speaking of, it's not exactly a closed case. Beyond that, since he does use the "punch" function, one can't help but wonder why he would say something like that, unless he wanted it to have multiple meanings.

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

he punches on Drop The World & 'Till I Collapse. he is yelling & rapping very fast in both of those songs & he'd run out of breath before he finishes the verse so he has to punch in. you can tell he punches in DTW, he had to take a few breaths performing it live.

he also would've punched in Underground & third verse of Stay Wide Awake

& Abram is right in that eminem is making a pun on "punch."

I'm not going to say he didn't use punches in those particular songs, but your reasoning isn't necessarily true.
Em probably has the lung capacity of an opera singer, given all the vocal exercises he's done over the years.
Listen to the "you started getting moody on me..." part in Spend Some Time. That's all in one breath, no punches. Not many people can do that.
Live is a different setting. Since he's moving and dancing around the stage, of course his breathing technique won't be immaculate.

[Emadyville]

He doesn't seem to punch in at all anymore, hence why his recent verses sound exactly the same live.

this ^