Eminem proved that not even the Oxford English Dictionary could stop him from finding a rhyme for the word ‘orange’, and it left people absolutely stunned.
While the dictionary may insist there are no perfect rhymes for ‘orange,’ the real Slim Shady sees things differently.
In a 2011 interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Eminem demonstrated why he’s earned the title of ‘Rap God,’ explaining his unique approach to rhyming the tricky word.
And he didn’t just find one rhyme, he came up with multiple, proving that with the right mindset and a bit of lyrical creativity, anything is possible.
Rather than frantically Googling words that rhyme with ‘orange,’ Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, explained that the trick is to shift the focus away from ‘orange’ itself. By emphasizing different syllables and tweaking pronunciation, he can cleverly bend the word to fit into a rhyme scheme.
He said: “The word ‘orange’ doesn’t rhyme with anything, and it kind of p****s me off because I can think of plenty of things that do.”
“If you take the word at face value and just say ‘orange,’ nothing will rhyme with it exactly.
“But if you enunciate it differently and stretch it into multiple syllables, ‘or-ange’, then you can make it work. Like, ‘I put my or-ange, four-inch, door hinge in stor-age and ate porr-idge with Geo-rge.'”
Take that, you tricky-to-rhyme citrus fruit.
Even years later, Eminem fans are still in awe of his ‘lyrical genius,’ flooding social media with praise after the clip resurfaced.
One fan declared: “One of the best rappers of all time.”
Another agreed: “Eminem is and always will be a lyrical genius. The best ever.”
A third simply put: “GOAT for a reason!”
And another admirer summed it up perfectly: “Eminem’s linguistic agility never fails to amaze! The way he bends words to his will and finds rhymes where most can’t, like with ‘orange’, shows his genius in full flow. Language is a playground for this guy, and watching him at work is a masterclass in creativity with words.”
No wonder Billie Eilish once admitted she was scared of him, though Eminem later responded in a way only Slim Shady could.
