In recent weeks Eminem has emerged as Detroit's most high-profile ambassador by starring in a well-received GM Super Bowl commercial promoting the virtues of the economically challenged city. Now, his Motor City crusade keeps rolling with a new video called "Letter to Detroit."
In the clip, the 8 Mile star narrates a montage of Detroit residents and iconic cityscapes with enough rhetorical gusto to boost the morale of a whole metropolitan area. He speaks directly to the city itself with a solemn, acoustic-guitar backing.
"You carried our nation from infancy, to industry," Em says. "There is a resilience that comes from somewhere deep in your streets."
There are certainly worse proponents for a city to have in its corner. The rapper recently became the most "Liked" living artist on Facebook and received a diamond plaque for his 2002 album The Eminem Show.