Eminem and Royce Da 5' 9" Release Video for Lighters

Just when fans thought they would never get a chance to see Eminem’s blonde mop again, the rap phenomen resuscitated his once sunny ‘do for his new video with Royce da 5’9”, “Lighters,” featuring Bruno Mars.

Per the previously mentioned blonde hair, “Lighters” depicts a revival of the rappers’ former selves, remembering Em when he was but a struggling and depressed wannabe rapper living in squander and Royce when he was but a jailbird, penning lyrics onto the cell walls. Mars, of course, is right where we left him in the “Grenade” video, playing that darned piano in an unnamed location and crying, er, crooning.

“With my arms out wide/I open my eyes/And now I wanna see is a sky full of lighters,” he sings.

After Eminem throws up his writing pad in despair, and Royce finds a secret hole in his cell, the two spark their own figurative (and literal) lighters while traveling through a tunnel, where they eventually emerge into a field of grass, joining other wistful revelers. End.

In all honesty, the video is a tad boring, but it doesn’t matter. The pair’s lyrics ride the beat tighter than a hardworking prostitute, and all one has to do is close his or her eyes to get lost in the kamikaze attack of their flow.

“Lighters” follows on the heels of the freshly pressed Rolling Stone article that named Mr. Mathers King of Hip Hop, and rightly so, as Eminem sheds all self-effacing inhibitions while praising his God-given rap talents in double time. He even confirms the article in absentia, rapping, “Had a dream/I was king/I woke up/still king.” Royce gives himself praise, as well, although he allows room for his paternal heritage and Detroit hometown to bask in the limelight, too. Mars, with his slick doo-wop hairstyle from another time and place, is there to soften the blow.

All in all, the video was okay. We’re still looking for a visual that matches the epic delivery of these two guys, but until then, this’ll do.

“Lighters” is the second single to be released from Eminem and Royce’s collaborative album, Hell: The Sequel.

Click here to watch the new video.