The Emil Nava-directed visuals shows how Em and Sarah Ashley Toups' sweet relationship turns abusive when the couple finds out that Sarah's pregnant.
- Feb 15, 2018
AceShowbiz - Eminem shows that Valentine's Day isn't always filled with smiles and heart-shaped chocolates. The Detroit rapper unveiled music video for "River" featuring Ed Sheeran on February 14 and as he promised, it is filled with unhappiness.
The Emil Nava-directed visuals begins with Em sitting in a confessional room, answering some questions about love. When asked about what love means to him, he answers, "My personal life is not exactly a highlight reel."
The clip then changes to show a narrative of Em meeting his love interest, played by actress Sarah Ashley Toups, at a boxing gym. They share a meal and eventually hit up a hotel, where she films their interactions. However, their sweet relationship soon turns abusive when the couple finds out that Sarah's pregnant.
Em is not happy with the baby news, which reflects in the song's lyrics. "With her in the womb, we can't bring her in this world," he raps. "Shoulda knew/ To use protection 'fore I bit into your forbidden fruit." Towards the end of the clip, Em realizes what "River" truly means to him. "What this song means to me is something that I felt like I needed to get off my chest," he admits.
"River" is the second single off Em's ninth studio album "Revival", which was released on December 15, 2017 and debuted atop Billboard 200. In an interview with Billboard, Ed revealed that he was asked to work on the song when he visited Russell Crowe's house in Australia.
Knowing what he would do if he ever got the chance to work with the rapper, Ed "used the studio at Russell's house... played the drums on it, and then played the guitar, and then recorded the thing and wrote chorus and did the piano on it, and then sent it off and then didn't hear anything back." He shared that it happened back in March 2016. However, a year later, Ed was informed that Em had recorded his verse for the song.
