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I just listened to The Hills (Remix) by Eminem. People in the Youtube comment section were saying this line was great.

I let you see my dark side, but like a mic check, you got one too.

Lyric video is available here.

I don't understand what Eminem is saying here. What is the relation between dark side and mic check?

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When someone does a mic check, they need to say something into the mic. People often say

  • Mic check. One, two. One, two.
  • Testing, testing. One, two. One, two.

One two sounds like one too. The double meaning is that during a mic check, you got (have, hear, say) "one two" and, a dark side, you got (have) one too (also).

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  • 4
    Further proof that Eminem is one of if not the best lyricist of our time.
    – SGR
    Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 11:55
  • 5
    I don't listen to Eminem or any rap for that matter but that is just genius.
    – lennyklb
    Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 13:40
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    @SGR I have no problem with Eminem; but it's not like there's a traditional "dark side" to a "mic check" so the simile only really works on one level; it's not an amazing line IMO.
    – JMac
    Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 16:04
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    @JMac It's a remarkable line because employing a homophone where you're expecting a simile is unexpected.
    – relaxing
    Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 16:41
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    I wouldn't call this "genius" or evidence that Eminem is "the best lyricist of our time", but it's vaguely clever wordplay.
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 19:59

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