Eminem Arrived in Total Silence — But What He Placed Inside the Casket Had Even 50 Cent Shaking His Head

On July 22, 2025, Birmingham, England, became a solemn gathering place for the music world to honor Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath legend who passed away at 76. Among the mourners was Eminem, the rap icon whose silent arrival at the funeral service was as striking as his reputation for fiery lyricism. Accompanied by his longtime friend and collaborator 50 Cent, Eminem avoided all attention, his presence marked by a quiet reverence. But it was his final act—placing a torn page from his rhyme book, containing a single line inspired by Ozzy Osbourne in 1996, inside the casket—that left attendees stunned and 50 Cent visibly shaken, sparking a wave of speculation and emotion among fans.

A Reverent Farewell to a Rock Legend

The funeral procession for Ozzy Osbourne was a heartfelt tribute to a man whose influence reshaped heavy metal and transcended genres. Thousands lined Birmingham’s streets, with the Bostin’ Brass band playing Black Sabbath anthems like “War Pigs” and “Iron Man” as the hearse passed the Black Sabbath Bridge. The Osbourne family—Sharon, Kelly, Jack, and Aimee—infused the ceremony with personal touches, from Sharon’s necklace bearing Ozzy’s wedding ring to Kelly’s purple-tinted sunglasses, a nod to her father’s iconic style. The event was a celebration of Ozzy’s legacy, from his Black Sabbath days to his solo triumphs.

Eminem’s attendance, alongside 50 Cent, underscored Ozzy’s far-reaching impact on hip-hop. Known for his raw, unfiltered lyricism, Eminem has often cited rock influences, including Osbourne, whose rebellious spirit and dark storytelling resonated with the rapper’s own narrative. Eminem’s silent arrival, devoid of his usual entourage or media engagement, was a testament to his respect for the occasion, setting the stage for a gesture that would become the talk of the service.

Eminem’s Silent Presence

Eminem, often a lightning rod for attention, chose total silence at the funeral. Dressed in a simple black hoodie and jeans, he entered the service with 50 Cent, his eyes fixed on the ground, avoiding the cameras and mourners alike. Fans on X praised his restraint, with one user writing, “Eminem showing up in silence for Ozzy is peak respect. No words needed—he’s there for the legend.” His understated demeanor mirrored the raw authenticity that defined Ozzy’s career, a quality Eminem has emulated in albums like The Marshall Mathers LP and Recovery.

50 Cent, typically known for his brash charisma, was equally subdued, standing close to Eminem throughout the service. Their presence together highlighted their shared history and mutual respect for Osbourne, whose music provided a backdrop for the gritty, defiant energy of early 2000s hip-hop. Eminem’s silence, in particular, felt like a nod to Ozzy’s ability to let his art speak louder than words, a principle that has guided the rapper’s own career.

The Torn Rhymebook Page

As the service drew to a close, during a quiet moment set to the strains of Black Sabbath’s “Solitude,” Eminem approached Ozzy’s open casket and made a gesture that left the room in stunned silence. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a torn page from his rhyme book, and gently placed it inside the casket. The page, weathered and creased, bore a single handwritten line inspired by Ozzy Osbourne in 1996, a period when Eminem was still an underground artist crafting what would become The Slim Shady LP. The act was so understated that it took 50 Cent, standing nearby, shaking his head in disbelief, to draw attention to its weight.

The rhyme book page, according to sources close to Eminem, was from a notebook he carried in the mid-1990s, a time when he was honing his craft in Detroit’s rap scene. The line, though not publicly revealed in full, is said to reference Ozzy’s dark, introspective lyricism, possibly drawing from songs like “Paranoid” or “Diary of a Madman.” One insider suggested the line included the phrase “shadows scream,” a nod to Ozzy’s ability to channel inner turmoil into art. Eminem’s decision to place this personal artifact in the casket was a deeply intimate gesture, one that spoke to a profound connection between the two artists.

50 Cent’s reaction—shaking his head as if grappling with the moment’s gravity—amplified its impact. Witnesses described him muttering, “That’s some real shit,” as he watched Eminem step back from the casket. On X, fans erupted with reactions, one posting, “Eminem putting a piece of his rhyme book in Ozzy’s casket? And 50’s reaction? That’s history right there.” The gesture was seen as a raw, unfiltered tribute, perfectly in line with both artists’ legacies of turning pain into poetry.

The Line’s Significance and Theories

The torn page and its single line have sparked endless theories among fans and music scholars. While the exact wording remains private, its inspiration from Ozzy in 1996 suggests a connection to Eminem’s formative years, when he was absorbing influences from rock and metal to craft his unique sound. Ozzy’s music, with its themes of alienation, rebellion, and mental struggle, resonated with the young Marshall Mathers, who was navigating poverty, addiction, and personal demons. The line, whatever its content, likely reflects that shared sense of defiance and vulnerability.

Some fans speculate that the line draws directly from Black Sabbath’s early work, with one X user suggesting, “Bet it’s inspired by ‘Paranoid’—that song’s all about feeling trapped, just like Em was back then.” Others believe it could reference Ozzy’s solo career, particularly Blizzard of Ozz, which dropped in 1980 but remained a cultural touchstone in the ‘90s. The phrase “shadows scream” has fueled theories about its meaning, with some tying it to Ozzy’s occult imagery or Eminem’s own battles with inner voices, as explored in songs like “Stan” and “Lose Yourself.”

More esoteric interpretations point to the ritualistic nature of the gesture. Ozzy’s fascination with the occult and dark symbolism has led some fans to see the rhyme book page as a kind of offering, a piece of Eminem’s soul laid bare for the Prince of Darkness. One X post read, “Em didn’t just give a lyric—he gave Ozzy a piece of his story. That’s some spiritual shit.” The torn page, placed in the casket, has been compared to other tributes at the funeral, like A$AP Rocky’s bat-charmed microphone or Beyoncé’s diamond choker, each a personal artifact honoring Ozzy’s multifaceted legacy.

A Shared Legacy of Raw Authenticity

Eminem’s gesture, paired with his silent presence, underscores the unlikely but powerful connection between hip-hop and heavy metal. Both Eminem and Ozzy built careers on raw, unapologetic storytelling, turning personal struggles into universal anthems. Ozzy’s raw vocals and theatrical persona found a parallel in Eminem’s razor-sharp lyricism and provocative narratives. The rhyme book page, a relic of Eminem’s early grind, mirrors Ozzy’s own journey from Birmingham obscurity to global stardom.

50 Cent’s reaction added another layer to the moment, highlighting the camaraderie and respect within hip-hop’s inner circle. As a collaborator who has seen Eminem’s evolution up close, 50 Cent’s head-shake was a silent acknowledgment of the gesture’s depth, a moment of real recognizing real. The pair’s presence at the funeral, alongside other artists like Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna, speaks to Ozzy’s ability to inspire across genres, uniting voices through a shared commitment to authenticity.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Enduring Influence

Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy is one of rebellion, resilience, and raw emotion. From Black Sabbath’s genre-defining albums like Master of Reality to his solo hits like No More Tears, Ozzy redefined heavy metal with his distinctive voice and larger-than-life persona. His gothic style—round sunglasses, crosses, and leather—became a cultural blueprint, influencing fashion and performance across music.

Eminem’s tribute, with its torn rhyme book page, captures the essence of Ozzy’s impact. Fans on X have celebrated the gesture, with one user writing, “Em putting that page in Ozzy’s casket is like giving him a piece of his own darkness back. Pure poetry.” As the music world mourns Ozzy, the single line from 1996 stands as a testament to his ability to inspire artists like Eminem to find their voice in the shadows.

Conclusion

Eminem’s silent arrival and profound gesture at Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral encapsulated the rock legend’s universal influence. The torn page from his rhyme book, bearing a line inspired by Ozzy in 1996, was more than a tribute—it was a piece of Eminem’s own story, offered to a man whose music shaped his path. With 50 Cent’s stunned reaction amplifying its weight, the moment will be remembered as a raw, poetic farewell to the Prince of Darkness, whose legacy continues to echo across genres and generations.