Did Eminem Really Mime 'Berzerk' On SNL? [Video]

Lip synching: it's a shameful option for any artist to have to fall back on but sometimes miming to music has to be done to keep that "live" performance sounding tight. However, rapper Eminem is one of the last artists you'd imagine opting for the lip synch over real vocals. If not for the stigma, then for the fact that his latest album, Marshall Mathers LP 2, is packed with speed rapping; the kind you'd imagine would be nearly impossible to mime along to. Check out the video of his performance on SNL - notice anything?

Eminem's 'SNL' Lip Synching Denied.

The rapper played a set on Saturday Night Live last Saturday (2nd November) to promote his latest record. He took to the stage for a rendition of his lead single 'Berzerk' but even not so eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed something a little off about his performance. TMZ have accused the rapper of lip synching and indeed it does appear that the SNL footage does corroborate with this claim.

The Rapper Can Be Heard Singing When The Mic's Nowhere Near His Mouth.

Eminem can be seen bopping about and waving his hands to the beat - physical exertions that would surely make him a bit breathless - but the vocals are delivered crystal clear, without any panting or muffling and with the melodic intonation at exactly the right times. Also, he takes the microphone away from his face several times only for the vocals to sound exactly the same. We thought there were backing singers but on closer inspection, it looks like a case of the bad mime.

However, a rep for the 41 year-old star has denied all accusations of lip synching, saying that Eminem "was not lip-syncing," and instead "doubles his vocals live [and] rhymes over a vocal track." The rep adds, via E! Online, "He only does it sporadically through the songs. They're accent tracks."

What's the difference? Isn't singing along to your own song to make your voice sound more powerful still a form of lying? We were seriously impressed when 'Rap God' dropped, ripping forth with some of the most powerfully fast lyric-spitting we'd ever heard. Too bad that power apparently can't be replicated live.