The A-Ha Moment
The good news is, Stan wasn’t based on one particular person. According to the rapper, Stan was conceptual, a result of Eminem’s imagination following his experiences and interactions with fans. As it turns out, the song came about after producer Mark Howard James heard the song “Thank You” by Dido.
Photo by Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
The producer taped the song, touched it up with a new bassline, and sent the remix to Marshall Mathers. According to Eminem, he felt an instant connection. “This is about an obsessed fan,” he claimed, discussing his ah-ha moment. “That’s all I kept thinking.”