"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"

In my opinion, the most beneficial aspect of this english class would have to be the freedom we had to choose an topic that we were interested in. Often time, I find it monotonous having to write about something that I am not particularly interested in. However, spending an entire semester writing about my favorite rapper was honestly an amazing experience. I loved researching and learning new topics to apply to my artist. Additionally, I enjoyed that this class also focused on pop musical culture as a whole. I feel like our class discussions about Miley Cyrus and her crazed media appearances were engrossing and quite hilarious.

My favorite assignment was the scholarly analysis. Although it was the longest and most stressful, I really enjoyed analyzing race relations and misogyny in terms of Eminem's music. Also, I had never before written a "scholarly" paper so it was beneficial to learn the conventions of this type of paper. I expect to be writing a lot more of these in my future.

From this class, I hope to take with me my newfound understanding of Eminem as an artist and also my ability to write in a variety of forms (liner notes, argument essays, scholarly analysis). I really enjoyed my time in this class and know I will use the topics we covered in my future college writing.

"And when I'm gone, just carry on..."

After a semester of focusing on my favorite artist, I surprisingly learned a lot of new information about Eminem. I already knew a lot about his personal life from reading biographies and watching some movies about his concerts and life; however, the assignments gave me the opportunity to analyze aspects of Eminem's musical style that I never thought about before. For example, I always knew that he spoke negatively about women and was considered a misogynist. The scholarly analysis gave me the opportunity to dig even deeper and find the underlying cause and effect of his women-hatred.

I have always been an Eminem fan, but after composing five writing pieces related to his artistry, I have a newfound respect for his talent. The liner notes allowed me to specifically analyze the conventions of rap music and determine how it can affect a specific audience. I loved synthesizing Eminem's lyrics because every time I listened to a song, I found something new and interesting about the wordplay. I never realized how much thought artists put into their songs and lyrics. In order to truly appreciate an artist's message, it is important for fans to not only understand the lyrics but also the musical conventions.

Don't worry Marshall, next album, I'll be back...

I plan on remediating my album review by writing a rap from the perspective of Slim Shady. In Encore, Eminem basically sheds off the vulgar, super-villain identity (Slim Shady) that made him famous. I plan to twist this idea around and have Slim Shady respond to the album's content. In my album review, I praised the album because of Eminem's ability to use his lyrics as a therapeutic force, relaying messages of confidence and perseverance. In my rap, Slim Shady is going to express his anger towards Eminem for leaving him behind by belittling the album's conventions.

Here is a rough sketch of my outline (I am definitely going to add/remove some ideas):
HOOK: Something about Eminem changing from a rapper to a "soft" parent-pleasing individual, loosing the hood image that shaped him. Eminem left behind the identity that made him famous.

Verse 1: Poking fun at "Not Afraid" for its psychological appeal
Verse 2: Eminem is no longer the strong figure he used to be. Giving up his title ("Talkin' 2 Myself- he accepts defeat by other artists)
Verse 3: "Love the Way You Lie" Eminem used to say girls were manipulative and include misogynistic lyrics. Now he is including a woman (Rihanna) in his own song. Hypocritical.
Verse 4: I want to make this a kind of guilt trip verse- Slim Shady is going to tell Eminem that he is worthless with his alter ego.

"Ha ha Em, you've fallen off track, get ready to be attacked, grabbed, ad slapped. but don't worry Marshall, next album I'll be back..."


The main reason I chose to revise my album review in the structure of a rap is because "rap battles" are a popular part of hip-hop culture. Eminem actually was introduced into the mainstream rap scene by attending underground rap battles in Detroit. In a rap battle, two individuals freestyle to a beat picked by the DJ- they are basically trying to belittle one another. The person who lyrically destroys the other is deemed the winner. I thought it would be cool to have Slim Shady be in a battle against Eminem and his album Recovery. To add to the parody theme, I think I am going to rap the lyrics to a song on Recovery.

I am a bit concerned about offending anyone with the topics and language that I use (Slim Shady was a very vulgar individual and in order to make this rap authentic, I want to stay close to his rap style). But if Eminem can do it, why can't I?

...Let's WRAP it up with a RAP

After spending several months analyzing the musical choices of rapper Eminem, I might decide to take a position against Eminem (I am used to agreeing and supporting his work). However, I think it would be interesting for me to argue that Eminem's decision to shed off the Slim Shady persona and his recent step towards more socially acceptable songs/themes is just a marketing strategy. Although it might be hard, I think it would be a rewarding experience to try to look at Eminem from the view of a critic. 
My album review was on Recovery (2010)-- the album where Eminem completely rid of his Slim Shady idealisms and adopted a much more socially comfortable style of rap. I would love to try and create my own rap verse or song that attacks Eminem on his choices in Recovery. Eminem actually emerged into the mainstream hip-hop stream through his rap-battles. For this assignment, I plan to place myself in the shoes of an Eminem opposer. I will act as a critique; however, instead of writing a review in a newspaper, I will create my own rap.  I am looking forward to beginning this assignment now :) 

Central Argument

Eminem is targeted for his misogynistic tendencies more than other rap artists because of his race (whiteness).

This central argument is important because it takes into consideration two controversial aspects of Eminem: his misogyny and his race. Although Eminem is a rap artist, he is placed on a different pedestal compared to other black rappers because of the racial implication of being "white." I think it would be interesting to look at songs from black hip-hop artists that have the same level of misogyny as Eminem's tracks and show how because he is a white rapper, Eminem's songs created more controversy. Also, I would like to explain my central argument from a historical perspective, looking into the "white man's burden" idea that states white men are more civilized than blacks, latinos, etc.
Within the organization of my paper, I plan to connect all my evidence to this underlying argument of race. All of my introductory information about Eminem's past relationships with women will be tied to his misogynistic tendencies in music and the racial implications of such behavior.

Methods of Argumentation

After reading about the different methods of organizing an argument, I think that I am going to adhere to the classical arrangement (with some traces of deductive reasoning). Since my topic is complex, I feel like this type of arrangement will help me, as the writer, organize my argument effectively while also guiding my audience through my evidence. 

I know that I want to argue that Eminem is heavily targeted for his misogynistic lyrics (compared to other rap/hip-hop artists) because of his position as a "white" rapper. I plan to prove my claim by utilizing the following main, logical points:

1. Background information about the general misogynistic conventions in hip-hop: I want my audience to understand where this "women-hate" characteristic arose from in rap-music. This way, they will understand why misogyny is such a popular convention in the rap industry.
2. Comparison of Eminem vs other black artists: I think it would be interesting to compare Eminem's lyrics to that of black hip-hop artist and show how they both exemplify misogynistic tendencies. Then, I want to research information about the songs' receptions and show how Eminem received much more negative responses. 
3. Specific Feminist Group Responses: By looking at feminist groups and their opinions towards Eminem, I can maybe understand their side of the argument and even look for racial implications.
4. White Man's Burden: I can support my argument from a historical perspective by explaining how in the past, those who were not European were considered to be uncivilized. Although this belief is not practiced in modern day society, it may be a reason why Blacks are not targeted as much for their misogynistic tendencies compared to Eminem. 

"Shut up bitch, I'm trying to talk": Eminem as a Misogynist

I have decided to address women-hatred (misogyny) within Eminem's music and lifestyle. Eminem is the rap artist most often attacked for his lyrical puns against females. However, I do not think that Eminem is specifically to blame for his expressions of misogyny. The rapper is simply aligning himself along the one of the general conventions of hip-hop music: the degradation of women.

Three questions I want to address in my scholarly analysis include:

1. From where did the male degradation of women stem from in hip-hop culture?
2. Is Eminem being "white" one of the reasons why he is attacked for his misogynistic lyrics more often than other rap/hip-hop artists? If so, why is it that the degradation of women in white culture receives a different response from society than the degradation of women in black or hispanic culture?
3. How is Eminem's past relationships with women reflected in his music? (More specifically, look into the track "Cleaning Out My Closet" where Eminem raps about burying his own mother, and "Kim" where he lyrically illustrates the killing of his wife.)

I have found several articles on the JSTOR database that go into depth about Black culture and the degradation of women (I can tie this into the fact that rap/hip-hop is a predominantly African American art form). I also know of a study that decodes Eminem's lyrics and records the amount of references Eminem has made against specific women or females in general. 

Scholarly Topics

After some brainstorming about interesting topics related to Eminem, here it what I came up with:

1. The censorship of Eminem's music: Immediately after reading the instruction sheet for this assignment, I knew I wanted to focus my paper on something controversial (since this is the foundation of Eminem's fame). Eminem has been labeled a minsogynst and homophobe, experiencing a lot of hatred from gay-rights activists and feminist. I think it would be interesting to research the purpose of Eminem's use of vulgar and offensive language. I found a scholarly source that argues Eminem is a not a homophobe but more of a genderphobe- I would like to research more into this topic.
2. Eminem's connection to Detroit: While this still may appear as a broad topic, I have always been curious about Eminem's strong affinity towards the city which he grew up in (he was actually not born in Detroit, but in Missouri- however, he references Detroit much more). I would like to look more into how the rough, 8-Mile impoverished landscape shaped Eminem into the artist he is today. I have found some articles that talk about the growth of rap within inner-city Detroit, as a form of popular self-expression. I could also bring in racial relationships  with this topic (for example, how exactly Eminem was able to form his niche in a predominantly black art form.
3. Eminem's attack on political figures: Eminem is known for his controversial attacks on political figures, such as former president George W. Bush. In his song Mosh, Eminem reprimands Bush for passing the Patriot Act and sends out a call to "bring troops home." I would like to analyze the root of Eminem's involvement and interest in politics. This sophisticated opinion is quite interesting, coming from an individual who failed the ninth grade three times! I know of several articles that analyze Eminem lyrics that I can use as evidence in my paper, in terms of Eminem's involvement in the political arena. 

Kanye West: Yeezus season approachin'...

Mister Jake Bogart's analytical review of Yeezus reveals several of Kanye West's artistic choices while also objectively describing its controversial aspects. Bogart cleverly predicts the album's reception to be either "a hit or miss" because of its creative yet risqué techniques. For one, West has chosen to be risky in the sense that he includes a variety of genres. Bogart points fingers at the auto-tune techno feel of "Blood On The Leaves" in contrast with the real genre-fitting hip-hop song "Hold My Liquor." Interestingly, Yeezus includes a variety of different themes, ranging from drunken ballads to love songs, taking listeners on a roller coaster of varying emotions. Bogart's credibility in the rap music genre is clearly exemplified through his album review, as he makes references to the general conventions of hip-hop and previous Kanye West albums, such as 808's and Heartbreak. He goes into depth about Kanye's "god" complex as being an arrogant yet interesting title that the artist is now forced to live up too. A round of applause should go to Bogart for his innate ability to write an engaging album review for both rap music fans and Kanye West fanatics.

"I guess I keep talking to myself..." A U D I E N C E

        I have decided to frame my album review around an audience that has grown up listening to Eminem and is accustomed to his Slim Shady persona. Because I want to focus my writing on the artist's transition from his fanatic, crazed alter-ego image to a sober and self-reflective rapper, it would make sense that my audience understands the roots of Eminem's dominance in the music industry. Recovery can be viewed as the "conclusion" to Eminem's story- his climax being The Slim Shady LP, where Slim Shady was alive and well. Recovery personifies Eminem as a figure that has killed off his alter ego- Eminem is now attempting to express his true self and is finally ready to get out from under his Slim Shady disguise, whether his fans will like it or not.
          Obviously, the audience reading my review will enjoy rap music. More specifically, I visualize them having an affinity towards lyrical wordplay and the clever rhymes that Eminem is known for. By reading my review, I want my audience to understand why Recovery is so different from what was expected. I can see my review being published in a scholar musical journal or magazine (maybe even The Rolling Stone). After reading my review, I hope my audience understands the difference between Slim Shady and Eminem. I hope they gain a newfound respect for the 40 year old King of Hip-Hop, despite his failures within Recovery. 

"Encore I was on drugs, Relapse I was flushing them out"- "Talkin' To Myself" Eminem 2010 Recovery

Recovery unearths a new Eminem, post-Rehab. Therapeutic. 

RECOVERY

For the album review, I have decided to focus on Eminem's Recovery (2010). Throughout his career, the King of Hip-Hop has had numerous successful records but I feel like Recovery captures the transition from Eminem as Slim Shady to Eminem as himself. In other words, we become acquainted with his sentimental and realistic side. In comparison to his other albums, Eminem shows a greater level of respect towards his audience members and explicitly states that he is trying to help anyone who is in a dark place. Recovery also illustrates Eminem as a fighter in his battle against drug abuse. He was reported to have said that this album characterizes his "sober" essence and the new feeling of empowerment that has emerged.

I guess I have chosen Recovery to critique because I like the message that it sends to the public and how it characterizes Eminem as an artist. We see a phenomenal growth, not only through his mature lyrical diction, but also through the themes in this album.

Eminem is a fighter- although he may not be completely healed from the treachery of his past, he is well on his road to recovery.

Cleanin' Out My Closet

Date of Release: September 17, 2002
Producer: Eminem, Jeff Bass
Album: The Eminem Show 
Writers: M. Mathers, J. Bass
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope

"Cleanin' Out My Closet" is an excellent ballad of frightening lyrical images mixed with harsh musical beats. Throughout the song, Eminem denounces his mother as a criminal and makes allusions to killing and burying her. The purpose of the song (to reveal all the abuses his mother has inflicted upon him) unifies with the "rebellious" theme common in rap music. The timbre of the background music is raspy, directly contrasting with Eminem's clear lyrical pronunciations. By including an alternating snare beat and bass guitar cords, the viewer almost feels like he or she is experiencing the fight between Eminem and his mother. More specifically, the short snare beats act as his mother's constant abuse, while the slow, dreary bass cords resemble Eminem's struggle to persevere. An emotion of anger is relayed through the tone of Eminem's voice as he raps--at some points in the song, he yelling and screaming.

The chorus of the song bring forth an emotional connection with the audience. Eminem raps the words "I'm sorry Mama/I never meant to hurt you/ I never mean to make you cry/But tonight/I'm cleaning out my closet."  Through these words, the audience realizes that Eminem is not just denouncing his mother as a way to gain popularity, but in essence, he is trying to cope with the destructive pain of feeling unloved his entire childhood. Eminem metaphorically says "cleaning out my closet" as a way of letting his mother know that he is going to reveal all the pain and agony that has been locked up inside of him for the past 20 years. The end of the song is characterized by 10 seconds of the snare beat alternated by the bass chord, leaving the audience with the realization that the battle between Eminem and his mother has still not ended.

General Conventions of EMINEM

Due to the fact that all of Eminem's songs are inherently unique, it is hard to come up with a general list of characteristics that define his music. However, there are definitely some commonalities among his songs and within rap as a genre.

1. Rebelling/attacking against authority or an individual: Rap is often used as a mechanism to attack or criticize someone or something, whether it be an ex-Wife (as it often is when Eminem) or political ideas (such as President Bush sending troops to Iraq). 
2. Jokes/playfulness: Eminem often writes comical rhymes or pokes fun at people in order to make a specific statement. He makes a lot of voice impersonations as a way to joke around and add lightheartedness to a genre that is usually thought to be serious.
3. Sexual objectivity of women: This is common in the genre of rap as well as specifically in Eminem's songs. He often includes sexual references in his rhymes, whether they be positive or negative.
4. Loud/fast-paced beat/jumble words together: Hip-hop music is defined by its fast paced tempo and boisterous, echoing sounds. Eminem is skilled in the art of raping fast, making it seem as if his lyrics are a constant string of never ending thoughts and ideas. 

"Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy..."- Critical Analysis Concerns

Overall, I am content with how my rough draft has turned out; there are some concerns I do have about the organization and structure of my paper. For one, I am not sure if I responded appropriately to one of the scholarly article. I agreed with a majority of the claims made in the article, but I am not sure that I "agreed but with a difference" in my paper. I tried my best to not use first person in my rough draft (I just think essays sound more professional and scholarly that way) and this may have been the reason why I found it hard to convey my own opinions on the subject. In my first few paragraphs, it kind of just seems like I am summarizing the argument of the scholarly article instead of responding to it. 

Additionally, I feel like the topics I focused each of my paragraphs on vary greatly. Because of this, I found it hard to create effective transition sentences between each paragraph. However, this is something that can be easily fixed by synthesizing my arguments and coming up with connections amongst them.

I do not like having a three-prong thesis (a statement that lists each of my claims), but I feel like it may be necessary at this stage in the writing process. Once my paper is much more concise and fully developed, I might decide to revamp my thesis a bit more.

How do you fit a 12 sided object into a four sided box?

My scholarly article from the Journal of the Society for American Music outlined Eminem's emergence into the African American musical style of rap. Do not let the fancy title bore you- this article was creatively detailed and inherently easy to understand. By focusing on racial relations and the history of black versus white music, the article brings forth the argument that Eminem used his view of "white society" to find his niche in rap. More specifically, the article outlines certain instances in his songs and music videos where Eminem pokes fun at stereotypical "white" characteristics. The authors of the journal also discuss how this artist has proven that racial boundaries are continually changing. First the Beastie Boys, now Eminem...who is going to be next? I agree with the authors' main argument that Eminem found his place in African American rap not by conforming to the "black" style, but by focusing on class identity and the unflattering stereotypes of whiteness.

The article about Eminem in The New Yorker basically made me want to rip my hair out. The journalist blatantly bashes Eminem as being an overrated artist that continually attacks the same two people (his mother and ex-wife Kim) in his music. His rhymes are deemed to be "perfectly pitched" and listening to his songs makes people feel like they are "...being hit in the arm by someone's little brother 45 times in a row." Harsh much? The only semi-postive comment the journalist says about Eminem has to do with his song "Mosh," where the artist shares his political views on Bush sending U.S. troops to war in Iraq. Immediately after complimenting Eminem on the song, the journalist turns right around and says that such a topic is clever but "not Eminem's style." I disagree with a majority of the claims made in this article but plan to use them to support my thesis :)

Both articles mention something about Eminem being "rebellious" and "breaking the rules." I used this idea to form my thesis:

 By poking fun at the stereotypical "white society" he is expected to adhere to, Eminem expresses confidence in his rebellious nature that inherently breaks the rigid rules of white culture.  

It is impossible to fit someone like Eminem into a four sided box (as my title relays). In my essay, I plan to argue that Eminem shows confidence in his ability to break the rules of stereotypical "white America" by making fun of the structured culture. 

RELAPSE: REFILL- Revision of Argument

Eminem's music is worth listening to because of the controversy and skepticism that surrounds him. He is regarded to be one of the most talked about rap artists in the media today- but why? Journalists and media moguls will tell you it is because of his frequent minsogynst and homophobic slurs and denunciation of American political choices. But what about his creative and powerful lyrical ability? How about his genius alter-ego creation, Slim Shady? His rhetorical wordplay and freestyle capabilities may make you want to pause the track and rewind, just to make sure your mind isn't going numb. Eminem is an artist worth your time because he is an artist whose music isn't just something to listen to during a lazy Sunday afternoon or in the car back from school. His songs are linguistic masterpieces that deserve the attention of viewers. No, not every individual has to enjoy his songs, but Eminem deserves a chance. Instead of listening to what the media highlights about his music, it is important to hear the songs with your own ears.

One day, I picked up a magazine in my brother's room and read the words "EMINEM." I've heard he was "bad" and someone I "shouldn't listen to" from my parents.


The next day, I popped in my brother's CD and found my favorite artist.

Sometimes, not following the rules pays off. 

THESAURUS:

EMINEM (ˌɜmɪˈnɜm) 
SYNONYMS: SEXIST. HOMOPHOBIC. DANGEROUS. DISGUSTING.
ANTONYMS: anything that is nice about the world


"Eminem is only famous cause he is a white boy who raps. Why should I listen to the music of someone who is claimed to be a homophobe and misogynist? Eminem's music is disgusting. He says such mean things about his mother. He is a sexist that talks about murdering and raping people in his lyrics. Tell me why I should even listen to ONE of his songs?"


Well, you basically just said exactly why you should listen to his songs. Eminem IS a white male that has made himself popular through a predominantly black art form. He has helped blur the lines between "black" "white" and "rap." You are right, he is claimed to be both sexist and homophobic, but maybe you should listen to his songs to see why he says such remarks. Maybe then you will realize that it is not his personal view but his physiologically unstable alter ego Slim Shady talking. Maybe then you will begin to realize that all this talk about "murdering" and "rape" is a complex way that Eminem releases the tensions from his childhood. You should listen to one, or two, or thirty of his songs so that you realize that possibly, just maybe, there is a slight chance, that he might be... wait for it... JOKING. Maybe you should listen to his songs to understand he is an artist. Maybe then you will realize that art does not have boundaries. Maybe you'll be able to catch some of Eminem's lyrical world play, his innate linguistic capability.

But that's just my wishful thinking.


Oh yeah...
Tell me when was the last time you could rhyme something with orange?

Reflection on Liner Notes

Having never written a liner note before, this process was something completely new and exciting. I struggled a bit when writing my rough draft because I was not familiar with the liner note structure. I also found that I had a lot of information that I wanted to include about each song and could not figure out the most effective way of organizing my paragraphs. I really liked writing the introduction to my liner notes, especially because it enabled me to take creative risks and share my true passion for Eminem. I tried to put more factual information in my liner notes, but then they seemed too dull and dry. I focused more on the lyrical content and its connection to my thesis about fame.

Writing these liner notes allowed me to learn a lot of interesting information about the songs that I call my favorite tracks. I've never really had the chance to sit down and analyze song lyrics. This assignment allowed me to really dig deep into the meaning of Eminem's songs and infer from his childhood, the inspiration behind his artistic tracks. Since the three songs I picked were generally from different eras in his rap career, it was inspiring to see how Eminem has transformed from an amateur rapper into a credible artist. I can not wait to see what big project is next on Slim Shady's agenda.

EMINƎM- How important is The Real Slim Shady?

I have grown up with Eminem; I clearly remember listening to his creative rhymes as a toddler, lounging in my brother's room as I stared up at the "SLIM SHADY" posters plastered all over his walls. My daily rides to school were characterized by the phat beats of Marshall Mathers blaring through my brother's car speakers. My obsession with Eminem sometimes makes me feel as if I was born in the wrong decade; by the time I was a mere five years of age, Eminem had already made his first strides in the predominantly black world of hip-hop. I guess what makes Eminem such a important figure in my life is my obsession not only with his songs, but the individual he personifies. Slim Shady (Eminem's alter ego) is someone who I admire tremendously. I find his expression of confidence and humor to be captivating. Eminem has the innate ability to live his life without any filters or blinders blocking his view. More specifically, he voices his opinions without worrying about the consequences they may have on the general public. Some may say this is disrespectful, but they are simply ignoring the fact that he is verbally expressing himself through an art form.

Unless they have been living under a rock the past decade, mostly everyone has heard of Eminem. He personifies the modern American dream of "rags to riches"-- a poor white boy growing up on the rugged Streets of 8 Mile turned into mega famous rap star. He has made strides in the social scene, although they may be considered infamous, through his attacks on celebrities, parents of the modern generation, and political figures. In my mind, Eminem is simply taking advantage of the rights our founding fathers wanted us to have: the freedom of speech. Controversy with the frequent censorship of his songs has often been a hot topic in the media, eliciting questions about if his artistry is appropriate for the adolescence of today's society.

"I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. There's no in between. People will either love you for it or hate you for it."- Eminem

Eminem: The Rolling Stone Interview- November 25th, 2004

One of the major sources I used to craft my liner notes was an interview done by the popular music review magazine The Rolling Stone. As a primary source, this interview enabled me to understand Eminem's transition from a poor, fatherless boy into a critically acclaimed artist, and now, family man. The article also showed pictures of Eminem as a child and other important figures in his life, such as his daughter Hallie Jade. Eminem's comical nature really came out during this interview as he cracked jokes about his childhood, and just from reading his answers to the interview questions, I could tell that as an artist, Eminem is proud of who he has become.

The Marshall Mathers LP: IGN.com

A secondary source I used was an online album review of The Marshall Mathers LP, posted on the IGN review website. Although this may not be an entirely credible source, I used the information solely for its opinion on the song Stan. I really liked how the author of the article talked about the poignancy of the song-- almost a decade from its release, Stan still brings shivers to Eminem fans across the world. Wether it be from its incredibly twisted storyline or lulling musical background, the fundamental uniqueness of this track was clearly expressed in the IGN source. 

The sources that I found helped me create a solid foundation for the thesis I am trying to prove through these liner notes. I may need to look for more sources that go into depth about the musical instruments and beats behind Eminem's tracks. 

Some inspiration... Stay Up Detroit

Liner Note Playlist

It was extremely hard to choose the songs I wanted to write my liner notes on because I have a plethora of Eminem tracks in my iTunes library, all of which I am obsessed with. After much deliberation and any many tears, I've decided upon these three masterpieces:

1. Sing for the Moment 
• Album: The Eminem Show 
• Recorded: November 2001
• Release Date: February 25, 2003
2. Brain Damage 
• Album: The Eminem Show
• Recorded: 1997/1998
• Release Date: February 23, 1999
3. Stan
• Album: The Marshall Mathers LP
• Recorded: November 1999
• Release Date: March 15, 2002

In my liner notes I hope to examine these three main topics:

1. Childhood Influences: I would like to go into some detail about how Eminem's childhood environment influenced his work as an artist. For example, I want to make readers understand how this rap legend was able to take his mistreatment as a child and transform it into the inspiration for his songs. 

2. Race: Eminem is one of the few white artists who was and is still currently able to dominate the predominately Black art form of rap. I would like to address how his unique background affects his lyrical style and how he was able to find his niche in this seemingly "untouched" territory. 

3. Fame: Coming from an extremely poor family, Eminem's rise to fame introduced to him an entirely new lifestyle. I think it would be interesting to pinpoint the affects fame has had on the rapper, as expressed through his songs. 

This semester I have chosen to focus on the artist Marshall Mathers, otherwise known as Eminem. His life story thus far and success against all odds is an underlying source of inspiration for me and millions of other fans. One of the reasons I picked Eminem is due to my fascination with his wordplay and rhetorical artistry.  The instruments and words in his tracks go hand in hand, creating a musical piece that happens to be profane and poetic at the same time. I am also fond of how Eminem is able to use the controversy surrounding his music as the driving force behind his work.  His bold attacks on political figures and popular media icons always leave me awestruck at his sheer confidence and fearlessness.   Throughout this course, I hope to learn more about the development of Eminem's lyrical skills and how his background shaped him into the "King of Hip-Hop."