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."