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Rap music began as a variation of African beats and poetical rhymes. Now, anyone with a foul mouth and an ability to count by twos can be considered a star. Just to prove my point, a guy named Eminem (known in a court of law as Marshall Bruce Mathers III) has made an album that, much to my surprise, was nominated for a Grammy in the most prestigious category of all: album of the year.
For someone who believes that all twenty-something skinny white guys with bleached blonde hair are just imitating the “real Slim Shady,” this nomination is sure to boost Eminem’s ego to new heights. I can assure you, it will do nothing to help his already weak and pathetic talent.
The recording “artist” does nothing more in his “music” than whine about how unfair he is treated and try to shock his fans and adversaries with lyrics about raping his mother and killing his wife. As the current most popular white rapper in the industry and a charged criminal (he was charged with pistol-whipping a guy he allegedly saw kissing his wife outside a bar last June), Eminem gets a lot of attention from the public, both for his lyrics and his image.
I believe that art is supposed to push the limits. Political correctness does not apply when creating something imaginative. For example, the paintings that caused a lot of commotion in New York City (one being a picture of the Virgin Mary defecating and the other a painting of Jesus Christ depicted as a naked woman) are cases where opinions differ on content, but all the same they are meaningful art pieces that spark debate. Eminem’s lyrics, while they do cause a lot of debate, are certainly not art.
I know many will disagree here, but I don’t think that the Detroit rapper was nominated for four Grammy’s because of his astounding musical talent. It was because of all the attention he receives, especially from the people who condemn his lyrics. Had we all just ignored this pretty boy with a loud mouth and cry-baby attitude and dismissed him as what he is (an overblown product of the music industry with minimal talent) I doubt he would be up for album of the year.
Eminem has the right to say whatever he wants and I do not condemn his lyrics. I do not, however, fall for the argument that his music is just “humorous” and not serious. Let me see, according to Em, all women are “whores.” I guess I’m just not in on the joke.
His lyrics don’t offend me (simply because I do not care about them) but no matter what the content of his lyrics, it still remains that Eminem writes music that is not terribly imaginative and nothing close to the poetry and rhythms that good rap music should be.
If “The Marshall Mathers LP” had won for best album over such musicians as Paul Simon, Radiohead, Steely Dan (who did win Best Album) and Beck (four groups/artists I happen to have a lot of respect for) the Grammy voters would have put publicity and gimmicks over music. But I guess that’s what pop culture is all about.
Julia Hall is a first-year journalism major.
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