I’m going to start this article by assuming that everyone knows who Eminem is, but for those who somehow do not, just do a quick google search. Just as sure as everyone knows who he is, everyone must also know the kind of “controversy” that he incites, be it his intention or a consequence of people’s reaction to him and the inevitable media blitz that follows. But I’m not interested in talking about any of that. I don’t give a damn that in one or more songs he talked about killing his ex-wife. I honestly don’t care that he liberally uses the words “bitch” and “faggot”. I don’t care what magazine CEO or midget rapper has a problem with him this week or the next.
The first thing that strikes me about Eminem – as it should – is his wordplay. The kind of verses he puts together are impressive. Whether or not you like him, you really have no choice but to acknowledge his skill in putting rhymes together, and that his vocabulary is considerably more diverse than most other mainstream rappers. But even that is not the crux of my argument. Beyond being an excellent wordsmith, Eminem has a certain impact on the music industry that cannot be denied. I am not talking about his penchant for stirring up negative attention from conservative media groups or politicians, or his ability to sell millions upon millions of records. I am talking about something that Eminem himself cannot help but mention at least once on every one of his CDs – the fact that he’s a white man excelling in an area that is mostly dominated by African-Americans. (more…)