Happy 35th Birthday, Eminem

[fflagg]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 11:54am

You're lewd, you're crude, you're crass.

And there's nothing more I'd like to do than to spank your fine ass.

Homie! :)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 11:58am

I don't agree with a lot of his views but there's no denying the boy's talent.

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:47pm

Guh call me old fashioned but I don't get him. When I heard "My Name is" I thought he had something, but he's never impressed me again. He's no Cole Porter.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:50pm

I like him b/c he's one of the few rappers who espouses respect for both women and gays. It's nice to know that not all rappers set a bad example.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:52pm

And he's got a fine ass!

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:52pm

Whether or not you agree with his views, the art he makes is incredible. From Slim Shady to Marshall Mathers to that song that I can't remember the name of (where he is reading an f-ed up fan letter), he's got an incredible amount of talent, and writes the most amazing rhymes I've heard in music in the last 40 years.

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:54pm

I still love "Stan."

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:55pm

Who can forget Babs' reaction when she announced him as the Oscar winner for Best Song.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:57pm

Whether or not you agree with his views, the art he makes is incredible.

I've just never understood why Eminem continually gets a pass from people but yet someone allegedly says the word faggot on a tv set and people call for him to lose everything.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:58pm

Because Eminem is using it in a context, an artistic one. Idiots like Howard Stern, Imus, Rush Limbaugh, use it for shock value and political advantage, there's a difference.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:59pm

Oh. Sorry, I still don't get it.

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:59pm

StageManager2, I forgot. What was Barbra's reaction?

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:05pm

What's not to get? Often when Eminem uses the word, it's because it's charged and a facsimile of what he heard growing up. If nothing else, it's authentic versimilitude.

Now take an artist like Buju Banton, whose songs actually call for people to throw gasoline on "fags" and set them on fire. He's someone to rally against.

[Yawper]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:05pm

Eminem really doesn't care if he gets a pass from you or not - your not his primary audience

"Stan" is awesome, and "Mosh" kicks, too. (You can see "Mosh" - as relevant as ever - at that YT place - posted by MethodicalMadness)

[tazber]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:15pm

So b/c Em heard people use faggot when he was growing up that makes it acceptable?
I'm from VA, I heard people use the "n" word a lot growing up, does that mean I get a pass to use it?

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:17pm

Were you IMMERSED in that culture, or just overhear it in passing?
If you're a hiphop artist, and that language is part and parcel of your artform, then yes.

If you're a shockjock radio host, or just somehow who grew up in a white middle class environment, then no.

Sorry, that's how it works.

[Yawper]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:18pm

There's no law preventing you from using it, but you have to be prepared for whatever risk the consequences pose. Some places you'll get away with it, some places you'll get shot.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:20pm

That has to be the most absurd argument I have ever heard.
So by that logic the KKK folks, who are clearly immersed in their culture, can make anti-black/jewish/muslim/gay comments and it is deemed acceptable.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:21pm

Actually, I do get him and respect his talent.

I do not, however, respect his sniveling little teen fans who use fag and faggot to describe everything they don't like because they aren't mature enough to see that he's playing a role.

In fact, as a general rule, I hate all teenagers until they give me a reason not to hate them.

Sorry, that's how it works.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:21pm

No...that's not how it works.

Shockjocks have as much right to use those words as Eminem. They, too, have a context. I have the right to not listen and radio stations have the right to dictate their own standards of decency.

I believe Phyllis was referring to Isaiah Thompson on the set of GREY'S ANATOMY. Frankly, I didn't really care if he was fired or not. I did, however, say that were I to exhibit the same kind of behavior in the workplace, I would fully expect to be fired.

Sorry, Fen, but you can't protect Eminem's right to use whatever words he likes and then turn around and insist that it's different for ShockJocks. You can, in your own head and within your own moral framework, make a distinction. But legally...ya can't.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:22pm

blueroses, I tried to find a clip, but came up short. If I recall, she seemed genuinely surprised and happy for him. She said something like, "And the Oscar goes to... Oh my God, Eminem!" Similar to when Goldie Hawn announced George C. Scott as the winner for PATTON (not that I was alive then).

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:23pm

Within the sphere of their subculture, it's totally acceptable, nay even compulsory. Outside of it, it's frowned upon.

Basically the same thing happening here, you're not part of the culture that Eminem is discussing/describing.

Is one more important than the other? That's a personal opinion.
Personally, I think Hiphop is a more important part of our culture than the KKK, because hiphop uses those words (usually) for a higher purpose.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:24pm

What you perceive to be a higher purpose.

I guarantee you that the KKK believes their purpose is higher as well.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:26pm

Hiphop's purpose is by definition more constructive as an artform than that of an organization fueled by hatred and desinged for destruction.

It's pretty clear, let's not split hairs.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:27pm

I have a gue$$ a$ to what the higher purpo$e might be for most mainStream hip-hop arti$t$. In fact, it'$ no different than any other mu$ical genre.