Music Essay

Standing at 5’8 inches with peroxide bleached, blonde hair, Marshall Mathers has taken the rap industry aback with his unprecedented and unexpected success as a white rapper. Like many other rappers, Mathers, or “Eminem,” stirs much controversy and mixed emotions with his lyrical content; however, instead of rapping about sex, drugs, and money, Mathers takes on the more prevalent and painful issues plaguing today’s society. His perseverance and dedication to music and relaying the truth through that music has landed him our number one spot as artist of the year.
Growing up, Marshall had anything but an easy life, as he often shares with his listeners. From failing ninth grade three times, being kicked out of his house, and being shot at, all by the age of sixteen, Mathers has certainly dealt with his fare share of hardship. Throughout all of these unpredictable changes, however, one thing remained the same: his passion for rap music. When asked how he first got into hip-hop he said, “The first hip-hop (stuff) I ever heard was that song "Reckless" from the Breakin' soundtrack; my cousin played me the tape when I was, like, nine. There was this mixed school I went to in fifth grade, one with lots of Asian and black kids and everybody was into break dancing. They always had the latest rap tapes-the Fat Boys, L.L. Cool J's Radio-and I thought it was the most incredible (stuff) I'd ever heard.” Mathers also tells us that his first encounter with the Beastie Boys was when he determined that he wanted to rap.
He eagerly pursued his passion, rhyming whenever possible, simultaneously fighting the stereotypes of the industry and the streets that white boys can’t rap. He expresses his angst with this in his song “The Way I Am” saying, “And I don’t have the patience to deal with these cocky Caucasians who think I’m some wigga who just tries to be black...” Eminem makes it known that he is not trying to be anything but himself, “I’m not Mr. ‘Nsync and I’m not what your friends think. I’m not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick...” While he embraces the title of rap artist, Eminem does not act according to what people expect from him; rather, he acts in his own way and allows people to react as they choose.
This attitude not only prevails in his conveyance of his own life, but translates into his expression of his thoughts pertaining to issues in today’s society; bowdlerizing very little as he attacks modern society and issues. In “The Way I Am,” Marshall makes valid points while critiquing the American mentality in regards to tragedy. “When a dude’s gettin bullied and shoots up your school and they blame is on Marilyn-and the heroin.” We immediately look for the closest scapegoat; the scapegoat of least resistance. Eminem counters this mentality, provoking his listeners to seek a deeper answer, asking “Where were the parents at?” Additionally, the shooting took place in “middle America;” therefore,“Now its a tragedy. Now its so sad to see.” Shootings happen everyday in the places classified as lower or in the ghetto. These casualties are just that, casual. On the other hand, When an upper class school such as Virginia Tech experiences a shooting, the country drops everything to mourn the deaths of the innocent victims.
Eminem is known for his controversial lyrics and hardcore life, and depending on personal preferences, he has been labeled both offensive and inspiring. Many feel that his lyrics speak the truth that needs to be heard, that no one else would choose to express. Eminem explains,“ A lot of people think a lot worse $#*@ than I do. They just don't say it. If I'm crazy enough to think it, then I'm crazy enough to say it. So who's worse?” This statement should earn respect from you whether you agree with his lyrics or not. Yes, the things he raps about may not be flowery, but within his lyrics always lies an element of truth and reality that deserves kudos. His contribution to music is undeniable, as he engages people of all kinds for one reason or another; uniting them with a song, as music should. In light of this, I believe Eminem inspires people musically, but he inspires more of his listeners than anything. When asked his opinion on his influence he said, “I never wanted to be a role model but I am aware that kids are looking up to me...I hope they look up to me and get inspired to get out from their tragic situations.”
Marshall Mathers pushes the envelope in music and life, encouraging people to revaluate their own cookie-cutter lives, or the notions they accept because of society’s influence. An artist like this is a rarity in today’s world; thus, making him worthy of artist of the year.



"The Way I Am"

[Eminem]
Whatever..
Dre, just let it run
Aiyyo turn the beat up a little bit
Aiyyo.. this song is for anyone.. fuck it
Just shut up and listen, aiyyo..

I sit back with this pack of Zig Zags and this bag
Of this weed it gives me the $%^$ needed to be
The most meanest MC on this -- on this Earth
And since birth I've been cursed with this curse to just curse
And just blurt this berserk and bizarre $%^$ that works
And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve
All this tension dispensin these sentences
Gettin this stress that's been eatin me recently off of this chest
And I rest again peacefully (peacefully)..
But at least have the decency in you
To leave me alone, when you freaks see me out
In the streets when I'm eatin or feedin my daughter
To not come and speak to me (speak to me)..
I don't know you and no,
I don't owe you a $%^$$%^$ thing
I'm not Mr. N'Sync, I'm not what your friends think
I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick
If you tempt me my tank is on empty (is on empty)..
No patience is in me and if you offend me
I'm liftin you 10 feet (liftin you 10 feet).. in the air
I don't care who is there and who saw me destroy you
Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit
I'll smile in the courtroom and buy you a wardrobe
I'm tired of arguin' (of arguin')..
I don't mean to be mean but that's all I can be is just me

[Chorus: Eminem]

And I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
Cause I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
I don't know it's just the way I am

[Eminem]
Sometimes I just feel like my father, I hate to be bothered
With all of this nonsense it's constant
And, "Oh, it's his lyrical content -
- the song 'Guilty Conscience' has gotten such rotten responses"
And all of this controversy circles me
And it seems like the media immediately
Points a finger at me (finger at me)..
So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie
Or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up
When you don't give a $%^$, when you won't just put up
With the $%^$$%^$ they pull, cause they full of $%^$ too
When a dude's gettin bullied and shoots up his school
And they blame it on Marilyn (on Marilyn).. and the heroin
Where were the parents at? And look where it's at
Middle America, now it's a tragedy
Now it's so sad to see, an upper class ci-ty
Havin this happenin (this happenin)..
Then attack Eminem cause I rap this way (rap this way)..
But I'm glad cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire
To burn and it's burnin and I have returned

[Chorus]

[Eminem]
I'm so sick and tired of bein admired
That I wish that I would just die or get fired
And dropped from my label and stop with the fables
I'm not gonna be able to top on "My Name is.."
And pigeon-holed into some pop-py sensation
To cop me rotation at rock'n'roll stations
And I just do not got the patience (got the patience)..
To deal with these cocky caucasians who think
I'm some wigga who just tries to be black cause I talk
With an accent, and grab on my balls, so they always keep askin
The same $%^$ questions ($%^$ questions)..
What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in
The why, the who what when, the where, and the how
'til I'm grabbin my hair and I'm tearin it out
Cause they drivin me crazy (drivin me crazy).. I can't take it
I'm racin, I'm pacin, I stand and I sit
And I'm thankful for ev-ery fan that I get
But I can't take a $%^$, in the bathroom
Without someone standin by it
No I won't sign your autograph
You can call me an $%^$$%^$ I'm glad

[Chorus (except change first word "And" to "Cause")]

hypnopaedia

MATURITY IS OVERRATED.

Society puts an immense amount of pressure on kids to grow up. Between college and life in general, high school is a time when you seek independence and "maturity." But what is maturity really? Responsible? When teenagers act in a manner that is deemed less than adult like, it doesn't mean they are any less responsible, it simply means that they are still a kid at heart; thus, the antithesis of maturity. It is in these moments of childhood relapse that we experience the innocent and unmistakeable bliss of being a child. This feeling is one that rivals ecstasy, replacing the temptation and appeal of drugs. The benefits of  relinquishing our responsibilities as an adult outweigh, by far, the repercussions of their momentary neglect. Why not remain a child for life? For this reason I say: maturity is overrated.