The Slim Shady's The Eminem Show Appeals To Teenagers, Rap Purists But Angers Watchdog Groups

Young people are often non-compliant; they disobey knowingly their parents' rules and principles. They may get into trouble with the established authorities. They often curse like a sailor. All they want to do is to push the buttons as far as they can stretch it and get away with the laisser-faire. They want to assert themselves in ways that are different from their parents. Are you reading anything new about teenagers here?. You knew this all along. Eminem has made it into a job. He has hugely capitalized on the free speech offered by our constitution to serve our kids the type of music they want to listen to while hanging out with their buddies. Slim Shady or Marshall Mathers or Eminem (whichever persona you prefer) has just released the already best-selling album titled, The Eminem Show.

First things first, controversy just like sex references sells albums.

If there's a better promoter than Eminem, it may be Mike Tyson. Both of them know that by surrounding themselves with lots of controversy, they will get free features and mention from the media. In fact, before the release of Eminem's album and Tyson's fight, they create news or cause journalists to report on their lifestyle and behaviors. All that translates into more albums ending up being sold. Besides his great storytelling, his rap talent and tackling of major topics or themes, Eminem is not afraid of controversies. He has spine. He is ready to use his free speech rights to the fullest! Is it any wonder that the master of his fate and promotion decided to bypass the marketing campaign and have his album released ahead of the due date? The reason, whether based on hard figures or just hype, is that the music had already become available on the Internet through multiple downloading. Too many copies of the album were taken off the Internet as sold as bootlegs that the artist's label, Interscope/Universal, decided to make some quick moves to release it.

Why does Eminem Appeal So Much To Teeny-boppers and even adults?

In what has become the new hang out for the young people in my town, the new business development along Freway 41 and Blackstone brings a lot of car enthusiasts. In fact, these young kids cruise down the streets in their flashy cars, a great symbol of the American West, while blasting loud music of the Eminem Show. If you want to call attention to your vehicle, you will play his songs. These young kids have known it since the release of his previous albums. Eminem is a giant Force in the rap music industry. A day after this album was released, I went to four major local music distribution centers and retail businesses to check fans' enthusiasm. At Tower Records, I had to wait a few minutes before I could walk down the aisle where the albums were displayed. Then I headed out to Barnes & Noble and Borders. Fans and rap enthusiasts made long lines to sample or buy their copies. They were not all young, teeny-boppers. Adult fans and parents were spotted purchasing copies too.

What's The Draw With The Eminem Show? Why is this album a milestone for Slim Shady

Here is the scoop on the shady matters as revealed in The Eminem Show

There is something about this album that will just pull you in. Once you start listening to the songs, you will not want to stop. It's not so much because you are immune from shock, but mainly because you will hear things that most artists and writers are not willing to tackle. Just start listening to a few songs on this album and you will understand that most of Slim Shady's lyrics are addressed to teenagers who are known to rebel against authorities and their parents. In other words, these songs empower these young minds who want to break free from the traditional molds. Later on, you will find yourself surprised by the same Slim Shady or Eminem who ..."would not let his own daughter listen to such songs..." and recommends that parents and watchdog groups spend more time monitoring their kids' listening habits than protesting and speaking out.

What Can You Expect To Hear On This Album?

Eminem is ready to take on the world. First, he starts with the last remaining superpower, the United States of America and some of her most important people and institutions. The U.S. government and not-so-favorable institutions such as classism, racism catch his attention.
In "White America," Eminem raps..."White America, I could be one of your kids/Little Eric looks like this/Erica loves my s-/I go to "TRL," Look how many hugs I get!" Furthermore, we can hear him sing that "he'll spit liquor in the faces of this democracy of hypocrisy." He will do with the "freest of speech this Divided States of Embarrassment will allow me to have." These are strong words from the artist. They may be why his appeals are so broad. Eminem speaks his mind. He shows his anger and devotion to the causes he chooses. As one writer puts it, he covers himself with the cloth of free speech guerilla.

There is no doubt that Eminem's music built with very sensual, captivating, harmonizing hip-hop beats causes many parents and watchdog groups to feel a bit uncomfortable. Coupled with its violent and sexual content, his music even caught the attention of many civic and moral groups in this country. Since 1999, with the release of "The Slim Shady LP," we saw how Eminem attacks what was tormenting him in his childhood. In 2000, the Marshall Mathers LP, he poked fun at success and sexual obsession. With this new album, The Eminem Show, the artist decides to embark and embrace more controversial topics that would alienate the fans of many other artists. Race in America, sexism, violence, free speech.

Eminem does not hesitate a bit to poke fun at the implicit racism of his crossover in "White America." He sings..."Let's do the math/If I was black/I would've sold half." He also takes a few shots at parents and politicians who did not pay any attention to rap until blond hair and blue eyes kids starting singing them and purchasing the CDs. MTV shows the wide range of fan bases. These are eye-opening and funny lyrics by an artist who grew up in Detroit.

Let's look at some other songs on this album

A few other songs that I like listening to are:

In "Without Me," Eminem sings..."I'm not the first king of controversy/I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley/To do black music so selfishly/And use it to get myself wealthy." If anything, a critic will say that this guy is honest. At the same time, in fine prints, you will uncover how this marketplace is not truly fair to all the players. While he is making tons of money, many black rap artists have to be standing on the streets hustling and beaching with a brown bag bottle on their side or in their pocket. They just can't scrape a living off their own musical style.

In "Square Dance," Eminem satirizes a world that blames him for corrupting kids. It's a world that finds his lyrics too bad and dangerous for kids while it sends the same kids off to war. ("You just a baby, gettin' recruited at eighteen." The same can be said of "Soldier."

"Cleaning Out My Closet" gives us an artist who relies on the characters that we have come to know very well now. His main ennemy is his own mother. Eminem screams at his mother, "Remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me. Well, guess what, I am dead. Dead to you as can be." His mom, Debbie Mathers, sued the artist after he told the whole wide world that she was an abusive drug addict on a previous album. "How dare you try to take what you didn't help me to get?/...You selfish b-, I hope you f- burn in hell for this s-." This is where a lot of critics tend to say he hates women. Parents, obviously, are not going to recommend him to their daughter. Yet, despite their intervention, they make the Slim Shady even richer each time they purchase his album.
Other characters include his ex-wife, Kim, Steve Berman, Mariah Carey, Dr. Dre etc. I will admit that in Superman, Eminem has gone too far when he warns a groupie that he will "put anthrax on a Tampax and slap you till you can't stand."

Keep in mind that later on this album, you will hear Eminem's confession, "My insecurities could eat me alive." Yet he promises to stay sane for "my baby...the only lady that I adore." That's in Hailie's song you will find his sentimentalist views.

Eminem has long been an artist with universal appeals. His captivating music goes beyond genre, class and color lines. That's the legacy of any true artist, if not, all artists. All artists dream to please their audience and connect with them on themes and topics that all humans deal with. Who will shut him down? Yet, despite all his money and fame, he is not happy and secure in his own persons. Money has not spared him any problems that the rest of us endure. Eminem, despite his affinity for controversy, connects with our kids in so many varied ways.


The Eminem Show is an interesting album that you will appreciate a lot. Whether you are a fan or a rap purist, there will be something for you. Get a copy!