Poetry offers different perspectives into life and the world. Through the use of the lyrics in his songs, the rapper Eminem offers his own perspective of his life and the events that have occurred throughout it. In this essay I shall be discussing a few key themes from his songs and how they are communicated to the audience through the use on language techniques and language in general, as well as how they relate to Eminem’s context.
One theme that has a recurring use in his songs is the issue of poverty, as Eminem spent his childhood and early adulthood living in poverty. Eminem often refers to his past and the difficult times he went through. Having to live in a trailer park, growing up in a poor suburb, and his low paying job
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Towards the end of the song Mockingbird, Eminem discusses his break into the music industry, which completely changed his life. Other songs where the music industry are mentioned are “Stan” “Cleaning out my closet”, “toy soldiers” and, as already mentioned, “Mockingbird”. Despite the fact they gave him his break, Eminem regards the music industry with some contempts, complaining that they kept him away from his family “Daddy’s always on the move,” “you started seeing Daddy on TV”, “Papa was a rolling stone”. He also states that the music industry is no longer about the music but more about the violence and danger that comes with it “There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme, and wouldn’t have to worry about one of your people dying.” He also discuss how now that he is famous, some people now hate him for no reason, “The owners of it
Millions of people in the world listen to music for all different reasons. Most people all over the world listen to different genres of music in order to relax, but not too many people pay attention to the actual lyrics of a song. If you listen to the lyrics of a song you will realize that many songs have important messages or themes to them. An example of this is the lyrics of the song “Changes” by Tupac Shakur. If you listen to this song, you will realize that Tupac raps about not only the problems that African Americans face from society, but also the struggles that poor people in society have to endure and overcome. Many
The connection that is drawn between the formerly economically challenged rapper and the child whose parent works two jobs, and can’t pay his child’s college tuition is paramount in making this point. The illusion of the American dream is set through many hip-hop songs. The picture of the evolution of the rags to riches story is set by many rappers in current hip-hop culture, this picture is the basic premise
As thorough and rewarding as Bradley’s close reading can be, it is this sole focus that becomes problematic in Book of Rhymes. He stays on the surface, privileging the discussion of linguistic elements over cultural impact. He begins his wordplay chapter with an anecdote about a friend who disapproves of the misogynistic and violent elements of the Notorious B.I.G.’s lyrics, a qualm addressed by Bradley in a customary manner: “It’s not what he’s saying, it’s how he’s saying it” (86). Bradley is partially correct; how he’s saying it is the aesthetically appealing aspect of hip hop, the reason millions of people around the world enjoy the music. But what he’s saying is the more compelling aspect. The environment that produced the attitudes reflected in hip hop, the source of Biggie’s misogyny and violent imagery, must be given its proper treatment in order to understand rap music on deeper levels than the beauty and complexity of its poetic structures.
There is little question that he came from the streets, but this had been a growing comparison among the correlation of hip hop and the crack generation. “Not only did black teenagers in similar situations relate to what Eazy was talking about, but white suburban kids fantasized about being in his situation” (Eriewine).
Jay Gatsby and Eminem both have unstable backgrounds and came from rural areas in the Mid-West (“Eminem”). They both started out at the very bottom working their way to the top. They knew the only way to get a new life was to leave their hometowns and try to make it
While most rappers establish their credibility by boasting about their wealth and position in their lyrics, “The Way I Am” makes it clear that this rapper refuses to change his lifestyle to conform to the expectations set for rappers. Although, like most rappers, he does take an autobiographical stance in this song, he is more specific and honest in his lyrics than the majority of rappers. He reveals details about his family by claiming he often feels like his father because he “hate[s] to be bothered.” While the majority of rappers might replace a personal detail like this for one that describes their materialistic gains, Eminem ensures that his audience sees fame from an honest perspective. He provides another brief example of a personal problem he has had with fans approaching him while he’s with his family. With lines expressing these sentiments, he gives the impression that he doesn’t care about his fans’ opinions. He criticizes his fans for disturbing him, claiming that he doesn’t owe them anything. This criticism serves the purpose of establishing authority through his lack of interest. Due to the aggressive indifference his lyrics express, the interpreter will likely assume the rapper has the authority to devalue others’ opinions. The intent of the song is not to prove that he is worthy of praise, fame, or glory. On the contrary, the lyrics as a
The first lyric captures the life that Eminem had. He didn’t have anything growing up and he wanted to change that for
When faced with the decision of which pop song really stood out to me during my youth and adolescent years, the song “Lose Yourself” by Eminem immediately came across my mind. From listening to this song during soccer game warm ups, to quietly being indulged in my own headphones while studying for high school exams, this song was like no other in my ITunes library. On top of its amazing use of musical elements, I especially love this song because of its connection to certain socio historical factors and the pure raw meaning behind its lyrics. Although the reaction to this song was quite mixed, and stirred a lot controversy, it was the most defining rap song of the early 2000s. While sitting at my seat pondering about this piece, it brought
From it's inception, rap indured a lot of hostility from listeners--many, but not all, White--who found the music too harsh, monotonous, and lacking in traditional melodic values. However, millions of others--often, though not always, young African-Americans from underprivileged inner city backgrounds--found and immediate connection with the style. Here was poetry of the
Marshall Bruce Mathers a.k.a. Eminem. Born October 17, 1972, grew up in Kansas City. From there he began his career as an individual white rapper. Not many white people are able to succeed in the rap industry, but Eminem has proved everyone wrong. He is now one of the most talked about persons on the earth. His lyrics offend some people, this sparks controversy and censorship. His lyrics containing things such as drugs, alcohol, death, homosexuals, sex and suicide. In some of his songs he includes lyrical
Eminem continues by seeking to connect to his fans who have a problem in general and offering to guide them out of
The release of The Slim Shady LP was the beginning of Eminem’s ride to the hip-hop hall of fame and it was with this album that Eminem was truly
Marshal Bruce Mathers III who is also know as Eminem was born with great talent and determination. He faced many challenges in his life but his determination and commitment lead him to success. Eminem's life as a child wasn't easy since his father abandoned him when he was six months old. He lived with an abusive mother who never supported him and considered him as a worthless human being. According to Han Eysencks. Eminem would be categorized as extroverted because he was very active and energized. He loved to talk with people and express his feelings. He had great talent and wanted to show the world that he can rise to the top. Eminem became to be the king of rap and also a great actor. Eminem faced some difficulties throughout his life
At one time or another, every one of us has been the underdog, facing a challenge that does not seem achievable , given a task we're not expecting to complete, or even racked with self-doubt when we just might succeed. Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is a dramatic, catchy, and inspirational song that involves plenty of poetic devices. In Eminem’s song the poetic devices allusion, rhyme, hyperbole and metaphor are used to advance the theme “you will succeed if you never give up on your dream”. This song was written to motivate anyone to pursue their dream and to never give up no matter what happens. First, Eminem uses allusion to help us picture the process of his career in the making.
Why or why not? The song, “Going through Changes” discusses the hardships Eminem had to deal with in his realization that he had a drug problem and his reasons for overcoming it. The first verse begins with Eminem venting about how he has been feeling and is trying to get it all off of his chest. He also mentions what motivates him to change and to leave the drugs, his daughter, Haley.