The Eminem’s second single album, The Slim Shady Lp, was released in 1999, in the hip hop era of gangster, and the environment of hip hop back then was mostly ghetto style. The mainstream of hip hop music was African American style and it was dominated by their racial culture. Most hip hop music in that era was produced for the business purpose, and the hip hop market started to decrease due to the full of similar style of music that made listeners get tired. That might be the signal of desiring a new style of hip hop from the public, and at that time, Eminem appeared with a new, fresh, and different style from the previous boring style and it was sensational in the hip hop world. The whole hip hop world faced the turning point for the new genre, and Eminem was the main leader of the new hip hop era. The white rapper rapped with weird melody, entertaining contents, and funny music video1. The whole world got shocked by the broken stereotype and people started to follow this sensation. From his appearance, Eminem became the biggest rap star of the new century, as well as he became a symbol of some political tensions of late 19’s. His success apparently showed the world that “white” can be a rapper with a great fame, and Eminem broke the stereotype that hip hop genre is only under the African American’s world. When Eminem released his album, he and his producers had to deal with the stereotype of his racial identity and they went through by changing how much white race matters
Rap is the most efficient way to express thoughts, emotions, and social issues for those who know how to organize their words in a rhythmic mode. The majority of rappers are African American such as Christopher George Latore Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.), Nasir Jones (Nas), and Tupac Amaru Shakur (2pac). I would refer that the most rappers are African American to the suffering that African Americans society is facing; precisely, the common issues they have in many states in this country; for instance, discrimination, poverty, street gangsters. Tupac is one of the best rappers in the globe; he has a unique method to resist his society's issues by singing meaningful songs that affected the community around the country. One of his songs is "Changes," which is one of the most famous songs that he had sung. It took place in 1998 in his album "Greatest Hits." He mentioned in his song many subjects that are shaping as central parts of most African American daily life, such as racism and poverty; therefore, the song
The film starts with a black screen before Eminem’s white face appears. Jimmy lives on the opposite side of 8 Mile Road, which separates him from the urban blacks, and makes him a privileged suburban white. His mission in this movie to cross that literal and psychological border (8 Mile Road) and become accepted as a rapper despite his skin color. It is argued that Rabbit’s character is a tourist who ventures into black culture, and on the way, masters their art and dominates their industry (Jennings 2008). Therefore, Eminem, and the director Curtis Hutton, white people writing about an African-American dominated industry, have now commodified the culture (Jennings 2008). This translates to Eminem’s career and his success in the industry. But Eminem’s success is ultimately due to his ability to encompass the characteristics of black culture while maintaining his position as a white male: “affiliations with black masculinity provide cultural acceptance and authenticity, which fuel his entry into hip-hop culture. White masculinity provides mobility, ambivalence from white audiences, and commercial success” (Dawkins 465). Therefore by “walking” the spaces between black and white masculinity and never committing to one, he masters the industry. Somehow he uses both racial characterizations as privileges (Dawkins 464-465).
Kanye Omari West, an icon of hip-hop, pop culture, fashion and music in general. Kanye Omari West, a person belittled against and a person subjected to a life of racism and hate. Born on June 8th, 1977, Donda West, West’s mother, always knew he was destined for greatness, but did she know her son would turn out to be the Kanye West, a man lacking the respect he deserves for transforming a big part of the music we listen to on this very day? West came onto the scene in the late nineties but didn’t release The College Dropout until 2004, an album that took everybody by surprise. Kanye West changed the gangster filled rap genre by releasing his positive, soulful debut album, changing the way rappers
Everyone knows a guy by the name of Tupac Shakur, but how do people know Mr. Shakur? Maybe it is by the hardcore gangster and obscene rap lyrics directed towards people, more so aimed towards his east coast rivals. As years went on, more and more people viewed a handful of Tupac’s music as a true work of art, containing strong messages along with stories from his troubled childhood and young adulthood. Later on in both Tupac’s life and career, he began to realize the demise of the African American culture as a whole. During his last stint in prison, not only did he realized all of this wrongdoing throughout this life, but also the negative influence rap and hip hop had over the young African American community. What happened during his incarnation,
Violent lyrics, a bad-boy image, and a long criminal record are what attracted and connected millions of young adults to the now legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. Tupac was a man of contradictions; for example, his music degraded and also praised strong women. Tupac Shakur rapped about problems that inner-city black Americans could relate to, along with his legal and personal drama; you could not get away from Tupac in the 1990’s. From the womb to the day Tupac Shakur died he went through the struggles many self-proclaimed “gangsters” these days do as well; but using these problems he took the rap and hip-hop game to another level.
Marshall Bruce Mathers, Slim Shady more known as Eminem was born 17th 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri. His father Marshall Mathers jr II abandoned him when he was 18 months old so his mother Deborah Nelson raised him alone.
Eminem got himself into a show at the Olympics, this is where he got scouted by Dre, Dre got him signed and helped him to make the success of his life. This had an impact on him because he is finally living his dream; the good has finally come out of all the bad things and the struggle that he has been through. He can now afford to provide for him, his mum and his daughter. He must have had enough of providing for his mum and he left
In seventh grade, I stumbled my way upon the Detroit based rapper Eminem. I was at 150 listens on his track The Real Slim Shady before I knew it. I then found my way into Kanye West, which exploded my interest into the genre. I have listened to all of the considered essential hip hop “classic” and modern day albums. I noticed in these “classic” albums very distinct change in subject matter and style that each of the different areas of rappers on where they originate from. Some people believe that the hip-hop culture is at a decline with the lose of this uniqueness and individuality shown in each of these areas. I too even thought that the hip-hop culture was at a decline until I was researching my topic, but instead this individuality and uniqueness in the rapper’s different stories that they tell in their raps. The genre has expanded throughout the world and continued to evolve while sticking to these roots of individuality and uniqueness.
This paper will open by first and foremost, explaining the different sociological meanings of the term power, so as the reader has an understanding of the arguments being made. This will allow anybody reading this paper to follow the arguments being made. Music can provide a means of resistance for challenging the power relations of racism, class and gender in a number of ways. The first way that this paper will approach this is the racial aspect and as a means of doing this, the main focus point will be Eminem and his break-through in to the Rap/ Hip-hop genre. This is relevant because he was the first white person to ever successfully break into this specific genre of predominantly Black artists. This will lead neatly onto the next element to answering the question of music providing a means of resistance for challenging power relations, It will move on to look at the class element of resisting and challenging power. This section will start off by continuing with regard to Eminem and how he used his “underclass” background as a means of connecting with his black counterparts, But still gaining acceptance from his peers and even forming a working relationship with an already massively established artist that aided him in his entrance to the hip-hop music industry and his credibility their after. Whilst still staying with subject matter of class, this
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
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
Hip Hop music became one of the primary constructive outlets for Black Americans to release their thoughts, pain, and anguish about the injustices and mistreatments of Black people. Even though most of the pioneers in Hip-Hop either were not born in America or are 2nd generation immigrants that proves that common oppression can lead to unity. The fact that that these individuals were impoverished and felt marginalized is what brought them together and lead to the culture today. Deep rooted racism in the United States kept the genre of music suppressed for a while before it was allowed to even be played on the airwaves. Now, in 2011, the main consumers of byproducts of hip hop are White Americans.
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
Marshall Mathers, widely known as Eminem, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor, who is recognized as one of the most controversial and best-selling artists of the early 21st century (“Eminem”). Marshall writes most of his lyrics through his personal life experiences while adding a comical “I don’t give a S***” vibe to them. He struggled through a rough and lonely childhood, had relationship issues, became a father at a young age, and worked hard with dedication and persistence to get where he is today.
Eminem is one of the most famous rappers of all time,but it was no easy ride. He was basically homeless as child. He had absolutely nothing ,but that didn't stop him. Look at him now , he’s one of the most well known rappers and has released at least 3 albums.