S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Eminem may have won over a majority of the hip-hop community with his new "Rap God" anthem, however, one particular Wall Street Journal writer has taken aim at its content.
In an article published this week by writer Eric Sasson, heavy emphasis is placed on Em’s obsession with slamming the gay community.
“Little gay-looking boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face-looking boy / You witnessing massacre like you watching a church gathering taking place-looking boy / ‘Oy vey, that boy’s gay,’ that’s all they say looking-boy / You take a thumbs up, pat on the back, the way you go from your label every day-looking boy.” By now, we know the drill, and so does Eminem. He’s aiming for a comeback in a world of hip-hop which has now embraced artists like singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. Macklemore’s single “Same Love,” about as forceful a defense of gay marriage ever committed to verse, is one of the most popular songs on his wildly successful album. So what better way for Eminem to stir up controversy than to hark back to the repulsive homophobic lyrics that garnered so much attention last time? (Wall Street Journal)
After noting key media publications that have praised the track and suggesting Em would likely downplay the content in the near future, Sasson goes on to hint Shady may be using the gay topic to spark attention.
Fortunately, the world has moved on, even if Eminem hasn’t. He may have a specific person in mind with his “gay-boy” lyric. So what? It’s still childish. I don’t really care if Eminem is or isn’t a homophobe. I just wish he’d stopped being so lazy and find some other punching bag besides the LGBT community. Elton isn’t going to come and save the day this time, Em. I know it’s hard to stay relevant as a 41-year-old rapper (today is actually his birthday). But you are far too talented to rely on these tired games. A “Rap God” doesn’t need to pick on or bully anyone. His flow speaks for itself. (Wall Street Journal)
Fully behind the record, Slaughterhouse’s Crooked I recently said not too many artists can keep surprising fans like Slim Shady.
“It was crazy,” Crooked I said in an interview. “It’s just always refreshing to hear a super mainstream artist with bars and skills because a lot of these mainstream dudes that’s rapping out there is wack as f*ck. So, here’s somebody who has all the success and has achieved so much in the game and he still has bars to bar you out the game. It’s real refreshing. He basically took the art of double-time rapping and displayed the many different ways you can do that. There’s different cadences you can use when you’re double-timing. He just displayed almost all of them on one song.” (HHDX)
The follow-up to “Berzerk,” Slim Shady’s newest anthem officially premiered online Monday (October 14).
Eminem goes from Marshall Mathers to “Rap God” on the third release off his upcoming album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The Detroit rapper proves why he’s one of hip-hop’s greatest while spitting rapid-fire rhymes. “MCs get taken to school with this music/ ‘Cause I use it as a vehicle to bust-a-rhyme/ Now I lead a new school full of students,” he raps, while paying homage to Rakim, Tupac, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E. (Rap-Up)
Check out “Rap God”:
