2. Representation
Eminem represents the working class community of all
races although people may say that he is a wannabe
‘black’ rapper as where the genre originated from. This is
because when he was starting off as a musician, the rap
community was dominated by a darker skin colour. He
was also pointed out as the new ‘Elvis’ because they say
that he was also stealing the music of the black
community (in Elvis’ case, Blues). Politicians would label
him as a ‘homophobe’ and a threat to society due to the
nature of his lyrics. When he was doing his first major
gigs, he dressed the same way as working class people
would dress, as he progressed on he wore various
branded clothing as he was then able to afford it. This can
show that he represents those who have succeeded in
their own career as he was able to wear anything he
wanted, but the style/dress sense was still baggy and
what we would call this day ‘SWAG’.
3. Without Me Lyrics Representation
A reference to the song “Buffalo
Gals” by Malcolm Maclaren who was
an early trailblazer for Caucasians in
the hip-hop world, like Eminem is
[Intro (Obie Trice)]
now "Obie Trice/Real Name No Gimmicks"
The original lyric is “two Buffalo gals
go round the outside”, which he
alters to reflect his white trash [Refrain 1]
upbringing
The repetition of “round the outside”
2 trailer park girls go round the outside
is a rip from DMX’s “Party Up In round the outside, round the outside
Here” [Repeat Refrain 1]
[Refrain 2]
Guess whos back, back again
Shadys back, tell a friend
Guess who's back, guess who's back,
guess who's back
Guess who's back...
4. On his first major label album Eminem created the evil alter-ego “Slim He reveals that his alter ego is really just his personality when he’s
Shady”, which he now feels fans prefer over his actual personality (his drunk and high.
real first name is Marshall) Since he has struggled with drug problems throughout his life, we
This makes Em feel as though people value him as an entertainer only, have usually seen more of the “Shady” side of Marshall’s personality
and couldn’t care less about him as a person (“chopped liver is slang in his music
for "useless”)
[Verse 1]
I've created a monster, cuz nobody wants to
see Marshall no more they want Shady I'm
chopped liver
well if you want Shady, this is what I'll give ya
a little bit of weed mixed with some hard
liquor
some vodka that'll jumpstart my heart quicker
than a
shock when I get shocked at the hospital by
the Dr. when I'm not cooperating
when I'm rocking the table while he's
It has taken him more than 2 operating
years to release this album you waited this long now stop debating cuz I'm
and when he pronounced he
was doing a 4th, the critics back,
already has doubts whether if I'm on the rag and ovulating
it was up to his last standards.
5. Eminem targets the Cheneys because of Mrs. Cheney’s complaints
towards Em’s offensive and misogynistic lyrics. In her opinion no
parent should let her kid listen to him
The FCC (Federal
I know that you got a job Ms. Cheney but your Communications
husband's heart problem's complicating Commission) regulates
interstate and international
So the FCC wont let me be or let me be me so communications, including
let me see radio. The FCC won’t let him
play his songs; they edit and
they tried to shut me down on MTV but it feels censor them
so empty without me Eminem was never willing to
edit his lyrics for national
So come on and dip, bum on your lips fuck TV, he says that he is just
that, going to let the censors do
their job. But due to his fast
cum on your lips and some on your tits and get raps, one national
ready cuz this shit's about to get heavy performance couldn’t be
edited, so he got banned
I just settled all my lawsuits Fuck from performing on live TV
YOU DEBBIE! by the FCC
Debbie is the name of Eminem’s
mother; he was sued by his own
mother for defamation and the
case was settled before he
recorded this song
6. He is suggesting that his transformation from Marshall Mathers to
Slim Shady is a similar to Batman and Bruce Wayne. Slim Shady is an
anti-hero, providing the world with what it needs (controversy).
[Chorus X2]
Now this looks like a job for me so everybody
just follow me
cuz we need a little controversy,
cuz it feels so empty without me
7. [Verse 2]
Kids feel like no Little hellions kids feeling rebellious
music they listen embarrassed, their parents still listen to Elvis
to can break them
away from the they start feeling like prisoners, helpless,
parents they’re so 'til someone comes along on a mission and Eminem is saying he is
embarrassed in both a visionary
having, so his yells "bitch" (insightful, cutting
vulgar music gives A visionary, vision is scary, could start a edge) and thus
them a way to frightening for parents
rebel revolution, pollutin the air waves a rebel and other adults
so let me just revel and bask, in the fact that I
got everyone kissing my ass
and it's a disaster such a catastrophe for you to
see so damn much of my ass you ask for me?
He’s saying that everyone gives
him attention by being offended Well I'm back [batman sound]
by him and complaining
8. He is probably going to fix your bent antennae tune it in and then I'm
enter your mind, through gonna
the spectrum of TV,
possibly a comment on enter in and up under your skin like a splinter Shady’s good enough that he can
lyrically get to your emotions,
America’s reliance for The center of attention back for the winter and he’ll get deep, i.e. “a
entertainment from TV
I'm interesting, the best thing since wrestling splinter”
Another idea is that whether or
Infesting in your kids ears and nesting not you wanna hear him, he will
Testing "Attention Please" feel the tension get through to your ears
somehow
soon as someone mentions me
here's my 10 cents my 2 cents is free
A nuisance, who sent, you sent for me?
Eminem’s existence 2002 was an unending
game of “What’s he gonna do next?” Like Commenting on how he’s considered overplayed and annoying by
Batman’s Joker, you can never tell where those who don’t appreciate his music, but the irony states itself in
he’s gonna strike and the authorities are that it is the mainstream audience that causes him to be as played as
appropriately on edge often as he is
9. [Verse 3]
A tisk-it a task-it, I'll go tit for tat with anybody
who's talking this shit, that shit. Moby called Eminem a,
“misogynist, a homophobe,
Chris Kirkpatrick you can get your ass kicked a racist, and an anti-
worse than them little Limp Bizkit bastards, Semite,” at the Grammys
and Moby He doesn’t expect old people
you can get stomped by Obie, you 36 year old to understand or feel his
music and he doesn’t really
bald headed fag blow me want them to.
You don't know me, you're too old let go its
over, nobody listens to techno
Now let's go, just give me the signal I'll be
there with a whole list full of new insults
I've been dope, suspenseful with a pencil ever
since
Prince turned himself into a symbol
10. Similar to how Elvis
allowed black music get
through to the masses,
Eminem plans on
integrating rap even
more.
But sometimes the shit just seems, everybody
only wants to discuss me
So this must mean I'm disgusting, but its just
me I'm just obscene
Though 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 (Hey)
Even if white rappers
there's a concept that works
are mainstream, it’ll 20 million other white rappers emerge
still seem hollow
without this one
but no matter how many fish in the sea it'd be
white rapper in so empty without me
particular
12. Target Audience
Eminem doesn’t really specify who his
target audience is but from the amount of
people from a certain age bracket
consuming his music would probably
suggest he is aiming for those young adult
and teenagers. Also white working class
Americans as he mostly relates himself to
them.
13. Why Eminem?
•Creative lyrics
•Political messages in some of his songs e.g. ‘White America’ or ‘Mosh’
•Controversial lifestyle
•Grew up listening to him
•First music artist I remember first listening to and remembering the lyrics to some
of his songs (When I’m Gone)
•Even at the age of 40 he is still active in the music industry
•Skits with Dr. Dre
•The different of moods he puts in his songs.
