Eminem: Pondering the controversy around Marshall Mathers
Written: Apr 21 '01
Product Rating:
Pros: Brilliant rapping ability, fascinating insights, emotion in his music
Cons: Lots of profanity, over the top violence on "Kim"
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this album for the open minded adult. A great candidate for psychoanalysis Eminem is a fascinating artist to disect.
Monnie1976's Full Review: The Marshall Mathers Lp [PA] by Eminem
I have put off writing this review a long time because I wasn't exactly sure what to say. When you address such a controversial artist as Eminem, you automatically delve into the issues of freedom of speech, violence in the media, and even issues like violence in schools. Since we recently passed the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, I felt this might be an appropriate time to voice my opinions on Eminem, in turn voicing my opinions on these delicate issues.
Many people see Eminem as an agent of violence, bigotry and hatred. At first I thought the same thing. My husband wanted to buy his album and since he is a grown man I bought it for him. And then I listened. I gasped. I grimaced. I chuckled at moments. I was baffled by the brilliant skill for manipulating words and using them to blatantly offend. The more I am exposed to his music, his interviews and his colleagues the more I realize he is truly a brilliant artist. To me an artist is someone who uses a form of expression to incite emotion in others. Prince makes you want to get freaky, Celine Dion makes you think of love, and Eminem makes you look at society.
The album begins with a public service announcement basically informing us that since we bought the album we have kissed Eminem’s behind. I guess I can accept that. The first song called “Kill You” is flows along nicely with a refrain that goes “You don’t want to f*ck with Shady, cause Shady will f’n kill you” This song doesn’t have much purpose except to rant and rave and release some anger. This isn’t one of the more brilliant songs on the album.
Then we have his fascinating answer to himself in the form of “Stan”. Eminem shows his humanity in this chilling tale of a fan that takes his lyrics too literally and his reaction to this fan. This is what made me have respect for Eminem. It’s his disclaimer set to music. Featuring a sample of Dido’s “Thank You”, the whole scenario built in this song is haunting and unbelievably effective. The rain is pouring in the background accentuated by thunder and lightning. As the letters develop you can hear the scribble of a pencil. I don’t want to spoil the song to for the few people who may not have heard it. The whole song is pretty riveting, but when Eminem writes his disturbed fan back I feel this is the true message of the piece.
“What’s this sh#t you like to cut your wrists too? I say that sh*t just clowning dog how f*cked up is you.
You got some issues Stan, I think you need some counseling, to help your *ss from bouncing off the walls when you get down some.”
I work with youth everyday that are extremely angry and bitter and I have actually seen and heard their reaction to this song. I think they learn through this that it is ok to be angry and even to fantasize about that anger but acting it out is unacceptable. For these kids who have been abused by people who were supposed to love them, abandoned by those who are supposed to help and forced to live a life of uncertainty I actually think this helps. The kids vent through him and it keeps them from flying off the handle.
“Who Knew?” is a fantastic song about the responsibility the artist has to listeners and really gives Eminem’s opinion on how he feels about violence in the media. Some of the lyrics are angry rants but in the middle there are brilliant pieces of insight about society woven in between. He addresses how parents are so disturbed by him but yet let their kids watch Scwharznegger movies, wear make-up at twelve years old. He discusses how absurd it is that from what he writes (or anyone writes) that kids would run in and shoot up their school, hit their significant other or slit their own wrists. He doesn’t say it in the most politically correct way but I feel he does have a valid point. Please feel free to comment if you disagree. I value all opinions.
“The Way I Am” is another song about the fact he doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. He talks about how this relieves his tension and the tension of others. This song to me is him stating that this is his catharsis and he didn’t really do this for anyone else. He leads us to believe that whether you make him into a monster preying on the innocence of our children or a person who is the product of a system that has created him. Interesting proposition and one that is not easily answered. “The Real Slim Shady” is a somewhat humorous song that touches on tons of subjects in a stream of conscious rant about pop culture. Everyone has heard this song and it zips along with cleverly designed lyrics and defiant energy. “Remember Me?” is a boring track and I do not see anything in it except a bunch of nonsense.
The next superb track is “Marshall Mathers” where you get another glance into the psyche of the most controversial icon of our time. You see a strange of mixture of anger, grief, spite and humor. This man loves to use his status in the pop culture to rant and rave and yet almost hates the fact he is a star. He discusses his family, boy bands, and people who say they hate him yet imitate him. There is then an oral sex that I have heard has to do with Insane Clown Possee. I don’t understand it all so I can’t say if its funny or crude. “Drug Ballad” is a song about addiction and is also interesting.
The one track on this album that is just plain disturbing is a song called “Kim”. Eminem murders his wife and I found it to be stomach churning and over the line. He seems to be exercising some demons concerning his relationship with her and his anger of things she has done. It’s raw and unsettling. I usually skip this song.
Overall, Eminem is an enigma. On one hand he is a brilliant artist weaving lyrics of anger and regret. On the other hand, he is a sensationalist trying to shock the kiddies for the green. I believe he is some of both and on a whole I definitely feel his album was worthy of a Grammy nod. He truly is an artist because only someone skilled at his or her craft could get such a reaction. He punches you in the gut with his reflection of society and he unsettles many people this way.
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