Eminem
When he isn't rapping about killing his mom or raping his wife or going on about how much he hates "faggots," he can put out some nice tunes. I still think that I'm mainly attracted to the music and not so much his rapping. The track Lose Yourself from his critically panned 8 Mile is very catchy. It's been running though my head ever since I saw the movie trailer. I still think I'll pass on the movie though.
I also understand that his music is just music and his lyrics are just lyrics. It should be left at that.
Update:
kotte: lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go
...that's good advice no matter who it's coming from.
I think you make a very productive point. I think we could enjoy many more songs if we were to isolate the music and the words from each other.
It would also be curious to see how much of The Real Slim Shady is an act. It's hard to tell because so many musicians don't put on an act and it's entirely possible that he is as screwed up as he purports to be.
He might be the shrewdest business person to hit the industry in quite some time or he might just be a train wreck waiting to happen. I'm sure even when "Behind the Music: The Real Slim Shady" comes out, the mystery will remain to some degree.
He's smart and his tunes are catchy.
In spite of myself, I can't stop singing Cleaning Out My Closet....and I'm definitely going to see 8 Mile.
Good music is good music and if something offends...well, maybe, just maybe we should pay more attention to it because we might learn something. Excluding Howard Stern--so old and so negative and so boring.
Kim
I have never been a fan of Eminem but ever since I saw the trailer for 8mile, with "lose yourself" playing in the background, I was like, "I gotta check this guy out, this is such an awesome beat". I don't think I'll ever buy his cd ( just because some of his lyrics are too violent and profane for me), but I definitly plan to see 8mile and sing along when I hear some of his songs.