12/12/06 - Eminem soothes his savage beast long read

markforlife · 12-12-2006, 07:42 PM

hit the rep up if you wants

Many MCs use the high word count of a typical rap track only to show off rhyming skills and rhythmic flow.

Not Eminem, though.

Marshall Mathers' pale skin may be what we first saw, but it was the disturbingly personal anecdotes entwined within his technically perfect rhymes that truly made him stand out.

Eminem's discography reads like an autobiography, from his most recent solo song, No Apologies, off the just-released compilation Eminem Presents the Re-Up, to his introductory track, 1999's My Name Is.

Amidst the catchy beats and plentiful jokes on his inaugural radio smash, Eminem offhandedly mentions his mother's drug habit, dreams of killing his absentee father and discusses suicide. Elsewhere on his debut, The Slim Shady LP, he brings up childhood bullying and depicts the fictional murder of his ex-wife, Kim, on the controversial 97 Bonnie & Clyde ("There goes mama, splashin' in the water/no more fightin' with dad, no more restraining order").

On his followup, the operatic, Grammy-winning The Marshall Mathers LP, he verbally murders her again on "Kim" and drops an Oedipal rap about raping his own mother on Kill You, both of which were cited in an attempt to bar Eminem from entering Ontario, though their deranged delivery reveals a more complex story than the lyric sheet.

Obviously, most of his raps were not true to life--or at least his real life. Instead, Mathers split his personality into three Freudian parts -- Marshall the superego, Eminem the ego and Slim Shady the misogynistic, homophobic and utterly unrestrained id.

But alongside his well-discussed mother/wife/daughter hang-ups is a continuing inner conflict over his success, which ranges from the proud boasts of his latest single, You Don't Know to, more often, paranoia about his celebrity status, which began with the Marshall Mathers title track ("Last year I was nobody/This year I'm sellin' records/Now everybody wants to come around like I owe 'em something") and his most-acclaimed song, Stan, about a deranged fan.

By 2002's Say Goodbye To Hollywood Eminem was back to contemplating suicide or, at least, retiring from rap: "I don't wanna quit, but shit, I feel like this is it/for me to have this much appeal like this is sick/This is not a game, this fame."

Instead, Em returned in 2004 with Encore and, unlike his previous efforts, it was deemed an artistic failure, especially the rote lead single Just Lose It. But it appeared to suck on purpose as a message to the fans who ate up his radio singles and therefore created his celebrity.

That idea was bolstered by the album artwork and title track, both of which depicted the rapper shooting his audience and then killing himself. But this seemed less a cry for help then a meta-complaint about his demanding audience and, perhaps, a retirement of his Slim Shady persona.

Eminem next released the greatest-hits Curtain Call (originally rumoured to be titled The Funeral), which included the new song When I'm Gone. Once again, he worries fame has ruined his chance for a happy family and kills himself: "I hear applause, all this time I couldn't see/How could it be, that the curtain is closing on me/I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it/Put it to my brain and scream 'Die Shady' and pop it."

Since then, his life has gone considerably more downhill. He quit a tour to go into rehab for pill addiction, re-married and re-divorced his wife, and his longtime best friend Proof was shot to death in a Detroit nightclub.

But guess who's back? Though his new album, The Re-Up, is really a mixed tape featuring his Shady Records artists, such as 50 Cent and D12, it does conclude with the solo song No Apologies.

Like a mournful Lose Yourself, it runs on Em's impeccable momentum and wordplay, but he sounds more conflicted than ever. He tries some Slim Shady-style jokes, but he knows they don't fit anymore.

Eminem says he won't quit until he stops selling -- though on the The Re-Up he warns "this right here very well could be the last rap I ever do spit" -- but still frets that an infatuated fan will assassinate him. More intriguingly, he explicitly states "this song isn't for you, it's for me," and really, that's what most of his best work has been -- musical therapy, putting his anger issues, his self-doubts, his love and fear and jealousy on wax.

"I'd be a savage beast if I ain't have this outlet to salvage me inside," he raps, but more astonishing is his subsequent admission, "I'm really a sheep in wolf's clothing."

So where does he go from here? Despite constant hints, it's unlikely the rapper will retire anytime soon. Mathers will have his triumphs and missteps, both artistically and personally, but his legacy is sound because his body of work is the opposite of pop music's universally applicable norm. Eminem's oeuvre is psychologically specific to one man and oh, what a long, strange head-trip it's been.

Sole1 · 12-12-2006, 08:06 PM

.........k

ns_diplomat · 12-12-2006, 08:29 PM

MMLP is a fuckin hot album!!
and NO APOLOGIES is the best track off The Re-Up (IMO)

psykoman93 · 12-12-2006, 08:35 PM

okay... propss i guess

Aftermath2150 · 12-12-2006, 08:35 PM

This was a good read. Em reminded everyone (who forgot) that he's on that Top 5 Dead or Alive list, whether you want to admit it or not.

BriHFL=soy una chica · 12-12-2006, 08:52 PM

Props, great read....

Fabuless · 12-12-2006, 08:58 PM

props man..dont pu "long read" in titles...attracts less people haha

D-money550 · 12-12-2006, 09:07 PM

Props ..................

Dat_Nigga203 · 12-12-2006, 09:22 PM

props, very good read... eminem is one the best artists out.. color aside

BAnk$ 82992 · 12-12-2006, 09:29 PM

That album is hot as fuck. If you aint got it ask santa(LOL) and get that shit nigga. Its off the mother fuckin chain.

EdG810 · 12-12-2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Rag-G-unit

props man..dont pu "long read" in titles...attracts less people haha

Co-Sign....only reson I took the time was cuz it said eminem......props anyways

The Real B.G. · 12-12-2006, 09:39 PM

propss real good read

Zany Blunts · 12-12-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aftermath2150

This was a good read. Em reminded everyone (who forgot) that he's on that Top 5 Dead or Alive list, whether you want to admit it or not.

lol... word...

i hope he makes another album... even though the encore was his worse (everything before it was untouchable IMO) work, i still like it alot... it was a good album... it wasnt like it sucked... just disapointing for eminem who has such high expectations... i do think he said everything though... i dont know what he's gunna come out with next... hopefully something good... even a below par eminem is good... i just hope to hear some fire eminem or atleast something better than encore... i dont think he's gunna do anything better than before encore but maybe better than encore... nah meen!?

micsnatcha · 12-12-2006, 10:30 PM

Nice read!

JerseySoldier89 · 12-12-2006, 10:38 PM

propz em is shit with the lyrics

MC B STREETZ · 12-12-2006, 10:57 PM

AAEE LETS GET IT POP'PIN

Aiyyo propz 4 da 411

G G G-UNIT

markforlife · 12-12-2006, 11:11 PM

yea i feel what people saying in this no hating on eminem he is one of the great no matter white or black he just putting out good material and it does what it does

Drewshady17 · 12-12-2006, 11:17 PM

Eminem to me if not the best rapper to ever walk this earth then easily the second.And should be in everyone's top five MC's.He has been through a lot of shit and overcome tons of adversity to get to the top and then face even more setbacks.Now with The Re Up he is still going strong and ridin proud for Proof(RIP).I hop he keeps goin and doesn't stop.Eminem is a true Legend.

markforlife · 12-12-2006, 11:19 PM

real talks ^^^

Xcape UNIT · 12-12-2006, 11:43 PM

Eminem is the futha fukkin best.. like it or not.. re up is nuttin but FIYAAH!!!

DJ Whoo Kid · 12-13-2006, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aftermath2150

This was a good read. Em reminded everyone (who forgot) that he's on that Top 5 Dead or Alive list, whether you want to admit it or not.

Exactly. This isnt an opinion, its a fact.

The only ones who dislike Em's work are Rock fans and racists.

Jack Frost · 12-13-2006, 03:47 AM

propz. eminem should drop another album. that shit would be fire.

420Chilltyme · 12-13-2006, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Frost

propz. eminem should drop another album. that shit would be fire.

when he was on 106 and park it sounded like he was gonna put out a new solo album

.pure. · 12-13-2006, 05:29 AM

Thanks for that. Good read.

American6Idiot9 · 12-13-2006, 08:29 AM

props on this man

12-12-2006, 07:42 PM	#1
markforlife Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 8,918 Repped: 0 Repped 584 Times in 98 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	12/12/06 - Eminem soothes his savage beast long read 12/12/06 - Eminem soothes his savage beast long read hit the rep up if you wants Many MCs use the high word count of a typical rap track only to show off rhyming skills and rhythmic flow. Not Eminem, though. Marshall Mathers' pale skin may be what we first saw, but it was the disturbingly personal anecdotes entwined within his technically perfect rhymes that truly made him stand out. Eminem's discography reads like an autobiography, from his most recent solo song, No Apologies, off the just-released compilation Eminem Presents the Re-Up, to his introductory track, 1999's My Name Is. Amidst the catchy beats and plentiful jokes on his inaugural radio smash, Eminem offhandedly mentions his mother's drug habit, dreams of killing his absentee father and discusses suicide. Elsewhere on his debut, The Slim Shady LP, he brings up childhood bullying and depicts the fictional murder of his ex-wife, Kim, on the controversial 97 Bonnie & Clyde ("There goes mama, splashin' in the water/no more fightin' with dad, no more restraining order"). On his followup, the operatic, Grammy-winning The Marshall Mathers LP, he verbally murders her again on "Kim" and drops an Oedipal rap about raping his own mother on Kill You, both of which were cited in an attempt to bar Eminem from entering Ontario, though their deranged delivery reveals a more complex story than the lyric sheet. Obviously, most of his raps were not true to life--or at least his real life. Instead, Mathers split his personality into three Freudian parts -- Marshall the superego, Eminem the ego and Slim Shady the misogynistic, homophobic and utterly unrestrained id. But alongside his well-discussed mother/wife/daughter hang-ups is a continuing inner conflict over his success, which ranges from the proud boasts of his latest single, You Don't Know to, more often, paranoia about his celebrity status, which began with the Marshall Mathers title track ("Last year I was nobody/This year I'm sellin' records/Now everybody wants to come around like I owe 'em something") and his most-acclaimed song, Stan, about a deranged fan. By 2002's Say Goodbye To Hollywood Eminem was back to contemplating suicide or, at least, retiring from rap: "I don't wanna quit, but shit, I feel like this is it/for me to have this much appeal like this is sick/This is not a game, this fame." Instead, Em returned in 2004 with Encore and, unlike his previous efforts, it was deemed an artistic failure, especially the rote lead single Just Lose It. But it appeared to suck on purpose as a message to the fans who ate up his radio singles and therefore created his celebrity. That idea was bolstered by the album artwork and title track, both of which depicted the rapper shooting his audience and then killing himself. But this seemed less a cry for help then a meta-complaint about his demanding audience and, perhaps, a retirement of his Slim Shady persona. Eminem next released the greatest-hits Curtain Call (originally rumoured to be titled The Funeral), which included the new song When I'm Gone. Once again, he worries fame has ruined his chance for a happy family and kills himself: "I hear applause, all this time I couldn't see/How could it be, that the curtain is closing on me/I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it/Put it to my brain and scream 'Die Shady' and pop it." Since then, his life has gone considerably more downhill. He quit a tour to go into rehab for pill addiction, re-married and re-divorced his wife, and his longtime best friend Proof was shot to death in a Detroit nightclub. But guess who's back? Though his new album, The Re-Up, is really a mixed tape featuring his Shady Records artists, such as 50 Cent and D12, it does conclude with the solo song No Apologies. Like a mournful Lose Yourself, it runs on Em's impeccable momentum and wordplay, but he sounds more conflicted than ever. He tries some Slim Shady-style jokes, but he knows they don't fit anymore. Eminem says he won't quit until he stops selling -- though on the The Re-Up he warns "this right here very well could be the last rap I ever do spit" -- but still frets that an infatuated fan will assassinate him. More intriguingly, he explicitly states "this song isn't for you, it's for me," and really, that's what most of his best work has been -- musical therapy, putting his anger issues, his self-doubts, his love and fear and jealousy on wax. "I'd be a savage beast if I ain't have this outlet to salvage me inside," he raps, but more astonishing is his subsequent admission, "I'm really a sheep in wolf's clothing." So where does he go from here? Despite constant hints, it's unlikely the rapper will retire anytime soon. Mathers will have his triumphs and missteps, both artistically and personally, but his legacy is sound because his body of work is the opposite of pop music's universally applicable norm. Eminem's oeuvre is psychologically specific to one man and oh, what a long, strange head-trip it's been.

12-12-2006, 08:29 PM	#3
ns_diplomat Reppin' 514 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 514 - MTL - 514 Posts: 14,945 Repped: 664 Repped 1,324 Times in 538 Posts Neg Reps: 42 Neg Repped at 76 Times in 61 Posts	MMLP is a fuckin hot album!! and NO APOLOGIES is the best track off The Re-Up (IMO) __________________ G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath!! "Shout out to all the people in Montreal - Montreal is real hood. Real gangsta out there." - Juelz Santana

12-12-2006, 08:35 PM	#4
psykoman93 ~~~PsYkOmAn93~~~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 2,418 Repped: 1,333 Repped 729 Times in 96 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	okay... propss i guess __________________ "I don't speak, I float in the air wrapped in a sheet I'm not a real person, I'm a ghost trapped in a beat"

12-12-2006, 08:52 PM	#6
BriHFL=soy una chica Weight Lifted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tex Mex Posts: 888 Repped: 68 Repped 547 Times in 90 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props, great read.... __________________ "Originality....not sold in stores"

12-12-2006, 08:58 PM	#7
Fabuless Producer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,285 Repped: 2,380 Repped 204 Times in 59 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props man..dont pu "long read" in titles...attracts less people haha __________________ 20 G's for this watch, Are you sick G? A dot com on my arm, ThisIs50 - Chamillionaire

12-12-2006, 08:06 PM	#2
Sole1 Still Versatile... Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: T.O. Posts: 1,481 Repped: 170 Repped 78 Times in 39 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	.........k

12-12-2006, 08:35 PM	#5
Aftermath2150 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philly Posts: 163 Repped: 5 Repped 18 Times in 5 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 1 Post	This was a good read. Em reminded everyone (who forgot) that he's on that Top 5 Dead or Alive list, whether you want to admit it or not.

12-12-2006, 09:07 PM	#8
D-money550 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 972 Repped: 194 Repped 65 Times in 23 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props ..................

12-12-2006, 09:22 PM	#9
Dat_Nigga203 Stylin On You Niggas Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Connecticut... Stand Up!!! Posts: 1,439 Repped: 824 Repped 112 Times in 22 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props, very good read... eminem is one the best artists out.. color aside

12-12-2006, 09:29 PM	#10
BAnk$ 82992 Buck The World March 27 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 3,976 Repped: 2,508 Repped 407 Times in 46 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	That album is hot as fuck. If you aint got it ask santa(LOL) and get that shit nigga. Its off the mother fuckin chain.

12-12-2006, 09:39 PM	#12
The Real B.G. Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NC Posts: 1,897 Repped: 499 Repped 162 Times in 37 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	propss real good read

12-12-2006, 10:30 PM	#14
micsnatcha Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Up in yo ass! Posts: 418 Repped: 10 Repped 3 Times in 3 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice read!

12-12-2006, 10:38 PM	#15
JerseySoldier89 JerseyNiggasRTheCraziest Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 268 Repped: 144 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	propz em is shit with the lyrics

12-12-2006, 10:57 PM	#16
MC B STREETZ YAYO'S ADVOCATE/HYPE MAN Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FIND ME IN YA CRIB WIT DA NINA WHERE DA MONEY AT Posts: 18,199 Repped: 3,566 Repped 21,972 Times in 2,200 Posts Neg Reps: 58 Neg Repped at 51 Times in 45 Posts	AAEE LETS GET IT POP'PIN Aiyyo propz 4 da 411 G G G-UNIT

12-12-2006, 11:11 PM	#17
markforlife Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 8,918 Repped: 0 Repped 584 Times in 98 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	yea i feel what people saying in this no hating on eminem he is one of the great no matter white or black he just putting out good material and it does what it does

12-12-2006, 11:17 PM	#18
Drewshady17 Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,001 Repped: 295 Repped 347 Times in 71 Posts Neg Reps: 4 Neg Repped at 16 Times in 12 Posts	Eminem to me if not the best rapper to ever walk this earth then easily the second.And should be in everyone's top five MC's.He has been through a lot of shit and overcome tons of adversity to get to the top and then face even more setbacks.Now with The Re Up he is still going strong and ridin proud for Proof(RIP).I hop he keeps goin and doesn't stop.Eminem is a true Legend.

12-12-2006, 11:19 PM	#19
markforlife Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 8,918 Repped: 0 Repped 584 Times in 98 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	real talks ^^^

12-12-2006, 11:43 PM	#20
Xcape UNIT Ecp4Life Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MaC-Town, Texas Posts: 1,001 Repped: 2 Repped 2 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Eminem is the futha fukkin best.. like it or not.. re up is nuttin but FIYAAH!!!

12-13-2006, 03:47 AM	#22
Jack Frost Natural Born Killah Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 2,144 Repped: 145 Repped 125 Times in 51 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 10 Times in 7 Posts	propz. eminem should drop another album. that shit would be fire.

12-13-2006, 05:29 AM	#24
.pure. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: DTYSTH Posts: 91 Repped: 31 Repped 30 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for that. Good read.

12-13-2006, 08:29 AM	#25
American6Idiot9 HipHopVibez Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 16,364 Repped: 5,413 Repped 3,466 Times in 443 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 1 Post	props on this man __________________ Naughty America Thread - hhboard.com/showthread.php?t=326180 Guitar Hero III: Wii Friend Code: 2449-3345-3892

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