A lot of people don't like rap music. I am not one of those people. I don't think rap artists get enough credit for their lyricism. So here is my all time favorite Eminem song. It reminds me of ... me. People say music speaks to them. This song speaks to me.
I sit back with this pack of Zig Zags and this bag
of this weed it gives me the shit needed to be
the most meanest MC on this -- on this Earth
And since birth I've been cursed with this curse to just curse
And just blurt this berserk and bizarre shit that works
And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve
all this tension dispensin these sentences
Gettin this stress that's been eatin me recently off of this chest
and I rest again peacefully (peacefully)..
but at least have the decency in you
to leave me alone, when you freaks see me out
in the streets when I'm eatin or feedin my daughter
to not come and speak to me (speak to me)..
I don't know you and no,
I don't owe you a mo-therfuck-in thing
I'm not Mr. N'Sync, I'm not what your friends think
I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick
if you tempt me my tank is on empty (is on empty)..
No patience is in me and if you offend me
I'm liftin you 10 feet (liftin you 10 feet).. in the air
I don't care who is there and who saw me destroy you
Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit
I'll smile in the courtroom and buy you a wardrobe
I'm tired of all you (of all you)..
I don't mean to be mean but that's all I can be is just me
And I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
Cause I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
I don't know it's just the way I am
Sometimes I just feel like my father, I hate to be bothered
with all of this nonsense it's constant
And, "Oh, it's his lyrical content -
- the song 'Guilty Conscience' has gotten such rotten responses"
And all of this controversy circles me
and it seems like the media immediately
points a finger at me (finger at me)..
So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie
or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up
when you don't give a fuck, when you won't just put up
with the bullshit they pull, cause they full of shit too
When a dude's gettin bullied and shoots up his school
and they blame it on Marilyn (on Marilyn).. and the heroin
Where were the parents at? And look where it's at
Middle America, now it's a tragedy
Now it's so sad to see, an upper class ci-ty
havin this happenin (this happenin)..
then attack Eminem cause I rap this way (rap this way)..
But I'm glad cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire
to burn and it's burnin and I have returned
And I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
Cause I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
I don't know it's just the way I am
I'm so sick and tired of bein admired
that I wish that I would just die or get fired
and dropped from my label and stop with the fables
I'm not gonna be able to top on "My Name is.."
And pigeon-holed into some pop-py sensation
to cop me rotation at rock'n'roll stations
And I just do not got the patience (got the patience)..
to deal with these cocky caucasians who think
I'm some wigger who just tries to be black cause I talk
with an accent, and grab on my balls, so they always keep askin
the same fuckin questions (fuckin questions)..
What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in
The why, the who what when, the where, and the how
'til I'm grabbin my hair and I'm tearin it out
cause they drivin me crazy (drivin me crazy).. I can't take it
I'm racin, I'm pacin, I stand and I sit
And I'm thankful for ev-ery fan that I get
But I can't take a SHIT, in the bathroom
without someone standin by it
No I won't sign your autograph
You can call me an asshole I'm glad
I don't hate rap. I don't listen to a lot of it. But I love Eminem's albums. They make me laugh; they make me think. And a lot of them are damn catchy, too.
I think the problem with people's perception of him is that they take the wrong things seriously. When he talks about killing his wife or something, then the flares go up. But when he's talking about his life, as in the song above, they think he's being a smartass.
I was stoked when "Lose Yourself" one the Oscar in March. For those who were outraged, all I have to say is, if you don't like someone, turn them off.
Posted by: Daria at May 30, 2003 04:59 PMI remember being at the roller rink every damn Friday night and I remember the Sugar Hill Gang, man that was some wild stuff. Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five..memories. I lost touch w/rap music but thanks to the teenagers who worked for me, or should I say thanks to me for buying them a stereo for the grill, they reintroduced me. I love Eminem. I think their words are poetry and it's just another voice in music. People that say they don't like rap, haven't listened, and I think they are afraid.
Posted by: sandy at May 30, 2003 05:16 PMYeah, that song "Kim" is absolutely crazy and a little scary and violent, but it is so full of passion and pain and the way that he expresses it is so open. He is getting it out through his music. I really admire that. If people expressed themselves with art more I think they would not act so much on their "bad" impulses. Maria the psychotherapist here.
On rap as a whole, I have to say I love a lot of different kinds of music, but I have a special place in my heart for rap music. I totally agree with you Sandy when you say that one of the things that stops people from being able to accept it is fear. It is deep rooted conditioning that a lot of people are not even aware of in themselves. I won't go into it too much or else we will find ourselves on a whole different subject...
Music is music. You gotta love it.
Posted by: Maria at May 30, 2003 06:34 PMFor other super hot rap music ya'll can check out my "Music I love" link.
Posted by: Maria at May 30, 2003 06:36 PMhey, I didn't see Warren G on your list...his voice is like velvet..:)
Oh my, you like the Circle Jerks, I'm cracking up that we didn't exactly get along at first, but am finding way too many similarities now..:)
okay, I've been listening to Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding all day...girl you got to get into some of this...:)
Posted by: sandy at June 1, 2003 07:26 PMI'm so mad because Otis Redding never plays on my launchcast station even though I've rated him. He is the best. I'll check out Wilson Pickett, haven't listened to much of him. The Circle Jerks ROCK. Casualty Vampires!!! Yayaaa. Warm fuzzys.
It IS funny that we have so much in common, Sandy. I still visit Boycott Hollywood and want to participate in discussions but it's like self torment because I can't comment (due to the muzzle that was unduly placed on me). LOL!!! Oh well, if I wasn't such a sucker for conflict I wouldn't have this problem.
Posted by: Maria at June 1, 2003 09:45 PMI haven't been commenting too much on BH lately, the conversations have been a bit dull...I got some nasty ass virus on my puter, had to reconfigure my hardrive last night......me & my cheap ass..gotta stop downloading free music :)
Posted by: sandy at June 3, 2003 09:54 AMthat sucks about the virus! (knock on wood) Hope all is well now. I just visited BH right now and I swear, some of the people who visit that site are so unbelievably self righteous and most of all really fuckin uptight. (Not you of course sandy but some of those peeps up in that bitch are mighty uppity). I think it's better that I'm not allowed to comment! ;) haaha!
Posted by: Maria at June 4, 2003 07:02 PMI was a commenting fool today on the BH..abortion and gays...what topics, finally something interesting..my computer is totally fucked up, I'm using my husbands right now, he's workng on mine and cussing loudly..doesn't look good...:(
Posted by: sandy at June 4, 2003 09:23 PM