Millions of fans around the world were overjoyed when Eminem’s first album in four years was released on May 15 this year.
But that joy was not shared by everyone. Many parents, concerned about any influence the controversial rap artist might have upon children, are (understandably) not overly thrilled about his return.
With the release of his new album, now is an opportune time to talk about the virtues or otherwise of hate rappers. Do artists whose lyrics are often vulgar and offensive represent a legitimate part of the music industry, or would society be better off without them?
About Eminem and Hate Rappers
(Warning: Videos referenced in this section contain course language and disturbing images)
‘Hate rappers’ is the term which I will use, for want of a better term, to describe those rap artists whose lyrics which may encourage violence, alcohol or drug abuse, or other forms of criminal or anti-social behavior, or which promote such behavior as ‘cool’ in any way.
Eminem represents a prime example. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with his songs, some of his earlier works featured:
• a man who is encouraged to shoot his wife and the man with whom his wife was caught cheating (refer Guilty Conscience);
• a psychotic fan who ties his pregnant girlfriend to the back seat of his car whilst driving the vehicle off a freeway bridge (refer Stan);
• the rapper himself stating that he wished his own mother would ‘burn in h***’ (refer Cleaning out my closet
• a song which portrays drug use not only as ‘cool,’ but as an experience which is second to none (refer Purple Pills).
Two sides to the story
The reasons behind the popularity of Eminem and other hate rappers are simple: their rebellious image strikes a chord with some listeners, and the controversy which their lyrics stir up generates not just publicity but a great deal of interest in their music.
What is more debatable is whether or not this form of art is desirable. Personally, I can empathizse with both points of view, and I do not really have a strong viewpoint either way.
On one hand, many people enjoy this type of music, and are able to relate effectively to the some of the sentiments which permeate through these types of songs. And to be fair, some of these artists are quite talented, and to a degree, it is pleasing to see them apply their talent toward the process of creative expression even if their output may be controversial.
Moreover, the majority of young people today experience a wide range of media related input across a wide variety of mediums. For all but the most die-hard of fans, the music of hate rappers would represent only a small percentage of their total media intake. Accordingly, any impact which these artists have in terms of shaping attitudes and behavior is probably not be that great in the context of the broader influence of the overall media landscape.
In any case, the influence of hate rappers is probably not a great deal worse than that many violent action or horror films.
That said, whatever influence Eminem and others do exert is not a constructive one. For this reason, I do have some empathy for arguments which suggest that these types of artists should not be welcomed in the modern media landscape.
A personal note
On a personal note, when Eminem first came out about ten years ago, I was disgusted by his lyrics and felt that he was an unwelcome participant in the music industry.
Over time, however, I became de-sensitized to his music and started to enjoy a number of his songs. I have even learnt to sing (not very well) one of his tunes at Korean singing rooms.
Over to you
Are hate rappers a legitimate part of the entertainment industry, or would we be better off without them?
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