by EminemBase » Jun 27th, '10, 08:50
I don't agree that an artist should listen to their fans.
If Eminem genuinely had a change of heart about Relapse and all that it entailed and Recovery was the result of that, which happened to go hand in hand with the fans' opinions then fine. But if your current core audience doesn't agree with what you're now doing, fuck it, you'll develop a new core audience. All that matters is your own satisfaction.
But a truly great artist should only ever be trying to please themselves. Great art is produced as, usually, single-visions. There's a saying which says something like "a camel is horse designed by committee". And that sums up everything that I mean there pretty beautifully.
Trying to please a collective group of people is not good and shouldn't be the starting point or aim for any artist. You'll end up with something that is compromised, watered down and catering to groups of people on a broad level. In essence, that's what pop music is. Good art is selfish, single-minded. That's why it's unique and becomes an acquired taste. Like The Marshall Mathers LP.
Eminem is a great artist, as in, one of the greats because he does what HE wants to do. Pretty much like Jermaine says, he sounds like Eminem. But Em should never just try to please fans. Fuck that. Please yourself first and foremost. But, I'm sure he did do that with Recovery anyway. As always.
Ironically Irv Gotti proved this point as a plus for why Em is the greatest in that video where he said Jay-Z was better. Without realizing it, as he's a moron. Like he said; Em could do what Jay does and it'd still sound good but Jay would get laughed off if he tried to do what Em does. What's funny is, he thinks that's an insult to Em, a detriment as in 'what Em's doing isn't worthy' when in reality... He's still ackowledging Em doesn't sound shit doing it but Jay still can't do it. Highlighting the fact what Em does is far more unique and more importantly unique to him.
Like I've said before, Em can do what any other great can. None of them can do what he can. A perfect line to sum up why he is the GOAT.
Last edited by
EminemBase on Jun 27th, '10, 08:56, edited 2 times in total.