Eminem has different types of fans

[Vinyl]

Hey this is my first post, apologies in advance for being long winded but I've been reading these forums for a while and finally decided to join. Don't know how active I'll be but I did want to add my two cents to this.

I think every artist has different fans. Some follow from the beginning, some join later on when a particular single catches their ear etc etc. That's just music.

I was 11 when Slim Shady LP came out, so I grew up on Eminem. I would agree with what some have said on here that if you've been following his progression from the beginning, your view on his music is different.

In regards to his fans being split based on content, I would have to agree in the sense that, although I do enjoy his darker content, it pales in comparison to his emotionally driven songs.

I look at it on a bigger scale. When you see what him, Jay-Z and Kanye West are doing; they're trying to do more with rap than what was previously possible. They're not looking to be compared to artists in their own genre. They want to be compared to artists like Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Bob Dylan. Artists that have stood the test of time and rank among the greatest songwriters period. They also want to go for longevity. The shelf life of a rapper was relatively short up until this point. The biggest rappers before these guys came were Biggie and Pac obviously. Sadly, they passed so we'll never know how far they could have taken this genre. Artists before them that shaped the game like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, etc etc have either retired from making music or are making music under the radar. This is the first we've seen rap artists last this long in terms of relevancy. They want to show they can tour into their old(er) age like the great artists before them from other genres.

Eminem cannot get there on lyricism alone. While I think his ability to put rhymes together is by far the best I've ever seen, and doubt someone new will come along and top what he's done with words; his bread and butter is in his ability to connect with his listeners. We could argue who the most lyrical rapper is all day, but how many of those people you stack against him have songs like Lose Yourself and Sing For The Moment in their arsenal. For a lot of emcees, they either decide to go full board lyrical at the expense of not making emotional songs, or they focus on bringing emotion but at the risk of watering down their lyrical ability. Eminem does both without sacrificing either.

Lines like "You're lying to yourself, you're slowly dying, you're denying your health is declining with your self esteem, you're crying out for help". "Seize the moment, try to freeze it own it, squeeze it and hold it, cause we consider these minutes golden". "All I ever felt was dissed, helplessness, imprisioned by a selfish bitch. Chewed me up and spit me out I fell for this so many times it's ridiculous, and still I stick with this" are very sound lyrically but they also paint a clear and vivid picture and express what he's feeling. He also sticks to problems I would assume most could relate to. From relationships, to being broke (his earlier stuff) to battling demons. Never brags about what he can afford or how famous he is, instead writes about the pitfalls of fame as opposed to the benefits. I mean, he even admits when his material isn't up to his standards. How many other rappers are that honest? Most rappers nowadays are playboy pimp killers with infinite bank accounts and no personal flaws. Oh yeah, they also have "swag". He writes about subjects most can relate to.

Although we all love his technical ability, I would say the two biggest reasons he's been able to withstand the test of time is 1.) Ability to connect emotionally to his listeners 2.) His versatility. I used to be a total hip hop head. I mean underground, mainstream, old school, new school. Everything. Now I listen pretty much exclusively to rock with the exception of Eminem. He fulfills all my rap needs. Emotional songs, dark songs, funny songs, songs that make you think, songs with raw lyricism. He even uses different voices!

I'm just a little upset that throughout his entire career, he's really only made the kind of content I'm talking about a few times (Eminem Show/8 Mile, Recovery). It looks as if though that is going to be the new norm for him. Like I said before; he's not trying to beat other rappers at this point. That battle has been over. Him and Jay-Z are both looking at a bigger picture. Call it maturity or whatever it may be. But they're eyeing a bigger prize. And songs about rape and murder are not going to get him there. He has plenty of shock/violent/dark songs in his catalog for people to feast on. He has to move past that now I think. You cant expect a man who is near 40 to make the same kind of material he did when he was in his 20s. You have to show progression as a human being.

[VanessaEmily]

I’m a big fan of Eminem I’m listening to their songs from the day I know them. I’m madly loved with Marshall Bruce voice and I’m so impressed to him as well.