Hi my name is... my name is... my name is... chicka Ri-Ricky.
First of all, I'm new to this site and this is my first post and that was my formal introduction. i JUST read a post about "why some ppl here think Em is the GOAT and how he shouldn't be considered a goat" for some rather odd reasons that are completely not true. i thought my reply needed a new topic because i realized i had a lot to say and would like to get some feedback. Second of all, i want to make it clear that I'm a fan of Em because of his ARTISTRY, SKILLS, and TECHNICALITY and NOT because of his PERSONA, "OFFSTAGE" CONTROVERSY and ANTICS. I'm a rapper/song-writer myself, so i can objectively critique any rapper's skills without being biased.
when i mention skills, im referring to delivery, flow, versatility, originality, rhyme-schemes, punchlines, wordplay, rhythm, cadence, and most importantly IQ. When i mention IQ, what i mean is "THE HOW" you say what you say... there are millions different ways to a say to convey a point in a song. Take the song "criminal' for example, on a first listen, it appears to be another vintage "slim shady" tracks like "i just don't give a fuck or still don't give a fuck". I even read a review on the Marshall Mathers LP by one of the acclaimed magazines that dismissed this song as just another funny rant by slim shady. And how many times have we witnessed ppl like anderson coooper or baraba walters take the face value of the first 8 bars of that song and declare Eminem as a homophobe as if they just had a great revelation. The funny thing is that all these people couldn't be more wrong. The song is just the opposite and its one of the smartest "IQ" songs ever penned by eminem that should be mentioned in the same category of "Stan". His use of satire, humor and ironic hyperbole with a uncanny flow combined with a sharp charismatic delivery packed with pin-point punchlines and wordplay which are laced with the most complex internal rhyme-schemes which require no filler set-up lines that compromise the goal of the song makes him the greatest Mc of all time! All of these elements are on a perfect display in this song “criminal”.There are lots of songs that display same elements, a close cousin of “criminal” is “role model” or “who knew”. All of these use similar techniques of satire, humor, and irony just as well as any poet or a comedic satirist.
If you put all the main stream rappers who ever lived in the same room and ask them to write about a certain topic, let’s say … “why they think they got big or why they are the best” .. . 99% of the rappers will pen a cliché song with corny braggadocios lines claiming their obvious innate destiny is the reason why or how they are the most lyrically superior in a line that a kindergartener could write while Eminem pens the classic “white America” and “till I collapse”. Let’s change the topic to groupies, 99% of the rappers will talk about how their dick being a chick magnet while Eminem pens yet another classic like “superman” .how about the topic of drugs or partying, how many of those rappers can write a song like “drug ballad”? it’s the “how” you say what you say which I like to call “IQ” that showcases your intellect.
Wow I have written a lot already and Im not even 1/10th of the way there…. I can write a book about why Em is the greatest rapper and even the greatest song writer. I guess I put put forth an argument on why Em is the smartest Mc… guess ill live it at here and maybe ill do these in installments highlighting another aspect of his artistry some other time. Let me know what you guys think..