Eminem in all his glory with that confidant look, every word he spoke was an intended rap. There exists an elusive touch to his rap songs, everything he did reverberate an Eminem tone, which cannot be unfolded anywhere else but is that exclusivity found at the heart of his songs. A single beat of Eminem is all that it takes to resonate with his voice and lyrics in your head. And then you go all crazy! The sui generis nature of his songs characterizes the Eminem touch.
His emergence in the industry was in the late 1990s, and his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, had won a Grammy for the best rap album. Lady Luck was beside him, blessing him with her fortunes because he was a genius. The Marshall Mathers LP, his second album, was crowned as the fastest-selling solo album in the United States. The epoch of his accolades was his entry into the Guinness World Records. His song Rap God broke the record for most words packed into a single hit, and an added ten records.
Eminem is adept at business, and this skill is evident in the 1.76 million copies of The Marshall Mathers LP in the first week. This is massive! Also, ten of his albums were the number one hits on the Billboard 100. He was worshipped both by enthusiasts of rap because of his compact lyricism. Eminem was conferred the stature of a deity with his song Rap God that witnessed the awe-inspiring moment of Eminem swiftly rattling off syllables – a wonder to this day.
As an American, he had to validate his mastery before the rap culture could espouse him. Being a white was a joy both sweet and bitter because he got the support of a lot of suburban dads, and mom says, “Rap is a big no except for my kids except for Eminem.” The privileged status as the sole mainstream white rapper who succoured the expansion of rap into white households.
He narrated stories through his songs, including that of his personal struggles. His classics like Stan would present you the experience of Eminem getting into your head and telling his story through music. This was an exceptional song that expressed a compelling emotional narrative through his verses.
Who doesn’t love an anti-hero? Everyone does. Songs like Without Me, he expressed himself as violent, aggressive, and crude while presenting his stature in the pop-culture – the symbol of a revolutionary in rap. His songs, like White America, where he criticised George W. Bush even before the entry of Donald Trump, was a remarkable stance. Despite his white fanbase, he never hesitated to criticise right-wing white America. Yet, many conservatives still loved him – his enigma always outstood. Hence, he was always able to furnish a harmonious blend of his views and fanbase.