Do You Think Other Hip-Hop Fans Understand Em's Lyrics?

[kkaniff]

by 'other hip hop fans' do you mean black people?

[Slim Fiasco]

No. I've talked to some people who listen to him and I asked why they like him and they're like "He has catchy songs..." and shit like that.

To be honest, it sounds selfish, like Slim Fiasco said, but we really are some of the more in-depth fans of his. Not everyone catches the subtleties of his music, rhyming, messages, etc.

[Elision]

by 'other hip hop fans' do you mean black people?

Get the fuck out.

[Trimss]

by 'other hip hop fans' do you mean black people?

Yeah, them.

[tadpole25]

Probably not.

Most people who listen to Eminem like to hear him on the radio, but won't bother to listen to his lesser known stuff after the record company decides not to promote him.

In between then, they are listening to plenty of other music.

[kiki]

In mycountry 99% of hip hop fans are plain stupid. So they don't even get what Eminem says yet they all say he's awesome.

[Arrinef]

i still pick up new things from classic em joints all the time.
its never ending

[The Candy Man]

I can't imagine NO mainstream listeners understand Em's lyrics. Most of them sure, but the word I feel better about is "appreciate". Most probably like his production, singing, flow, voice and attitude. Not to mention, his being white and having that whole package doesn't hurt.

They enjoy his music for all those attributes, but can't or don't appreciate the whole other level of lyricism behind it all.

[Elision]

It's not that people aren't capable of understanding, they simply don't give that much of a fuck about Eminem. You have to care enough to understand any artists ways.

[CrashBand]

It's not that people aren't capable of understanding, they simply don't give that much of a fuck about Eminem. You have to care enough to understand any artists ways.

Valid point. But a bit of both I'd argue.

I think humour and wit definitely goes under-appreciated in Hip Hop.

[JuNiPER]

They don't understand Em's lyrics as well as we do cause they don't have an intelligent brain like we do.

[Table]

Ignoring the casual listeners, I do believe Hip Hop fans comprehend Em's lyrics for the most part (atleast when they try to), but like The Candy Man said - not many are exactly capable of appreciating them. His art is like The Mona Lisa, everybody knows what makes it so great (the enchanting mystery that surrounds the whole scape and a quizzical smile) but not many can sit and admire it. You got to have a knack for dry British humor, or atleast an ear for it to see what Em is doing. I see people (even on this forum) discrediting his lyrics for not being deeply layered with metaphors or having multiple meanings behind them and I can't help shaking my head at them, I personally find most of the puns pretty cheesy and cringe worthy (Recovery and HTS had a fair share of them) but many find them clever; beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[CrashBand]

Even the battle scene is turning for the worse because of it. People love the wordplayz and the metaphorz.

A lot of hip hop fans don't appreciate the sharp wit, dark humour and sarcasm that prime-em excelled in.

It's the same reason why people can't get into The Office or Louie--some people don't appreciate the brilliance.

[CrashBand]

Yeah, I certainly wasn't talking about the teen-boppers who bump Not Afraid. It's a given that they don't understand Eminem's lyrics.

But a lot of hip hop fans tend not to appreciate or 'understand' Eminem's best stuff.

Largely due to not giving a fuck about his music as Elision said as well.

But I think that comes hand in hand--these people don't really give a fuck about Em because they don't really appreciate the stuff he excels in.

[CrashBand]

Add "quotables" to the list of terms in rap culture that I don't like.

And yes, I used to say half the shit I now rag on. LOL.

How about 'classics'?