I talked with some knowledgeable Hip-Hop heads that I know (age 20-40), who aren't necessarily big Em fans, in order to get a more objective view i.e. the view of the average Hip-Hop head. Was expecting some hating, and to get a confirmation that The Eminem Show and the rest of Em's good albums aren't held in high regards, but this is what I got (will update if I get more opinions). I guess it's good to know that non-stans respect him enough (even though it shouldn't be surprising of course, but you know how people get; like people on here that shit on Kanye)
One of the best acts ever. Great lyricist. Great presence, pitch, and phrasing. He was really adept at creating his "Slim Shady" persona as an identity, and using the video medium to launch his career, and propel himself to unprecedented heights.
Not my personal cup of tea. But his accomplishments can't be diminished.
I like Eminem a lot. At first when he came out with the Slim Shady LP I wasn't too impressed, but I never thought he was wack, however, over the years he grew on me more and more with each listen. He grew on me so much that I went and bought all of his albums. The Slim Shady LP, Marshall Mathers LP, Relapse-Refill, Eminem Show, & Recovery, I like all of those albums a lot, can't say the same for Encore (lol). Overall, he's great and I'm anticipating his next album. Another thing Em does that I like a lot is in between albums, he usually takes breaks and aside from the occasional guest appearance, he doesn't do so much that you get tired of him. It's like once he's gone for a minute, you really can't wait for him to return and drop something new.
Love Eminem. Think he's one of the best to ever do it. His lyrical ability and flow are head and shoulders above most of the rest of hip hop and even when his content is lacking, he makes up for it with raw skill. I don't like his voice and delivery as much lately with all the shouting, but he still ranks extremely high for me.
As cliched as it is, dude helped me get into hip-hop - and it was a welcome surprise when he got a lot of his skill back in 2010. Dude's still not who he was in his prime, but he just has to keep at it and he'll keep making good music. He's definitely one of the best to listen to when depressed, overwhelmed, or angry - some of his shit got me through those moods. Most of his albums have great replay value, too - and of course, like y'all said, his lyrics - the way he rhymed - are phenomenal.
Lyrically he's a beast, did a good job at making serious music after being a humor rapper, first 2 albums are EXCELLENT, 3rd is really good, 4th sucked ass. I thought Relapse seemed desperate to recapture a youth market and the fake voice think was just weird, it really bothered me, plus the subject matter was all over the place, and he started doing that thing with his rhymes that he did on that Airplanes track at the beginning. I like either clowing em (As The World turns, My Fault) or mad em (Way I Am, Til I Collapse), or introspective em (Stan, Sing For the Moment, Without Me). He made up for that with Refill. But he acknowledged that wasn't a great effort. Dude can flat out spit though, there's no denying that. There's alot of white rappers that never got anywhere near the fame Em did, some with almost the same subject matters (Cage, Necro). He can rhyme about anything. One of the greatest pure rhymers of all time.
i love Em's music more so earlier than latter, i no longer seek to judge the artists intentions or whatever...i just like good music..and IMO he has released some definite classics and done some wonderful music i have no negative opinions on him
While I think race has a lot to do with Em's success, I have this crazy thought that I think he would still be towards the same level of success if he was black because for one, I think he is that great at his craft. Two, he is extremely polarizing.
Em is one of the greatest to ever do it. Lyrically, he maybe one of the most advanced emcees ever this side of Rakim, Pun, and Big L. To be mainstream and still be better than 95-98% of the competition is major. I wish he would be more loose with his flow now-a-days and pick better beats, but I think he is still better than almost all his competition as an artist and lyricist.
. Nice to hear that from someone who's not a Stan.
