Revisiting"The Eminem Show": Wow...He Really Got Away With Saying All That?

Growing up, Eminem was one of the first rap artists I got into along with many of my peers. While we may not have understood the quick-witted rhyme schemes and jargon associated with virtually all of his music, we just knew it was fun to listen to.

I wanted to examine my favorite album of his: The Eminem Show in an effort to unpack what made this album so intriguing.

The main attraction to Eminem for me now is the sheer polarization of his words. It is no secret that Eminem is a troubled human being with warped thoughts. But, just as many musical geniuses before him, he has this unrivaled ability to paint vivid pictures in the mind of the listener.

The Eminem Show finds Eminem simultaneously at his most vulnerable and braggadocious state at the same time. The track Cleanin' Out My Closet examines brutal topics like getting kicked out of his mother's house, suicidal thoughts, and depression's firm grip on Eminem. This can be a turn-off for many listeners as these topics can be very difficult to listen to. However, Eminem finds unique ways to make these topics...fun to listen to.

Even revisiting this project I cannot quite put my finger on why this is. Perhaps it's the unparalleled honesty of Eminem in his most vulnerable state, or the sheer shock value of hearing his raspy, angry voice talk about these uncomfortable topics. Whatever it is, he has mastered making his music sound worthwhile.

On the other hand, there are tracks within this project that show Eminem as an unstoppable force. Take the funk-infused track Without Me for instance. This track has Eminem at his most egotistical state in which he raps "The game feels so empty without me." It's so strange, but he's right. Even as a white rapper from Detroit, Eminem is largely considered as a hip-hop hall of Famer. Eminem uses this line to take aim at the critic's opposition of him. He knows that his music is creating media coverage and generating ratings for every big network. So, as much as critics can claim to hate him, Eminem knows they need him.

Revisiting this project brought me so much joy along with nostalgic feelings. I would highly recommend giving this project a listen.