But don’t blame me when lil’ Eric jumps off of the terrace
You shoulda been watchin’ him”¦apparently you ain’t parents
-Eminem, from Who Knew
Five years after his breakthrough debut album, the jury is still out on Eminem. Oh, there’s no denying his skills as an MC”¦but, there are those who’ll tell you he’s overrated. He’s an Oscar winner with a well-received starring movie role under his belt”¦but, his critics will tell you the accolades are undeserved. He has crossed over like no other rapper before him and, because of this, he is both revered and reviled.
On November 16, Eminem will release Encore. It’s unquestionably one of the most anticipated releases of the year and the Inside Pulse staff has the man and his music covered from every angle.
This is the beginning of our multi-part series leading up to Encore and over the next few days, we’ll review both the career and the controversies of this enigmatic entertainer.
Of course, on the surface, that’s easier said than done. Marshall Mathers has lived the last half-decade under a high-powered microscope, as every one of his moments and missteps have been broadcast to the world. Our challenge is to bring a fresh and exciting take to man who has long been circling the outskirts of overexposure, while presenting enough new information and opinions to address the questions that still surround him.
Here is our current schedule of material for the remainder of this series:
Discography
This will be a comprehensive analysis of Eminem’s entire commercial catalog. In addition to reviewing the content of each album, we’ll also look at the events, both in and out of the industry that shaped each one.
1.) The Slim Shady LP“¦After the death of Hip Hop’s two biggest names, the rap game had seemingly lost its way. Here he comes to save the day”¦
2.) The Marshall Mathers LP“¦Eminem’s sophomore CD was a case study in the strength of the spoken word. Sticks and stones have got nothing on a pissed off gay community”¦
3.) The Eminem Show“¦The Phenomenon reaches a fever pitch with the release of Em’s third album. Unfortunately, it’s the past that proves to be imperfect.
Original Essays
There’s obviously much more to Marshall Mathers than his mainstream discography. These articles will address the pieces of the artist that aren’t in heavy rotation on MTV or FM radio:
4.) The Underground Scene“¦Eminem was making music long before he was telling us My Name Is. We’ll look at the best and bizarre of his earliest works.
5.) The African-American Perspective“¦How do Blacks view the man who has attained unparalleled success in an industry that the created. Opportunist, racist or real deal?
6.) The Gay Community Speaks“¦Should artists take responsibility for their words? Many gays and lesbians think so, as the impact of Em’s most malicious material is explored.
Our series will wrap up with reviews of Encore when it drops later this month. We’ll be offering up multiple perspectives of the album and we’re confident that Inside Pulse will be able to cover Eminem’s diverse fan base, while addressing your respective backgrounds and tastes. And if you don’t like him”¦well, we’ve got lots for you, too.
