Eminem's Popularity, White Privilege, and the Evolution of Hip-Hop

This essay delves into the career of Eminem, examining his significant popularity as an artist and the role that white privilege has played in his success within the hip-hop genre. It highlights Eminem's early interest in English and hip-hop, tracing his journey from writing lyrics at a young age to pa...Read More

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English
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Author Note

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Marshall Bruce Mathers III is known as Eminem professionally who is an American
songwriter, rapper, record producer and executive who also as takes interest in acting. Eminem is
considered to be one of the most successful and popular artists of the twenty-first century, who is
celebrated by fans across the world. He is not just a solo artist who performs, but was part of
D12, a very renowned Hip-Hop group, as he still continues to be passionate about the Hip Hop
culture. He also collaborates with other artists and rappers, such as Bad Meets Evil or Royce da
5’9”. Eminem made his debut with the album named Infinite in 1996, after which came the Slim
Shady EP. He started gaining popularity in the mainstream in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP.
Some of his works which became popular among the world audience include The Eminem Show
and Marshall Mathers LP which also got nominated for Grammy Awards for the category of
Album of the year. The paper would discuss Eminem and his popularity as an artist. The
popularity of Eminem shall also be discussed as a result and privilege which he enjoys due to his
identity as a White artist.
Marshall, as a young boy was always fond of two things, the language English and Hip-
Hop. His interested thus, made him more interested two learn about the two, as he grew up. He
was just a boy of fourteen years when he started writing lyrics of his own. He was introduced to
Hip Hop by his uncle, who died very early, when Eminem himself was too young. This left
lasting impact on him as he looked up to him for inspiration and considered him as one of his
role models. However, this not stop learning and growing interested in Hip Hop music but
encouraged him to be more inclined towards it. He increasingly grew more interested as well as
dependent and also started writing more songs and lyrics. Eminem also started taking little bold
steps as he took part in local Rap Contests.

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The journey was not entirely easy for him, as he also faced a lot of criticism in his early
years. The criticism and scorn were mostly directed towards him due to his skin color. People
were still very racially conscious and associated culture with it. Hip Hop was popularized as an
African American art form, which was not entirely accepted by the American population until
very recently. It was fascinating to note, and even encouraging for Eminem as an artist as he
could make impact after people actually listened to him. People were even compelled to listen to
hip hop music and Eminem’s rap, or him spit- which is the term used in hip hop to denote
speaking. Eminem has an inspiring story which makes many artists look up to him as he could
change how people looked at a specific art form. His albums like KamiKaze and Slim Shady are
considered to be one of the most influential ones.
It is also emphasized on the very fact that Eminem could gather the acceptance and
popularity among audience because of his skin color and white privilege, as he went to change
the way people looked at hip hop music and art form. Some of the critics often say, had it been
any other artist doing the same, the impact and response to the same would not have been this
exciting and overwhelming. Hip Hop music and art form has been in the global industry for ages,
but has not received the recognition and prominence with the creation of the black artists.
Eminem, thus is also often compared to Elvis Presley as he also did similar hijacking of Rock
and Roll from the fans as well as the artists. Black faces and artists were not accepted as widely
as the White artists were, when they embraced the same art forms and presented it to the world at
large.
To shed light on the matter and add more to it, the popularity and acceptance of Eminem
as a Rapper and a Hip Hop Artist reveal and justify the prominence of the age old truth. White
people cherish and celebrate white artists and white faces as opposed to the black faces and their

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aesthetics. It provides evidence for canonization of the Hip Hop art form. There has been racial
bias concerning the same and continue to dominate the preferences of the audience, when it
comes to popular culture too. Thus, it can also be said that racial bias is the basis on which
canonization and evolution of hip hop commentary has followed over the years. In the recent
times, Eminem is one of the most celebrated artists who has even popularized the art form, which
was earlier criticized to be a part of the African American culture. It is often regarded by critics
of the genre, he is most famous of all even though his works are not as genre defining when they
are compared to other artists such as Kayne, 2Pac or Rakim. Eminem, enjoys the white privilege
and thus provides his fans with a credible entry point for showing inclination for the art form and
culture.
It is noteworthy when Eminem rose to become one of the pop superstars, his background
and associations with black peers were also publicized alongside his music. It was evident that
Eminem was being popularized along with his black co-singers and peers. The white supremacy
become more evident and stark when he was presented as the most celebrated among the space
which is created by the blacks but only accepted into popular culture by the white artist.
Eminem, thus became one of the most awarded and bestselling rapper of all time.
It can thus be said while concluding that Eminem’s identity as a White is a curse as well
as a blessing. As a white skin, he could achieve more prominence and bring to the mainstream
the culture and art form which has existed for a great duration of time. It is only them when the
whites could fully embrace it when it was presented by a white artist. However, some of his
music also addresses the black culture and struggle to bring to the lime light the intolerance they
are struggle they are subjected to, while ‘othering’ them from the mainstream, cannon and
society as a whole.

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Bibliography
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eminem-macklemore-understanding-white-rappers-burden.
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