Random thoughts: Eminem, BET, Trump etc
Hello!
A proper intro post will come along soon ;) Promise...but, for now:
I want to share some thoughts I've had regarding Eminem's freestyle during the BET awards the other night. While I did not watch the show when it aired, I did watch the clip featuring Eminem and his crew.
I'm not going to break down what Em said, since that has been done so many times already. My opinion on what he said is simple: The valid points he made went out the window when he praised the military since they are the enforcing arm of the president.
Having said that, the reaction the masses have had to Em's words have been illuminating and dissapointing to me. Though I appreciate the fact that he has people talking, and possibly reevaluating their current stance on Trump , protests, patriotism, etc, and though I understand that sometimes people heed these messages better when they can visually relate to the messenger, what he did was not brave, nor was it a risk.
I don't doubt his sincerity...because I do not know him personally...but it does make me wonder why his message was received the way it was.
Y'all remember Kanye? Remember when, with a shaky, nervous and unsure voice, at an early stage in his career, he made a bold move and told everyone on live TV what he felt about the current president? In that moment, I loved Kanye...probably the only time I have ever loved him lol
Do you also remember how the overall reaction was one of hatred, disgust, and anger?
How dare he.
HOW DARE KANYE DO WHAT HE DID.
The public crucified him for this. The same public worshipping Eminem.
I also cannot help but think about artists like Immortal Technique - an amazing lyricists who could have chosen to go Em's route and get super famous and super rich by offering similar content to Eminem and many other rappers and singers out there.
He did not. His entire career is a huge challenge to the powers that be. He has been risking his name and his career since day one...which is probably why his name is unknown to most people that know Eminem and his music.
Eminem is the revolution they allow. Eminem is the candy coated activism that the media powers that be use to pacify the public whose anger is starting to make some noise.
You will never see an artist like Immortal Technique perform one of his songs on the BET or MTV awards...Immortal is dangerous. And while I do not agree with his chosen political philosophy, his world view and what he offers is ultimately more dangerous ...and true than anything Em has ever offered.
Thankfully, we have the internet, and as one of my favorite characters told us:
PS - My Immortal Technique Playlist (work in progress) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxh8VaCktnZ4dv3f8gKDV-FagLd4-Qiwj
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∞
Internet is always capitalized.
I think you could have also added other artists like Dead Prez and Nomaad AKA Jah'Cream.
But I think your next feature can be about and Anarchist/Voluntaryist rappers. But besides that point, I think you could've and should've mentioned Immortal Technique's political stance; which I believe is some sort of Statist socialism. But you nailed it in the regards to you saying that his stance or philosophy or message is dangerous. You're absolutely right! Because it is a statist one.
I also respected Kanye when asked people to be open Trump, that was the hard position to take. Ironically Eminem talks a lot about how he is criticized and demonized but he may be one of the most universally praised artists in modern times.
You hit it out of the park with your first post :)
THANK YOU! I write stuff all the time but it has been a while since I sat down and really tried to put more than a few cohesive thoughts together haha <3
MORE MORE MORE!
Interesting thoughts... reminds me of the fool at a medieval king's court: His job is to make fun of the king, in a way everyone feels, but nobody dares, as any commoner, but even a lord, could expect a death sentence for it, if they tried. So instead, they laugh at the fool, and indirectly at the king, so their troubled minds are somewhat appeased. At the end of the day, the king pays the fool, and may even thank him, as it was his jokes about the king that averted the uprising and thus strengthened the king's power.