Eminem: The Fall and Rise of a Superstar....... Verbal Communication......
Article: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/eminem-the-fall-and-rise-of-a-superstar-1544787.html

I was surfing the net trying to pick out ‘just the right’ idea for my entry this week, when I stumbled upon an article termed, "Eminem: The Fall and Rise of a Superstar" by The Independent. This post is specifically going to explore the language used in Rap sensation, Eminem’s controversial lyrics, what it represents and how it has affected and is still affecting mainstream communication, culture and media in relation to verbal communication. Rapping, also known as rhyming is the rhythmic spoken delivery of rhymes, wordplay, and poetry. This quick repartee resulted in people incorporating the style of rap, into verbal communication. Also an element of the Hip Hop music genre, rapping is considered more of a mainstream phenomenon, as opposed to a mere underground movement. Rap music and culture has crossed social and ethnic barriers spreading to different parts of the world inspite of its humble beginnings in the United States.
One of the main reasons I chose Eminem as my subject (besides the fact that I absolutely adore him!!) is because he exemplifies the concept of verbal communication. He uses his music as a medium to express his ideas, opinions, feelings, emotions and relationships.A protégé of Dr Dre, rapper Eminem emerged to be one of the most controversial rappers to ever grace the genre. With his biting wit and incredible skills to vent on situations from his unhappy childhood to his contempt for the mainstream media, his success has become the biggest crossover success the Rap world has ever seen. His lyrics have bestowed upon him the best publicity any musician could afford. Being the first Caucasian rapper to make a significant impact in years Eminem became the fastest selling rapper of all time and in his song "White America", he attributes his selling success to him being more easily acceptable by a white audience, because he 'looks like them'. His messages speak to legions of youth who have few role models in the rap world and who relate to his white lower-class experience. Today, he is hailed as one of the the greatest rapper alive, filling stadiums as also the front pages of newspapers with consummate ease. This shows how language and words shape the thoughts and perceptions of others. “I'm sorry mama, I never meant to hurt you.....you selfish bitch, I hope you fuckin' burn in hell for this shit, remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me, well guess what, I am dead, dead to you as can be...”

I believe language is influenced by our cognition (the words we use often influence the way we think). In the song 'Cleanin' out my Closet' Eminem sets onto a solemn journey revealing the deeply personal fury and pain he experiences. This is one of his most successful singles (reaching 4 on the United States Billboard Hot 100). In the song, Eminem introspectively examines his life, from his troubled childhood, to his marital conflicts and resentful feuds with his mother; thus verbally expressing them in a very dramatic yet appealing manner. Eminem emphasizes on his animosity towards his mother by chanting a sarcastic apology in the chorus of the song, claiming "I never meant to hurt you".

In the 70's while the White population enjoyed the "hip swaying" Rock 'N' Roll beats of Elvis, Rapping was embraced by the poorer Black and Hispanic communities as a medium of expressing their views about their status in society as also issues like race and gender. That is why artists like Eminem use expletives like the defiant double middle- finger salute to express themselves. This is their way of talking about their problems; without any restrictions or censorship, as that defines their reality and represents the raw aspect of their culture and socialisation. Hence, the "lingo" used in Rapping is viewed by them as a symbol of freedom and identity.

In terms of the properties of language, Eminem uses very unique and distinctive slangs in his lyrics. In comparison to other musical spheres, like Rock, Pop, Indie, Country and Jazz, where the language used is predominantly vernacular, Rap has its own system of symbols. Much of the jargon used in rapping, include terms such as "dis"," fly", "def", "chill", and "wack", have been embedded in the everyday vocabulary of a significant number of young people of various ethnic origins. The semantics or meanings of words used in Rap slang usually differ from mainstream English. Eg: "Screw" does not literally mean a metal fastener having a tapered shank with a helical thread, but an act of sexual intercourse. The rise of such slang and jargon could be attributed to the need of establishing their own way of communication and the difference in the meaning of words could also represent the different experiences of the Afro-Americans as Rap was just emerging as a separate music form.


In terms of the impact of Eminem’s lyrics, the language used propagates a particular lifestyle and culture, filled with poverty, abuse, sex and drugs. Hence, most of the terminology used in his music is symbolic and linked to his present lifestyle (which according to him he deserves). Many artists like Eminem tend to rave about money and power, due to the extreme levels of poverty they encountered living on the streets of America.
This Rap Legend was a simple guy named Marshall Mathers with a rap alter ego named Eminem, and that alter ego incedently had a lunatic doppelganger of its own named Slim Shady. This persona acts as a form of artistic freedom and expression for most artists.

In reference to barriers in communication, Eminem's slang and Rap jargon is not fully understood by many (my parents don't have clue as to what hes rapping about!!!). Only those who are regular listeners of his music and who expose themselves to the bold "Rap" culture, would beable to understand the slang used.