Eminem

Birthdate: October 17, 1972
The Real Slim Shady
This rapper from Detroit has so many names and nicknames that some people don't realize they're all the same person. Marshall Bruce Mathers III is what Eminem was named when he was born. He uses Eminem as his rap name because it represents his initials "M-and-M" - get it? Also, he sometimes uses the nick Slim Shady to express his rougher, meaner alter-ego (the other side of his personality). 
Eminem Gets His Big Break
Marshall Mathers was discovered by rap icon, Dr. Dre. Ever since Emeinem's first big label CD dropped, The Slim Shady LP, he's been creating an upset with his lyrics and his style. Although some people (the US Congress, Tipper Gore and others) consider him a bad influence on youth, fans can't get enough of Eminem or his music. Eminem is considered the number one rap artist in the world right now.
Eminem Is Not a Moma's Boy
Eminem, as most fans know from his lyrics, is not a moma's boy. In fact, his mom, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, has sued Eminem because his lyrics bash her so much. Hopefully Eminem's daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers, won't feel the same hostility towards him. http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p460.htm

Eminem - Cleanin' Out My Closet

Where's my snare? 
I have no snare on my headphones 
There you go 
Yeah 
Yo yo 


Have you eva been hated, or discriminated against? 

I have, I've been protested and demonstrated against 
Picket signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times 
Sick as the mind, of the mother fuckin' kid that's behind 
All this commotion, emotions run deep as oceans explodin'
Tempers flarin' from parents just blow 'em off and keep goin' 
Not takin' nothin' from no one, give 'em hell long as I'm
breathin' 
Keep kickin' ass in the mornin', and takin' names in the evenin'
Leave 'em with a taste sour as vinegar in they mouth 
See they can trigga me, but they'll neva figure me out 
Look at me now, I betcha prolly sick of me now 
Ain't you mama, I'ma make you look so ridiculous now 

Chorus:

I'm sorry mama 
I neva meant to hurt you 
I neva meant make you cry 
But tonight, I'm cleanin' out my closet 


I got some skeletons in my closet 
And I don't know if no one knows it 
So before they throw me inside my coffin and close it 
I'ma expose it, I'll take you back to '73 
Before I eva had a multi-platinum sellin' CD 
I was a baby maybe I was just a coupla months 
My faggot father must've had his panties up in a bunch 
'Cause he split, I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye 
No I don't, on second thought I just fuckin' wished he would die

I look at Hailie, and I couldn't picture leavin' her side 
Even if I hated Kim, I grit my teeth and I try to make it work 
Wit her at least for Hailie's sake 
I maybe made some mistakes 
But I'm only human but I'm man enough to face 'em today 
What I did was stupid, no doubt it was dumb 
But the smartest shit I did was take the bullets outta that gun 
Cause I'd of killed 'em, said I woulda shot Kim and them both 
It's my life, I'd like to welcome ya'll to the Eminem show 

Repeat Chorus 


Now I would neva diss my own mama just to get recognition 
Take a second to listen before you think this record is dissin' 
But put yourself in my position, just try to envision 
Witnessin' your mama poppin' prescription pills in the kitchen 
Bitchin' that someone's always goin' through her purse and shit's missin'
Goin' through public housin' systems, victim of Munchausen
Syndrome 
My whole life I was made to believe I was sick when I wasn't 
'Til I grew up, now I blew up it makes you sick to ya stomach, doesn't it? 
Wasn't it the reason you made that CD for me, MA? 
So you could try to justify the way you treated me, MA? 
But guess what, ya gettin' olda now and it's cold when ya lonely

And Nathan's growin' up so quick he's gonna know that ya phony 
And Hailie's gettin' so big now, you should see her, she's beautiful 
But you'll neva see her, she won't even be at your FUNERAL
See what hurts me the most, is you won't admit you was wrong 
Bitch, do ya song, keep tellin' yaself that you was a mom 
But how dare you try to take what you didn't help me to get 
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!!



Answer the following questions.

1- What does Eminem portray in the music?
2- In accordance with the music, was the childhood of Eminem good?

2șC 2005

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© 2002 Universal