Music Forum / Eminem Not A Lyracist?

Yes, yes. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Damn good read. One of my favorites.

I see what Nate is saying and in a way I agree with him. I haven't heard a lot of Eminem songs, but I've heard more than I would expect (I was working on a video once where we listened to The Eninem Show everyday when we were cleaning up) and I don't think the subject matter he sings about is especially deep. On the other hand, I think what iris is saying is that his word choice and his rhymes are strong and that's why he's a good lyricist. I haven't listened to much rap so I don't really have an opinion on that, but I think there's enough evidence in iris' post that he's good with rhymes. Maybe a fair statement Nate would be that he's a good lyricist, but not particularly strong as an artist. He knows his way around a rhyme but he doesn't have anything really new or interesting to say. Isn't this really the hallmark of all pop music though? Deep, challenging subject matter is unlikely to become mainstream popular. The catchy, easily accesible music is what becomes popular. Eninem might have deeper songs on his albums than the songs I've heard.

Which brings me to the trouble I have with rap music in general. I'm not sophisticated enough as a listener to really appreciate the quality of the beats in a rap song. That comes with listening to a lot of rap music which I haven't done. So lacking an appreciation for the music on that level, I'm generally evaluating a song on the quality of it's lyrics. I can appreciate a good rhyme as much as anyone, but when the subject matter there is empty, I don't get a lot out of it. That's why I really like this guy Kamau. He's saying something interesting and that I can appreciate. Often times with music it's the melody which sticks in your head. It doesn't matter what's being said or even if anything is being said. When you take the melody away, you're calling attention more to the lyrics. It isn't so much that the lyrics are more shallow in rap songs than in any other type of music. It's just that there's nothing for the lyrics to hide behind.

That being said, total nonsense lyrics can still be catchy. And you can be the best wordsmith in the business and say nothing important. The personal voice of an artist is one means of evaluation. Their technical proficency is another. (as Blitz pointed out) Both are worthy of recognition and evaluation. And people expect different things out of music so a wide variety of artists continue to flourish. Pop music and radio music are no less important in a general sense than music which might better fit the description of art. Both have audiences and both have creators and that's all it's about really. Communication between the two through music.

that's not right..

Me liking Dido or my parents thinking im gay? ..

...so you comment on the rap topic, but not on the rct theory topic?
You must be too tired or something ed

Oh, and you said what I wanted to say... again (and again, in more words than I would have deemed neccessary)

I repeat, iris was not commenting on eminems choice of subject matter, just the rhymes.

If you take away the lyrics, you no longer have subject matter.