Crazy insane, or insane crazy? That is the question Eminmen slyly poses on “Square Dance,” a track on the pop-culture icon’s latest offering, The Eminem Show. What appears to be “The Real World” version of Marshall Mathers III’s life, complete with intrigue, roommate (or marital, whatever the case may be) squabbles, love, heartbreak and haunting childhood issues, it will also undoubtedly be another hit for the ubiquitous MTV network. Released in the summer blockbuster season, just as his last album was, his third effort is by far his most diverse, and also the furthest from his initial cartoon image that helped to establish him as rap’s most controversial figure since the free speech debate concerning Luke and his 2 Live Crew compatriots.
Avoiding his past pop music tomfoolery on The Eminem Show, minus the lead single “Without Me” which borders on being a carbon copy of his past work that made it to radio, Eminem appears more tortured by the maternal misgivings of his mother, the infidelities of his ex-wife and more elated by the intense love for his daughter than on his past efforts. His audio autobiography profiles some of his trials and tribulations since the Marshall Mathers LP, and in effect solidifies his shift from the court jester of rap to one of the most important artists of his time.
Caught somewhere in between sarcasm and seriousness on “White America,” Eminem addresses mainstream America’s obsession with the effects of his lyrics on suburban white kids and the ultimate argument of his lyrics in the context of hip-hop stating, “Hip-hop was never a problem in Harlem/Only in Boston, after it bothered the fathers of daughters starting to blossom.” Citing his opponents, Lynne Cheney and Tipper Gore, the testament shows he still hasn’t ended his tirades on the world of which he is still awkwardly a part (“See the problem is I speak to suburban kids who otherwise would have never knew these words exist/Whose moms probably never woulda never gave two squirts of piss, till I created so much motherfuckin’ turbulence”).
Eminem’s clown acts and lyrics have often made light of his ridiculous, drug-laden, manic lifestyle, which may make this album a little hard to digest for those used to his past behavior. However, his somewhat corny sense of humor is still apparent on “Business” and his staunch misogynist ideals on “Superman” are still present. Even “Drips” is a little excessive, with the story of a fictional lover who drives our hero to a total state of paranoia over his health. He will even leave listeners raising their eyebrows with lines explaining that he and Dr. Dre are the “most feared duet, since me and Elton played career Russian Roulette” and following with “Jesus how can shit be so easy, how can one Chandra be so Levy?” Huh? I guess he still has a little bit of the old Eminem in him.
What makes The Eminem Show so important, however, is its ability to allow the artist to perform so honestly and deliver lyrics in such a visceral manner. Attacking his mother may seem like a low blow, but “Cleaning Out My Closet” addresses the skeletons and the fact that he believes she gave him Munchausen’s Syndrome, making him constantly think he was sick. Later, he flips his attitude on “Hailie’s Song,” poorly singing to his daughter at times, yet touchingly rapping about his love to her later. Which ever you prefer, it is apparent that Eminem is a man that feels and is not afraid to express himself.
Threatening to leave his rap lifestyle in which he “sold his soul to the devil, I’ll never get it back/I just want to leave this game with level head in tact,” all to give a life to his daughter that he never had, “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” finds the artist at a crossroads in his career. Should he continue or should he just call it quits? Between his gun charges, his problems with his wife Kim (who he later claims is a drug addict), and his borderline suicidal tendencies (“If I could swallow a bottle of Tylenol I would, and end it for good, just to say goodbye to Hollywood”), the brutal honesty of his life in pop stardom is apparent, and almost makes the listener feel bad for Eminem.
Employing Nate Dogg on “Till I Collapse,” Eminem begins to tie up this magnum opus with a song that almost totally contradicts “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.” Obviously torn in this rap game, as critics scoff at his content and fans hang on his every word, the thought of leaving seems ridiculous to him. “Music is like magic, there’s a certain feeling you get when you’re real and you spit and people are feelin’ your shit,” he raps. Arguably the best rack on the album, “Collapse” is a testament to the fact that at the end of the day, beyond the media hoopla and pop-stardom that appears to surround him, he is still an undeniably talented man.
With all the accolades and compliments one can shower The Eminem Show with, the artist still remains fixated on his ex-wife, his mother and his daughter, injecting a small dose of monotony into the album. However, not one to brag about how many groupies he has or how large the deposits he makes in his bank account are (which is utterly refreshing in this day in hip-hop), Eminem really registers with such a wide audience because his problems are very similar to that of a large percentage of Americans. Frustrated with his job, his past transgressions, and ultimately his family life, his lyrics resonate, because realistically that is what a lot of people go through.
Never afraid to admit to his insecurities and issues, he is more than just an icon for the alienated, suburban white teen; he is essentially an everyday man. Easily shifting from arrogant to misguided to confused to brutally honest in a single bound, he is almost an anomaly, whether racially or lyrically, in a genre of music that prides itself on braggadocio, boisterousness, and blasphemy.
Crazy insane or insane crazy? Who knows? But what we do know is that The Eminem Show is easily his best work to date, and that the diverse offerings teach a lesson to a nation fascinated with its pop culture figures that fame isn’t necessarily where its at. Living under a microscope can be painful, and therefore the most human side of Eminem is shown. Forget the summer blockbuster movies and the endless reality television series debuts, The Eminem Show is the hit of the season.