Eminem Accused of Racism

[Socialist Christian]

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12948,00.html


<snip>

Raymond "Benzino" Scott and David Mays, founders of The Source hip-hop magazine would have you believe that he did--and that he's a bigot.

The duo held a press conference Tuesday at which they revealed a recorded clip of Eminem freestyling an offensive lyric in the early 1990s.

"The tape contains what is clearly identifiable as Eminem's voice, reciting racial slurs targeted against black women," read a statement released by The Source, "and it proves Benzino right after a year of being vilified by the media for bringing such questions surrounding Eminem to the fore.

"Bringing this tape to the public is the latest chapter in The Source magazine's ongoing effort to expose influences corrupting hip-hop, including racism."

[sujan]

1. nothing new there

He is a punk.

[DK666]

2. Hmmmmm...

I thought he was doing FREEstyle not PCstyle ? Freestyle should be edgy, gritty and reflect real life not canned and sanatized.

[adriennel]

3. according to Detroit radio...

....Em said he was young, stupid, angry, and had just broken up with his girlfriend (an African-American)when the tape was made. not that this explanation makes it better....

[VermontDem2004]

4. I am not a member

But what exactly did he say?

[SOteric]

5. Those two dudes really *do* have a grudge with Eminem

and honestly, their comments about Eminem being a 'culture stealer' and only enjoying success because of his blonde hair and blue eyes is at least as racist as any comment Eminem is accused of making.

Moreover, whatever gritty, rude, urban terms and bad attitude Eminem comes by, he comes by them authentically. He is identifying with the culture he was born and raised in, not inventing some affiliation in order to represent his way to fame and fortune. He grew up in that culture, he's certainly not going to start doing milk commercials and Perry Como covers.

Whatever he may have said, for whatever reason he may have done so, Eminem has, in the past few years, made a concerted effort to edit racist terms out of his lyrics and public speech if only to answer to his public feud with Moby. Pulling up comments he made years ago doesn't reflect what he thinks or does today.

I'm sure that won't stop folks from rushing to judgement and getting their panties in a wad anyway. I just won't be one of them.

[american_punk]

6. eminem was cool...

but now he's lumped in the same teen people category as Britney,Avril, and Christina

[SOteric]

19. By whom, exactly

and why should I care...?

[rumguy]

7. Eminem is cool

He's the only one on the pop scene who takes the fight to both N'Synch/Britney Spears, etc, and George Bush and Dick Cheney...

[Tinoire]

8. What a joke. Eminem racist my a**

There's not a racist bone in that boy's body.

This is getting silly.

[VermontDem2004]

9. I still don't know what was the "racist" comment he said

[Catholic Sensation]

12. it seems like it came

from some freestyle he did.

However, in a VIBE magazine interview, Eminem was asked why he doesn't use terms like "nigga" and he said flat out "It's not my place to use terms like that." Yeah, Eminem is a real white power advocate...

[Kamika]

10. Eminem isn't the least racist

If everyone were like Eminem there wouldn't be any wars a la Iraq at all

[Blue-Jay]

14. Maybe not "wars" but,

there'd be a whole lot more punching-out of rubber Rottweilers.

[sujan]

15. good god, reflects on you

[Kamika]

17. excuse me?

Just what do you mean?

[Catholic Sensation]

11. Benzino is upset

Because Eminem's freestyle reply (Nail in the Coffin) was infinitely better than the shit Benzino called him out with. Benzino called Eminem, among other names, David Duke simply because he's white. Excuse me, how is comparing a white rapper to a Neo Nazi not racist?

[VermontDem2004]

13. I still don't know what Eminem said

That Benzino thought was "racist".

[Catholic Sensation]

16. I posted that

it seems like eminem used some kind of slur in a freestyle. Not that I condone using slurs like that at all, it is a freestyle, and I think the fact he's helped the likes of Fifty Cent and D12 make it in this business should make any accusations of racism look stupid.

[Uzybone]

18. Paraphrasing here

he had recently broken up with his black grilfriend at the time and freestyled some shit about black bitches want you for your money. He didnt say nigga, nor did he say anything that several hundred black rappers have not said. That being said, it was stupid to do and he has admitted as much. I dont think he is racist one bit.

[Character Assassin]

20. Perhaps Mssr.'s Raymond "Benzino" Scott and David Mays are racist

Or maybe they're just ho's.

[Socialist Christian]

21. All things beign equal

i can tell you eminems isn't racist at all, this is pure jealousy, i'm black and can honestly say he hasnt done anything worse than benzino has, in fact eminem has acted as a buttress for the comuunity than any other rapper since chuck d. The hate from everyone including bill orielly is astounding, there isnt a rapper with more candor, in fact not a single artist, i have never gotten gotten over the death of Kurt Cobain but Eminem acts as a great palliative. Snyone who has had an arduous journey knows what he went through and for the most part supports him.

[noiretextatique]

22. i can honestly say:

i could care less.