Eminem; homophobic lyrics; controversy.
It’s 2018 and apparently, we’re doing this all over again.
The rapper is facing a new wave of criticism following the release of a surprise album last night titled Kamikaze.
It’s full of diss tracks (cool…), and the Apple Music description tells us “Shady punches back, and he’s naming names.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Eminem takes aim at Tyler the Creator, who has been tentatively open about not being straight, on the track “Fall.”
Here’s the lyric that’s making everyone roll their eyes and ask: Come on, really?
Tyler create nothing, I see why you called yourself a fa*got, b*tch
It’s not just ’cause you lack attention
It’s ’cause you worship D12’s balls, you’re sac-rilegious
If you’re gonna critique me, you better at least be as good or better
Interestingly, the word fa*got is censored, even on the uncensored version of the track.
It’s as if Eminem is fully aware that his use of the slur is over the line, but he just couldn’t resist himself anyway.
Listeners have had a lot to say on Twitter:
WAIT DID EMINEM ACTUALLY USE THE HOMOPHOBIC SLUR IN HIS ALBUM? AGAINST TYLER THE CREATOR? IN 2018?
— if bein wong's a crime, i'm servin forever (@allmydads) August 31, 2018
Eminem throwing hands at everyone on #Kamikaze but the best track is diminished by his same tired use of a gay slur. Marshall, you got dragged for it so many times before. C’mon, brother! https://t.co/OeQMujAhe8
— Spike (@loudspike) August 31, 2018
Can't even say I'm surprised that Eminem is still using homophobic slurs in 2018 bc he's a fucking child but Justin Vernon, what the hell are you doing on the track man. pic.twitter.com/z2ySJBNF85
— Roisin O'Connor (@Roisin_OConnor) August 31, 2018
big 2018 and eminem still dropping albums with homophobic slurs on his songs, can this old man just call it quits already
— Jake. (@YedIin) August 31, 2018
Eminem claims not to be homophobic but continues to use anti-gay slurs in his music… Just because you ‘have gay friends’ doesn’t mean you get a free pass to use derogatory insults at the expense of the LGBTQ community. Save your fragile masculinity for your therapist.
— Tom Knight (@TJ_Knight) August 31, 2018
What actually is the excuse for all the homophobic slurs in Eminem's music, I've never really understood that one?
— Harry (@NaitoKarisuma) August 31, 2018
every gay listening to eminem’s album instead of troye sivan’s new album #Bloom is homophobic
let’s be clear on THAT! pic.twitter.com/RTodKIPt3G
— Blair Waldorf (@pettyyonceh) August 31, 2018
I'm really really wound up by the fact none of this Eminem coverage mentions the fact he's STILL using homophobic slurs in his music [censored, reversed whatever it's about INTENTION], with some headlines even MENTIONING TYLER but not the actual slur?
— Daniel (@sillyolddaniel) August 31, 2018
If you still use that slur in a rap lyric, you're a homophobic ass and I don't fucks with you. Get your basic shit together, Eminem.
— Yvonne (@Movieym) August 31, 2018
DCguy
What a shock, the guy who has only really been with his high school girlfriend, could never make it work with her, and doesn’t seem to have dated any woman since them is trying to use homophobic slurs.
The lady doth protest too much.
Vince
Oh noes. Elton John’s going to have to do another concert and get up and hug him or some shit.
People need to settle down. Eminem is just trying to get some attention. Besides how else are us middle-aged white dudes going to look cool. I mean Hello. White rappers don’t grow on trees
Larry
Never had any talent anyway.
Kieran
Poor Marshall never grew up. He’s still has the mentality of a 12 year old boy.
Vince
I can’t really blame him though. White rappers are rare. Middle-aged wealthy ones are non-existent. Okay maybe Vanilla Ice. Ice ice baby.. ?
Kangol
@Vince, Beastie Boys (the remaining ones)? House of Pain & Everlast? Mike Shinoda? 3rd Bass & MC Search? Clown Posse? Immortal Technique? I mean, there are middle-aged white rappers, some of them with long track records & past hits. Eminem’s ongoing homophobic BS is indefensible; he doesn’t need it to stay relevant.
dean089
I’m shocked. Really. Shocked. So uncharacteristic of Eminem. Oh, wait…
Minyassa
I am not surprised in the least, I didn’t believe this little shit turned over a new leaf in the first place. People are always really quick to excuse this shit at first sign of an apology, just because they want to not feel guilty listening to someone’s art. Someone can be an utter shit and make good music, just divorce the quality of the man from the quality of his art and you’re good. But never trust someone who commits that hard to being a bigot and then cries when he gets flack for it.
gaimingfoxer
The thing is, it’s one thing to separate the art from the artist.
I can see someone who says Rosanne Connor is funny and inclusive despite Rosanne Barr being racist in real life.
I can see someone saying what an amazing composer Wagner was, despite him being incredibly antisemitic.
But in Eminem’s case, the homophobic issues are part of his work. It’s the same as excusing Leni Riefenstahl as an amazing director despite most of her known work was propaganda for Hitler.
Mozo83
Another “Here’s what Twitter says” article is more upsetting than homophobic asswipe Eminem.
Bob LaBlah
What better way to crank up the sales? It worked before and will probably work again. I always felt Moby was in on that b/s of a “war” between them for the sake of sales and publicity for both of them. Don’t worry folks, if this incident becomes really controversial our token queen, Elton John, will step forward with another duet to “calm” things down. I can see now backstage after performing at some suffocating televised award show with Eminem downing a 40oz and trying to look tough while Elton sips Geritol off of a silver spoon.
flymeorion
To GWM he’s a decent looking White man and I’m already seeing that he’s getting a pass. I can imagine the outrage if this was by a Black rapper. Oh wait I don’t have to imagine I can just read the previous threads.
Chrisk
Maybe you should read the comments then because I don’t see him getting a pass. Black rappers use homophobic and misogynistic lyrics all the time. It’s why I don’t listen to it. Well, among the reasons I don’t listen to it.
howardstern
In other news, water is wet. Same old tactic, that apparently is still working lol.
Young Timer
Classic PR stunt here.
Your career is waning, nobody’s buying your junk anymore, and basically your fans are much older now.
So you start a mess with words, so somebody, anybody will run right out and buy or download your junk just to hear what you say. You gotta do anything to get your name back on everybody’s lips.
The PR firm didn’t have to work too hard on this one… musicians who are just about washed up do it all the time.
Never bought or downloaded anything from Mr. Mathers, and never will. And he can yell lyrics about gay people, black people, redneck people, white people, Jewish people, Michigan people, tall people, hooker people, or people people all he wants.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Kangol
Eminem could have gone after Tyler the Creator, who has been heavily criticized for his own extensive homophobic comments, but who’s since come out as bi/gay/queer/liking guys, without the f-bomb and actually created beef while looking better in the short term. He’d probably have been given credit for the absence of racism and anti-gay slurs, and stirred up a little excitement with a millennial fave. Instead, he does this. Maybe it was to get attention; he probably asked himself, was anyone going to buy his new album otherwise?
Donston
Are you implying that Tyler’s semi, kinda outing was just a way to get people off his back for using the word “fag” and saying some vaguely homophobic stuff? I know that everyone goes through certain things and can have a lot going on in their heads. But I also know that I’m tired of giving people passes for being hateful, homophobic, ignorant, misogynistic, misandrous, etc. just because they may possibly be “queer” or might have some sexual and/or romantic interests beyond the opposite cis gender. People also need to understand that even if someone aligns with your identity it doesn’t mean that they’re decent people. If you want to “keep it real” about who you are and what you’ve been through then do what artists are supposed to do and put that realness in your art.
Ultimately, this is just another one of Em’s ways to market himself and stir the pot. It’s something he doesn’t really have to do since his music still sells despite being mediocre for quite some time now. However, he sure as hell won’t ever be “brave” enough to use the n-word.
JessPH
If he used the N word, his label, Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music would have dropped him faster than you can say racist.
Black Pegasus
Nothing new under the sun. Once a bigot always a bigot.
BCbreeze
All this queer drama, you all need help. Again… Trying to make something out of nothing.
Terrycloth
He is trying by any means necessary to make news and sell his record .I’m not a fan of rap I despise it. I dont care if hes gay or not his life not mine. I do listen to some pop radio and never hear rap..radio is slowly moving away from it..