Most have heard the name Eminem, a rapper, famous for his outrageous lyrics, comedic view on life, and how he highlights the struggles of those in underfunded neighborhoods. Recently, he faced some backlash for a new song in which he referenced the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
Eminem Releases Another Controversial Album
Eminem recently released a new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). He’s known for several elements including his “diss tracks” toward other celebrities. The first single on the album ‘Houdini’ left some fans feeling revived while others believed the lyrics were in poor taste. Eminem references Megan Thee Stallion. “If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me / Would I really have a shot at a feat?” He says.
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Fans Respond Negatively to Eminem
“So Eminem returns with SLIM SHADY & jumps right into the TORY LANEZ & MEGAN THEE STALLION drama UHN UHN EM – it’s a NO for me,” one user wrote on X. “This worked in the 2000s with your counterparts but a play on words with someone’s trauma & a black woman at that … I can’t support it. As old as you are – I know you know you better.”
“What exactly did this girl do to deserve this type of harassment by male rappers constantly? I mean genuinely what did she do?” Said another.
“F*** this guy. Men love to bring up traumatic moments in women’s lives for attention. Leave Megan alone,” wrote a third person.
“Eminem is too old to still be name-dropping for shock value. It was “cool and edgy” back in 01’ but dude you’re 50 evolve as an artist,” added another.
Others Have His Back
“Is everybody new to the Slim Shady thing or something?” one fan questioned.
“Slim Shady is truly back!” Exclaimed another.
Eminem’s Reputation
Eminem has a reputation for many things including his infamous diss tracks. Moreover, many celebrities have been the “victim” of his humor. Some celebrities who’ve been targeted by Eminem’s intense and amusing lyrics include:
- Nicki Minaj
- Dr. Dre
- Will Smith
- Christina Aguilera
- Machine Gun Kelly
- Vanilla Ice
- Lindsay Lohan
- Mariah Carey
- R.Kelly
- George W. Bush
- Ja Rule
However, many fans as though Eminem has stepped over a boundary by making light of a traumatic event for Megan Thee Stallion.
Megan Thee Stallion Gets Shot
In July of 2020, Megan Thee Stallion was allegedly shot by rapper and singer Tory Lanez. According to the star, she was shot in the foot “after exiting the vehicle..” The pair were riding together when an argument broke out. “I started walking away and I hear Tory yell, ‘Dance, b***h,” she said during a court appearance. “I froze, I just felt shock, I felt hurt, I looked down at my feet and I see all of this blood.” The trial lasted 9 days, according to CNN after which Lanez was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence. He was found guilty on all 3 counts, and sentenced to a maximum of 22 years, and possible deportation.
Humble Beginnings
Most people who’ve followed Eminem’s career know he had an alarmingly humble beginning. He was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem never knew his father who left the family when he was still a baby and refused any attempts at contact by his son. As a result, he was raised by a single mother who struggled to keep a job. Young Eminem and his mother split their time between Detroit, Michigan, and Missouri. “I would change schools two, three times a year,” Eminem once recalled. “That was probably the roughest part about it all.”
Sadly, he had no close friends and was often picked on in school. “Beat up in the bathroom, beat up in the hallways, shoved into lockers,” Eminem said of his childhood. Ultimately, he became a high school dropout, but quickly rose to fame after finding inspiration from big-name rappers like Dr. Dre and N.W.A. Before going mainstream, Eminem became one of the most respected rappers in the underground rap scene of Detroit, despite his blond hair, pale skin, and bright blue eyes.
Eminem Goes Mainstream
At 25-years-old Eminem finally caught his break, going mainstream and gaining international fame. After becoming runner-up in the 1997 Rap Olympic’s MC Battle, Dr. Dre listened to a cassette of the future rapper’s “independent release of The Slim Shady EP. Dre signed Eminem to the label and he’s since released 12 original albums and 2 compilation albums.
Eminem is known for overcoming numerous obstacles and for speaking to the struggles of others in a way that is both amusing and bizarre. Either way, he’s risen to fame and unsurprisingly been the topic of controversy along the way.