Eminem--Trials and Triumphs

             If music's purpose is to invoke emotions in the listener, then rapper Eminem has not only discovered this purpose but has utilized the power of music itself to convey his most agonizing traumas. His triumphant success was due in part to his ability to shock his listeners with his politically incorrect lyrics; but more importantly the manner in which these lyrics later came to be recognized as honesty at its best when so many young lives were affected by Eminem's music because it spoke to them like a diary.
             Many musical artists have found themselves being praised and identified as role models for the youth. However, when Caucasian rapper, Marshall Mathers, a.k.a Eminem, emerged from the slums of his Detroit home, he managed to stir more controversy with his lyrics than most people were ready to cope with. Eminem's lyrics made him "public enemy number one" when he openly rapped about murders and bad mouthed other artists in the music business. Critics concentrated heavily on the offensive aspects of Eminem's lyrics and in effect, some of the underlying themes in his songs like: poverty, abuse, and teen struggles, were overlooked. .
             He has been labeled a menace to a society because of his raw honesty which seems to offend many people who might only be afraid of the truth themselves and condemn him for expressing it in such a vulgar manner. Eminem's nonconformist views are manifested in his lyrics which do more than just offend people, but challenge political leaders to address the problems which afflict the society which they themselves want to take praise for but not responsibility for. .
             Although most of Eminem's lyrics incorporate vicious violence along with an array of insults on various prominent figures, his song "Sing for the moment" was labeled a masterpiece by his fans and was even respected by some of his biggest foes. The lyrics in this piece spoke explicitly about the dilemmas youth face while making the difficult transition from being immature adolescents into self-aware, independent adults.