Live and let live, then.

On Eminem being a great poet:

I don't think he is. What he has to say is crap.

it is interesting though, I heard on NPR last friday, they did an interview with Weird Al. and as you know, he did a parody of an eminem song. he said that it was quite difficult to write lyrics for that song because eminem has a very unique rthyming(spelling) structure.

it may be true that he has a very unique rthyming structure, but lyrics are like poetry, you either connect/relate with what the writer says or you don't connect/relate at all.

so in my case, I can't relate to his lyrics, therefore, I don't like his songs. it is no big deal, he is free to sing stupid stuff and I am free to choose not to buy it/listen to it. as simple as that. the more argument you make, the more attention enimem gets. just as he planned

He may be skilled at putting together rhymes and rhythms that degrade women, verbally slam homosexuals, endorse violence for no good reason, etc. etc. etc. But poetry is:

Walt Whitman
e. e. cummings
Robert Frost
Alan Ginsberg
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
and at his best, Bob Dylan

And by the way, I know good rap when I hear it. Run DMC did some great rap in their time. MC Hammer's early stuff was excellent. The Beastie Boys did some pretty fine rap. Shaggy's "Hope" wasn't half bad, more recently. That new group that does the rap, "Where Is The Love" is not bad at all. PM Dawn did some really nice mellow rap, some years back.

But Eminen is nothing but shock value. And shock value alone, when it's used to the extreme, ceases to be shocking after awhile. It just becomes disgusting.

It's all about freedom of speech. If people are offended, they don't have to buy his $hit, it's that simple. Yeah, Run DMC was awesome, and I totally respect them. Beastie Boys, yes...I'm a big fan.

When you talk about MC Hammer and PM Dawn, then I'm not sure you're all that too familiar with the hip-hop world and what's good, but that's a matter of opinion....I'm not gonna insult your tastes as far as that goes, but awww man, I know you'd get laughed down the street by my MC friends if they heard you say that...
Seriously, I'm just kiddin' ya here, so don't get mad....

America needs an Eminem, and record sales prove it. You don't have to support him, I certainly don't support all the bull$hit pop bands that write melodic songs for the radio. I respect him as an artist, cause' he's lived a hard life, and he's worked hard to get where he's at. I think you have to have a sense of humor when you listen to him.

Freedom of speech is a load of s. Everyone knows it doesn't exist...not if it wants to be played on the radio and become popular anyway.

By that standard, America needs Brittney Speers...I think maybe we should adopt some standard other than record sales.

Its not us, though, its the record companies. And the record companies ultimate putpose? To maka da money.

i think that eminem is good rapper. he tells a little about his history in every song. his song tells a story. so yea i think eminem is a good poet also.

his more passionate stuff is alright but i think he's finding it hard to find new things to rap about!plus i know of many tight white rappers whose rhymes are much better than Eminem that no-ones even heard of! Fair play to him though for cracking the market, its pretty impressive