Last week Eminem surprised his fans with the release of his 11th studio album Music To Be Murdered By. While the album is expected to debut at number one next week, the outrage and criticism has been abundant. Marshall has responded.
‘This album was not made for the squeamish,’ he writes. ‘Certain selections have been designed to shock the conscience, which may cause positive action. Unfortunately, darkness has truly fallen upon us.’
This is what this is. Eminem is being woke. The 47 year-old rap veteran has always been about creating buzz-worthy moments with things he talks about in his songs. He is still doing that – for instance he references the bombing at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester – but now he is also leaving a message for everyone. The message being that he realizes the tragic world we live in.
‘For the victims of this album, may you rest peacefully,’ he also wrote. ‘For the rest of you, please listen more closely next time.’
Talk about putting his foot down on those that didn’t get his music.
“Cause, see, they call me a menace and if the shoe fits, I'll wear it. But if it don't, then y'all will swallow the truth, grin and bear it” #Renegade #MusicToBeMurderedBy pic.twitter.com/2aIFk2kz8a
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) January 23, 2020
One of the songs on the album is ‘Darkness,’ which gives his take on gun violence. He obviously condemns it. In the music video, he recreates the worst mass shooting in United States history that took place in Las Vegas in 2017. At the end of the video, Em motivates people to register to vote along the words: ‘When will this end? When enough people care.’
Clearly, he cares.
