he spits mad bars and pretty much everyone imitates him at least sometimes

but i don't think he's top 20


QuoteHe was also largely responsible for bringing rap music to suburban white kids 

nwa did that but jay z claims he did

it was the celebration of black on black violence that skyrocketed hip hop in rich white suburbs


I don't doubt that he had a wide influence. But there's such a large swath of "I don't like rap except for Eminem" people that I question whether that was even a net positive for rap sometimes.

I admit a lot of my dislike for him is up to my personal aesthetic preferences. I just find a lot of his lyrics whiny and juvenile, and not in a self-aware or charming way. And he's talented at rapping but he's also a big proponent of rapping pointlessly fast, which is just grating to me in almost every instance.

Stan is a masterpiece and I'll give him that and a few other songs. But he's an artist I'm very okay with leaving in 2002.

"stressed" is just "desserts" spelled backwards

Quote from: Toy Revolver on May 24, 2023, 03:53 AMnwa did that but jay z claims he did

it was the celebration of black on black violence that skyrocketed hip hop in rich white suburbs

To be fair, it might have been different depending on where you were. I don't think I ever heard kids in my school talk about rap (in my mostly white school) before Eminem became big, but NWA also predated me by a fair few years.

Yeah, I've heard that before about gangsta rap. That record labels bought into that concept big and it worked. Even back then, there were plenty of rap artists against glamorizing that lifestyle, like Public Enemy for example:




I remember Will Smith's Big Willie Style being the hottest shit on the planet when I was in fourth grade.

"stressed" is just "desserts" spelled backwards

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 24, 2023, 04:07 AMI remember Will Smith's Big Willie Style being the hottest shit on the planet when I was in fourth grade.

I remember DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand" being the hottest shit on the planet when I was in fifth grade. 8)

This is what you want. This is what you get.

Quote from: Janszoon on May 24, 2023, 04:30 AMI remember DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand" being the hottest shit on the planet when I was in fifth grade. 8)

i'm definitely older than you

that sanford and son underwater bit is a hip
hop classic and slapping chris rock was five star television


Controversial opinion: The Smiths had some good songs, but none of their albums are good from start to finish.

This is what you want. This is what you get.

Quote from: Janszoon on May 24, 2023, 04:38 AMControversial opinion: The Smiths had some good songs, but none of their albums are good from start to finish.

Agreed. They were understandably influential but they're not even in my top 50 of 80s alt/indie/post-punk/whatever bands.

"stressed" is just "desserts" spelled backwards

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 24, 2023, 04:01 AMI don't doubt that he had a wide influence. But there's such a large swath of "I don't like rap except for Eminem" people that I question whether that was even a net positive for rap sometimes.

I admit a lot of my dislike for him is up to my personal aesthetic preferences. I just find a lot of his lyrics whiny and juvenile, and not in a self-aware or charming way. And he's talented at rapping but he's also a big proponent of rapping pointlessly fast, which is just grating to me in almost every instance.

Stan is a masterpiece and I'll give him that and a few other songs. But he's an artist I'm very okay with leaving in 2002.

But what's less visible is the number of people who are big fans of rap who got into it through Eminem. Agreed that those people are annoying though.


Quote from: SGR on May 24, 2023, 04:39 AMBut what's less visible is the number of people who are big fans of rap who got into it through Eminem. Agreed that those people are annoying though.

Fair enough!

"stressed" is just "desserts" spelled backwards

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 24, 2023, 04:39 AMAgreed. They were understandably influential but they're not even in my top 50 of 80s alt/indie/post-punk/whatever bands.

Not even in the top 50? Yeesh! Now I want to see your list.  :laughing:

Most of their albums usually have a dud or two, but The Queen Is Dead is pretty close to great all the way through - the only song that really feels slightly redundant is "Never Had No One Ever", but it lasts for all of 3 minutes or so.


Quote from: SGR on May 24, 2023, 04:41 AMNot even in the top 50? Yeesh! Now I want to see your list.  :laughing:

Most of their albums usually have a dud or two, but The Queen Is Dead is pretty close to great all the way through - the only song that really feels slightly redundant is "Never Had No One Ever", but it lasts for all of 3 minutes or so.

Heh, maybe that is a bit extreme. I honestly don't listen to a whole lot of stuff in that sphere these days regardless. I do admit that I sometimes let my distaste for Morrissey as a person color my opinion on their music.

"stressed" is just "desserts" spelled backwards

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 24, 2023, 04:44 AMHeh, maybe that is a bit extreme. I honestly don't listen to a whole lot of stuff in that sphere these days regardless. I do admit that I sometimes let my distaste for Morrissey as a person color my opinion on their music.

Yeah, separating art from artist can be difficult sometimes. But Morrissey never lied. He was a miserable bastard back then, and he still he is.  :laughing:

The Smiths will always have a special place in my heart though due to my sentimental connections with their music.


Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on May 24, 2023, 04:39 AMAgreed. They were understandably influential but they're not even in my top 50 of 80s alt/indie/post-punk/whatever bands.

girl, you've lost your goddamn mind