This
paper is an analysis of an article written by Ian Verstegen titled, Eminem and the Tragedy of the White
Rapper. This article discusses the
cultural differences between black and white rap artists in the music
industry. It talks about the reasons the
author feels so many white rap artists fail to succeed in the industry and
gives examples of mistakes some of the most famous rap artists made that led to
the demise of their careers. It also
discusses the most famous white rap artist, Eminem, and what he has done
differently that has led to his long standing success in the business. In my analysis of the article, I will provide
a summary of the author’s main points of view, my opinion of whether I think
his points are legitimate, and also why this article is important.
The
author starts out by pointing to the fact that for many years the rap music
industry has appeared to be segregated, therefore preventing many white artists
from maintaining any long term success in the industry. “When the situation is compared with
mainstream Jazz or Rock and Roll, which have completely successfully co-opted
the ancestral forms that were largely a black invention, one can see how
enforced the situation in rap is,” (Verstegen, p. 873). In the author’s point of view, he states that
white rap artists can be successful until they grow too popular and catch the
attention of the mass media. It seems as
if this is the point when these artist’s careers begin a downward spiral. Although these artists may have begun careers
with a black following, once their popularity with white suburbanites grows,
their popularity with black markets begins to dwindle.
Another
reason the author gives for the diminishing careers of these white rap artists
is that they do not choose their stage names very wisely. A few examples are Vanilla Ice and Snow. Their names appear to be white novelty names
and much of the disapproval from the media and black market stems from the name
a white rap artist chooses. He states
that, “to reference whiteness in the mass-media is immediately to signal one’s
alterity even though these names could arise in quite legitimate and natural
circumstances,” (Verstegen, p. 879).
Unfortunately for Vanilla Ice, after he hit the mainstream media his
name was later used in numerous spoofs, including Vanilla Sherbet in one movie. Eminem
has skillfully avoided any type of white referencing name and simply took his initials,
Marshall Mathers, hence M and M. The
author points out that his lyrics provide a whimsical shifting between his two
identities, Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady, “between white and black, thereby
destabilizing them,” (Verstegen, p. 880).
Another
mistake the author points out white rap artists make is identifying themselves
too strongly with a particular city. Some
of these artists may strongly identify themselves with a particular city in the
hopes that it will make them appear that they were raised in a tough, inner
city lifestyle. They do so to be able to
fit in with the rap artist’s lifestyle.
Eminem, on the other hand, identifies himself with Detroit, and while he
was raised there he does not give specific details on his life there or where
exactly he lived. In one of his songs he
declares his biographical background irrelevant, which helps prevent the mass
media from trying to uncover the specific details of his past.
The
last mistake of the fallen white rap artist the author points out is the
banding together with other white rap artists.
He says that, “the common whiteness becomes a lie that they are ‘different’
from real rappers after all, and challenges their legitimacy,” (Verstegen, p.
877). He explains a few white rap
groups, the Beastie Boys and House of Pain, that were a group of white rap
artists, but they may have had a black DJ, and these groups may have had a few
hits, but failed to make it in the rap industry long term. Eminem, on the other hand, has always rapped
by himself or with his founder, Dr. Dre.
Even when he came together with his band, D12, the band members were all
black and he took his place anonymously alongside them.
The
author of the article points out that there are many things that Eminem has
done differently than past white rap artists and has skillfully done these
things. Eminem was discovered in 1999,
and has had the longest standing career of a white rap artist in history. He has had at least four albums that have
held credibility with the black market and continue to be played on black music
stations with call in requests. Even
though he has become idolized by white teenage suburbanites, he continues to
hold his credibility and raps of these issues in “White America.”
After
reading this article, I can see some of the points the author speaks of as
seeming very true. After examining the
downfall of so many white rap artists, it does appear that the rap music
industry is developed to be segregated and white rap artists have to skillfully
tip toe their way through this industry to become and remain successful. I can also see how so many white rap artists
that at one time had fairly successful careers failed badly once their
popularity hit the mass media.
I
feel as if this article is important in providing an explanation of why so many
white rap artists cannot seem to become successful. It also helps provide a detailed examination
of the cultural differences between whites and blacks in the music industry. I think the world has come a long way from
past times but it shows that there are still many aspects of the world that are
partially segregated, not just with rap music, but unfortunately, with many
other things, where either whites or blacks seem to be the primary race that is
able to succeed in a certain business.
Reference:
Verstegen, I. (2011). Eminem and the
tragedy of the white rapper. The Journal of Popular Culture. Vol. 44, No. 4.
Wiley Periodicals. Pgs. 872-889
