Why You Can’t Cancel Eminem

And why he’s the best hip-hop writer of all time

A little while back, I saw that Gen Z was attempting to “cancel” Eminem. And as a millennial raised on Eminem and early 2000’s hip-hop, it obviously struck a nerve.

Yes, his songs have definitely housed some pretty ludicrous lyrics — things that, by themselves and out of context, are often extremely violent, racist, homophobic, threatening, scary, silly, problematic, antagonistic, and really probably any other abrasive adjective you can think of.

But people who don’t know Eminem’s entire body of work don’t understand that he is the very artist that made it okay for young people to unabashedly speak their minds. People who didn’t grow up to witness and experience his transcendence into the untouchable realm that he’s in might not be able to comprehend his genius.

Of course, if you see a meme with one quote from Kill You, having missed all of this, you’ll probably be offended. In today’s climate, you should be offended — I would be shocked if you weren’t.

But the youth of today might benefit from actually doing a little bit of research before forming an opinion. And this goes for all topics.

Google has made it so anyone can find the answer they want in a split second. The operative term there is want. We now live in a world where you can easily find the answer you want to see, but you have to work to find the answer that you need to see.

Eminem is actually an advocate of gay rights, for example, and was advocating at a time when it wasn’t “cool” to do so. He was an activist, and one of the best writers of all time. He’s a guy that broached the subject and made it okay for others to follow suit.

Look at these lines from 21 years ago, in The Real Slim Shady:

“Yeah, I probably got a couple of screws up in my head loose But no worse than what’s goin’ on in your parents’ bedrooms Sometimes I wanna get on TV and just let loose But can’t, but it’s cool for Tom Green to hump a dead moose “My bum is on your lips, my bum is on your lips” And if I’m lucky, you might just give it a little kiss And that’s the message that we deliver to little kids And expect them not to know what a woman’s clitoris is Of course they’re gonna know what intercourse is By the time they hit fourth grade They’ve got the Discovery Channel, don’t they? We ain’t nothin’ but mammals, well, some of us, cannibals Who cut other people open like cantaloupes But if we can hump dead animals and antelopes Then there’s no reason that a man and another man can’t elope”

Eminem was saying these things at a time when no one said anything that wasn’t pre-approved. He publicly addressed societal disparities and cultural inconsistencies. And he did it in spite of those trying to hinder him. He basically created the ability to “cancel,” at least in the minds of young adults. You can’t cancel that person.

But while I was thumbing through Eminem’s history it got me excited about his ability to write, and I thought I’d break it down for the writers and rap nerds out there like me.

So I won’t get caught up in the “best rapper of all time” argument, but I will say, and defend, that Eminem is the best hip-hop writer of all time. And he’s solidified in history as such.

What Makes Eminem the Best Hip-Hop Writer of All Time?

Eminem is the greatest writer in rap because of his dominance in these five categories.

• Rhyme Scheme
• Lyricism and Wit
• Storytelling
• Vigor and Volatility
• Branding and Self Awareness

Some of his novelty has to do with his knack for becoming the uncontested center of attention, with his piercing tone of voice, his vulgarity and obscenity, and his unorthodox presence in general. Especially during his “Slim Shady” days, Eminem has always been essentially inescapable.

I write for a living, and I always listen to music while I do. But I cannot, for the life of me, write while Eminem is playing. I actually can’t do it. If Em’s writing is in the room, all other writers must stop and remove their Starter® caps — he’s like the national anthem for semantics.

My mind will start to wander — I find myself analyzing his lines, rewinding them, and saying, “wait, did he really just say that? Oh wow, he brought back that rhyme scheme from earlier!” He forces you to listen to him — you almost have no choice. And he’s the only artist that’s like that for me.

Admittedly, this made writing this article rather challenging.

But that’s when I started realizing just how different he is.

I think the best way to do this is to give my favorite example of each of these categorical attributes from Eminem’s portfolio, followed by a collection of other songs where you can hear more examples of the given trait on your own time — otherwise, we’ll be here forever.

Sound fair? Let’s dive in.

Impossibly Complex Rhyme Schemes

To demonstrate rhyme schemes, we will pay attention to assonance and the elaborate patterns throughout each complementing line.

The best and most complex rhyme schemes are composed of incessant assonance (the matching repetitive use of vowels or sounds in the middle of a word) and alliteration (the same but for the letter or sound at the beginning of the word). These literary terms are integral components of multi-syllabic rhyming, which we’ll touch on in a moment.

Additionally, the most brilliant hip-hop writers utilize these types of tools throughout their bars to create rhyme schemes or patterns that exist throughout a song. These tools also facilitate imagery, complexity, depth, and rhythm. At its core, it’s showing off, which is part of hip-hop, but it also requires a boundless vocabulary.

We’re going to do two for this one, because… my goodness.

Patiently Waiting (2003); Rhyme Scheme Example

“Patiently waiting to make it through all the hating Debating whether or not you could even weather the storm. Just lay on the table they operating to save you Its like an angel came to you sent from the heavens above

They think they’re crazy but they ain’t crazy lets face it, shit basically They just playing sick, they ain’t shit, They ain’t saying shit, spray ’em Fifty A to the K, get in the way I’ll bring Dre and them wit me And turn this day into fucking mayhem you staying with me? Don’t let me lose you, I’m not trying to confuse you When I let loose with this Uzi and just shoot through your Isuzu You get the message am I getting through to you? You know whats coming you motherfuckers don’t even know do you?”

Renegade (2005); Rhyme Scheme Example

“Since I’m in a position to talk to these kids and they listen I ain’t no politician but I’ll kick it with ’em a minute ’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 Now who’s the king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics? Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics Using his music to steer it, sharing his views and his merits? But there’s a huge interference, they’re saying you shouldn’t hear it Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit Maybe it’s beautiful music I made for you to just cherish But I’m debated, disputed, hated and viewed in America As a mother fucking drug addict, like you didn’t experiment? Now now, that’s when you start to stare at who’s in the mirror And see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarrassed And I got nothing to do but make you look stupid as parents You fucking do-gooders, too bad you couldn’t do good at marriage!”

I’m not even going to list out all of the assonance and alliteration in those bars. Read them out loud to yourself. You can’t help but become a rapper yourself. That’s his level of genius. Most of the time when you read other rappers writing, you need to hear them say it to understand the flow. Here, you can’t help but read it rhythmically. You even find your mouth naturally making the same shapes over and over again. It is undeniably masterful.

More Songs With Notable Rhyme Scheme:

Godzilla (2020) Unaccommodating (2020) Rap God (2013) Alfred’s Theme (2020)

Unrivaled Lyricism and Wit

To demonstrate lyricism, we will focus on punchlines and vocabulary.

The best lyricists stand out with a combination of multi-syllabic rhymes (rhymes that require alignment of several parts of the word or words) and clever puns or entendres (words that have a double meaning, could be taken metaphorically, or as an homage to something else altogether).

You Gon’ Learn (2020); Lyricism Example

“Started to spit vulgar, my ZIP code had been skid row, but I ate every single beat that I spit over, the shit hole I escaped Then I began to explode, detonate, now the Eastside went schizo, thought my name was B-side ’cause they flipped over my tape

And I won’t hesitate, to get ’em all bent so outta shape Oh shit bro, hold up, wait, I just tripped over my cape And I’m not gonna let ’em treat the paper like I’m chopping a letter Dre’ll tell you I shred, so when you refer to the guy next to the Doc, you meant Shredder Now the cops wanna set up roadblocks on my head, I Got several bounties from feds in every county, I’m with a gal at a Checkers wiling, bumping “Fuck Da Police” while I fed her Rally’s”

The multi-syllabic rhyming in here is incredible. Look how many times he utilizes a short “i” followed immediately by a long “o” sound:

spit vulgar, zip code, skid row, spit over, shit hole, explode, schizo, flipped over, bent so, shit bro, tripped over, shred so

And he ties it together by using it later on when he introduces the long “a” sound and needs to fill space, so it still feels familiar. It’s all intentional. Not to mention the punchlines in the second section, I mean sheesh. Eminem’s wittiness is tough to beat; look at the “document shredder” and “federales” puns.

More Songs With Notable Lyricism:

Just Don’t Give a Fuck (1999) Killshot (2018) The Ringer (2018) Tone Deaf (2020)

Endlessly Enthralling Storytelling

To demonstrate storytelling, we will take a look at the ability to carry an engaging narrative without sacrificing the quality of rhymes or rhythm.

Storytelling is a premium component of hip-hop and rap music. Rap as a musical genre is thought to have originated in the isolated percussion breaks of funk and disco when the MCs had to keep the crowd engaged between songs and sets. So the top rap writers must be able to keep their listeners enthralled with stories, themes, narratives, anecdotes, autobiographies, etc.

Sing For The Moment (2002); Storytelling Example

“These ideas are nightmares to white parents Whose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings Like whatever they say has no bearing It’s so scary in a house that allows no swearing To see him walking around with his headphones blarin’ Alone in his own zone, cold and he don’t care He’s a problem child, what bothers him all comes out When he talks about his fuckin’ dad walkin’ out ’Cause he hates him so bad that he blocks him out If he ever saw him again, he’d probably knock him out His thoughts are whacked, he’s mad so he’s talkin’ back Talkin’ black, brainwashed from rock and rap He sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap His stepfather hit him so he socked him back And broke his nose, this house is a broken home There’s no control, he just let’s his emotions go”

Though Stan is probably his most famous storytelling song, I like this example a lot.

This story in Sing For The Moment is most likely about his own childhood, but he tells it in a way that’s highly relatable to the vast majority of rap society that his target audience. Anyone that has ever felt like a reject hears this verse and is immediately captivated. On top of that, he uses a rich and sharp rhyme scheme to display the anger and frustration that comes with feeling trapped, depleted, and misunderstood.

The portion of the story about fighting has strong, piercing sounds that penetrate the ears, violent in and of themselves. And then the very last couplet is a totally different use of rhyme that ends on an open-ended tone to portray unfurling and “getting it out into the open.”

More Songs With Notable Storytelling:

Stan (2000) Forgot About Dre (2001) Like Toy Soldiers (2004) When I’m Gone (2005)

Unique Vigor and Antagonistic Volatility

To demonstrate vigor and volatility, we will hone in on one’s ability to get an audience riled up, or “move the crowd,” which is one of several definitions of “MC.”

When I say vigor, I mean energy and enthusiasm. The combination of vigor and volatility is critical to hip-hop writing. There’s something powerful about a loose cannon — about appearing out of control in a controlled manner. You almost have to come off as dangerous, because rap is built on power. It’s personal. It’s a very authoritative genre, and most likely the most prideful sect of music. You don’t see country artists battling each other, is all I’m saying.

Shady 2.0 Cypher (2011); Vigor and Volatility Example

“And as for me, you ask when I’m gone, will he be mourned? Is puke lukewarm? Should Casey Anthony do porn? Can that chick fit a newborn dead baby inside a frickin’ shoebox with a shoehorn Smothered in chloroform, so she can go get her groove on? Can she duct-tape and Velcro a fetus? Joell, yo, tell Joe I need his Empty box from his old shell-toed Adidas So I can put these babies in a fetal position They’re gettin’ elbows to the penis Yeah, big deal, I took some little kid’s Big Wheel And spit in his frickin’ big kids meal Quit tryna bite me and pinch, you wench, sit still! Did you just put your six-inch heel through my Benz windshield?! Is it dust we ‘bout to kick up? Can Yelawolf fit a fifth of rum in a big cup Between his stick shift in his frigging pickup And drink like a hick redneck hillbilly will ’til he gets hicc-ups? Flippin’ the script up, like Mike Vick Gettin’ bit in his junk by a Pit, yup, I’m a sick pup I’d be a horrible magician, ’cause I’d fuck a trick up Fix your lips up to say somethin’ fly, or zip up”

This is probably a somewhat-lesser-known verse of his, but I think it’s fantastic. He also released it as the conclusion of a cypher on live TV, in which Yelawolf and all the members of Slaughterhouse (a Shady Records supergroup of revered lyricists) spit some of their best bars. It was a time where Eminem couldn’t risk being outdone and he, of course, delivered. His ability to use sensitive subjects as jokes or ridiculous references is absolutely unmatched.

More Songs With Notable Vigor and Volatility:

White America (2002) Cleanin Out My Closet (2002) Kill You (2000) My Name Is (1999)

Unmistakable Voice and Self-Awareness

To demonstrate voice and self-awareness, we’ll focus on the delivery of a consistent expression and tone, combined with the ability to know your own character, feelings, and motives.

These traits make for a great writer because writing is an art. And the best artists are simply holding up a mirror to their audience, letting them see themselves or pushing society to look inward. You have to be incredibly self-aware to do that, and over time, a writer who does this consistently will create a recognizable voice, known in other industries as a brand. And while it’s impressive to have a vast portfolio of versatile skills, who you are at your core is what will remain. So what better attributes to end on than voice and self-awareness?

The Way I Am (2000); Voice and Self-Awareness Example

And all of this controversy circles me And it seems like the media immediately points a finger at me So I point one back at ’em, but not the index or pinkie Or the ring or the thumb, it’s the one you put up When you don’t give a fuck, when you won’t just put up With the bullshit they pull, ’cause they full of shit too When a dude’s getting bullied and shoots up his school And they blame it on Marilyn and the heroin, where were the parents at? And look where it’s at! Middle America, now it’s a tragedy, now it’s so sad to see an upper-class city havin’ this happenin’ Then attack Eminem ’cause I rap this way But I’m glad, ’cause they feed me the fuel that I need For the fire to burn and it’s burning, and I have returned

And I am whatever you say I am If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am Radio won’t even play my jam ’Cause I am whatever you say I am If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am I don’t know, it’s just the way I am

Talk about a mirror to society. And the crazy part is, we’re still facing these same dilemmas and problems. It hasn’t changed. But Eminem is one of the people that made it okay to illuminate that. In fact, he basically obliges his listeners to stand up for what’s right and point out what isn’t. If you can appreciate and respect the context, it’s extremely motivating and empowering. His voice gives others a voice. And that’s some powerful stuff.

More Songs With Notable Voice and Self-Awareness

The Real Slim Shady (2000) Without Me (2002) Lose Yourself (2002) Till I Collapse (2003)

If you haven’t yet signed up for Medium, it truly is a great place to check out thousands of authors and write some pieces of your own. Plus, as a member, you can read the rest of my stuff.