9. 'White America' (Third Verse) - The Eminem Show
Of Eminems many forays into national and political disparagement through music, White America is perhaps his most accomplished but the verses attacking the Bush administration dont seem as resonant a decade later as they might have then. Its the third verse that catches the tone and message of the song best as an observation of the racial aspect of the rap genre and its effect on him as an automatic outcast. A stark memorandum on how his music is often challenged by those completely ignorant to his music and the connection he has with his fans, who instead condemn him for his controversial presence in the industry. Its a powerful statement and the slow build towards the final chorus is infectious, his flow is virtually ceaseless from the lyrics, lyrics line up until the end. A solid conclusion to a great song.
See the problem is, I speak to suburban kids Who otherwise woulda never knew these words exist Whose mom's probably woulda never gave two squirts of piss 'til I created so much motherf*ckin' turbulence Straight out the tube, right into your living rooms I came And kids flipped, when they knew I was produced by Dre That's all it took, and they were instantly hooked right in And they connected with me too because I looked like them That's why they put my lyrics up under this microscope Searching with a fine tooth comb, it's like this rope Waiting to choke; tightening around my throat Watchin' me while I write this, like I don't like this, NOPE! All I hear is: lyrics, lyrics, constant controversy, sponsors working Round the clock to try to stop my concerts early, surely Hip hop was never a problem in Harlem only in Boston After it bothered the fathers of daughters starting to blossom So now I'm catchin' the flak from these activists when they raggin' Actin' like I'm the first rapper to smack a b*tch or say f*ggot, sh*t Just look at me like I'm your closest pal The posterchild, the m*therfuckin' spokesman now, for White America
A mythical hedonist, a chronic solipsist, a poet armed with a mouth full of adjectives, a brain full of adverbs and a box full of laxatives. Writing words in a language that isn't real to impress people that I invented since The Big Bang.
