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The Eminem Guide to Becoming a Writing and Marketing Machine

by Sean Platt

Ten years back, my soon-to-be wife, Cindy, and I first noticed the bombarding beat for Marshall Mathers My Name Is. What an ass, I said as the two of us sat to watch the Grammies a year later. Its sad he can sell so many records just by being vile. Really, how much talent can that possibly take? Have you heard the record? Cindy asked. No, I admitted. But Ive heard enough to know hes an ass. She pursed her lips in silence as I stuttered through a series of half-articulated examples the criticisms of others slipping through the filter of my voice. Unlike me, she was withholding judgment of the music until shed heard more of it. You know if you listen to the album youll be a lot more entitled to an opinion, right?

My wife has taught me, and continues to teach me, more than anyone else. The next day I bought the Slim Shady LP along with the newly minted Marshall Mathers album. I then spent the next few months in a new sort of aural awe. Im not sure what my expectations were, but they certainly werent to meet a man who would murder my preconceptions of the alphabet. Though Ive always been drawn to great lyricists and songwriters, Id never heard anyone able to effectively indulge satire, rage, sorrow, shame, guilt, regret, power, passion, loneliness, bravado, stupidity, genius, leadership, idiocy, misogyny, sympathy and, believe it or not, tender compassion. And Eminem was doing it in a stream of pentameter that would, Im certain, cause William Shakespeare to shudder.

Plus, the dude is a brilliant storyteller.

Marshall Mathers is a lyrical sniper with a shotgun, and vents more in a few hundred words than many are able to effectively communicate in pages of copy. When I listen to an Eminem record, Im hearing a man who cares about every single syllable and the exact tone of its delivery. This isnt to say all his songs are good. In fact, each album has a handful of songs I find both repugnant and unendurable. Yet they are always peppered against gems of absolute genius. Eminem is a complicated artist, and could easily provoke pages of arguments on his positives, negatives and overall impact on our culture for better or worse. But as a writer and marketer, few can touch what hes managed to accomplish. Meaning that if we pay attention, theres plenty to learn.

What Eminem can teach you about writing 1) Write and read all you can
Marshall started writing while just a child, constantly sanding the rough edges of his craft, knowing without doubt that the only thing that would get him out of the trailer park and into a better life was furious effort and endless practice. Marshall familiarized himself with the greats until storytelling was as natural as drawing breath. He may have started by imitating the pioneers who came before him, but Eminem soon blended their legacy into his own brew that was like nothing else.

2) Edit ruthlessly
Eminems best tracks harbor some of the tightest writing Ive seen in any medium. One has to wonder just how long he spends on each song, considering how securely each syllable is cemented in place.

Not only can Em craft a compelling argument in prose, he can also structure it in a way that would dazzle Dr. Seuss, not only by rhyming words that shouldnt rhyme, but by packing more poetry into a verse than should be technically possible. Only fastidious editing can pull the written word so taut.

3) Write what you know

One of the things that makes Eminem so polarizing is that his message flies from mind to mic with only the thinnest filter in between. Listening to his music is like tuning into a live therapy session that would make Tony Soprano seem stable by comparison. Its easy to believe that Marshall is speaking directly from his heart and unique set of experiences.

4) Start strong and finish stronger

The best of Ems songs achieve something rare in commercially produced music they realize a powerful climax prior to their conclusion. Many of Marshalls songs are written as arguments, and its usually in his third verse when he drives his point home, often with a lyrical sledgehammer.

5) Be concise and use powerful sentences

Marshall pares his arguments down to the marrow. His intuitive sense of flow allows him to seamlessly drift from the measured cadence of ordinary speech to an unrivaled intensity of verse, but it is always the power of his writing which enables him to drive his point home with such precision.

What Eminem can teach you about marketing

Eminem is a terrific writer, but if he wasnt also a natural marketer, he might very well be still living on the wrong side of 8 Mile.

1) Put yourself out there

Be tireless and undaunted. Marshall paid his dues in underground clubs as the only white boy to step up and take the mic. I was playing in the beginning, the mood all changed. I been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage. But I kept rhyming and stepwritin the next cypher, best believe somebodys paying the pied piper . . . Em knew that no one was about to hand him anything. If he wanted his voice heard, it was his job to spread it.

2) Be extreme
Try speaking to everyone and you end up speaking to no one.

As Sonia recently pointed out, Jenny Lawson and Naomi Dunford arent for everyone, but those who love them, really, really LOVE them. See Im a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare, Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here. To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me, as a monger of hate and Satan a scatter-brained atheist. But that aint the case, see its a matter of taste. We as a people decide if Shadys as bad as they say he is. Or is he the latter a gateway to escape? Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today . . .

3) Tell a story
Build a backstory that is unique to you and youll develop a following that can belong to no one else. Marshalls storytelling was evident in his first LP, but he cemented his place as a teller of unforgettable tales in the second album, most notably with the song Stan, which tells the story of a crazed fan who does double duty in the song as a doppleganger for Marshall. Eminem used this narrative as both a means of self reflection and as a response to the many critics questioning the cultural impact of his music.

4) Experiment
Eminems music is crammed with experimentation. From the simple lo-fi beats of his earliest work to the wicked carnival rhythms which characterized his partnership with Dr. Dre, and all the loopy meters in between, its easy to imagine that Marshall isnt happy unless hes trying something new. Not every experiment works, but at least hes willing to play in the lab.

5) Address objections
A big rule of marketing is to address audience objections before the audience does. Eminem has a history, going all the way back to his first major release, of addressing critics head on without flinching. How many retardsll listen to me and run up in the school shooting when theyre pissed at a teach-er, her, him, is it you is it them? Wasnt me, Slim Shady said to do it again! Damn! How much damage can you do with a pen? Man, Im just as %#&@#! up as you woulda been if you woulda been, in my shoes, who woulda thought, Slim Shady would be something that you woulda bought? Marshall Mathers is complicated and undeniably controversial, and though his critics would correctly point out that his music is filled with hate and vitriol, few of them seem to acknowledge that he is also manipulating his own material, taking his arguments to such ridiculous extremes that he turns them into farce.

Love him or hate him, the man known as Eminem has proven that hes an important force in both modern music and culture. You dont have to like his lyrics or his message to learn something from him. Im grateful for the day my wife wondered out loud if I really knew what I was talking about. About the Author: Sean Platt is a direct response copywriter and independent publisher. Follow him on Twitter.

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{ 18 trackbacks } The Sports Agent Guide to Marketing November 23, 2009 at 10:08 pm pligg.com November 23, 2009 at 11:23 pm Building Links And How The Top Bloggers Can Help You | The Blog For Entrepreneurs November 24, 2009 at 1:39 am Daily Fuel Tuesday, November 24th Live Relentless November 24, 2009 at 8:05 am Eminem's Writing Tips, Twitter for Novelists, the 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived | Lit Drift: Storytelling in the 21st Century November 25, 2009 at 7:48 am Cognitive Connection November 27 a.k.a writer November 27, 2009 at 3:05 am Eminem uczy jak zosta maszyn marketingow i pisarsk | Najlepszy Blog November 30, 2009 at 1:53 am Eminem First, Death Star Second | Writer Dad Writer Dad November 30, 2009 at 11:11 am Eminem Popular music video and world news December 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm The Public is Never Wrong A.J. Bingham December 2, 2009 at 11:20 pm Eminems writing Tips That Can Make you Lots of Money Online | internetwealthlab.com December 3, 2009 at 4:19 am A brilliant dude can teach you some about copywriting | December 15, 2009 at 11:43 am Outsiderish Newsesque 12/15/09 | Outsider Writers Collective December 15, 2009 at 3:23 pm The Most Important Success Tip: Stop Lying Down with Dogs, Already | Copyblogger January 19, 2010 at 10:31 am Fantastic SEO, Social Media and Internet Marketing Articles I found on Twitter in the past week - SEO Aware February 3, 2010 at 2:02 pm The Eminem Guide to Becoming a Writing and Marketing Machine | Copyblogger | Artful Pussycat February 11, 2010 at 10:06 am Eminem if we pay attention, theres plenty to learn On the road to your PERFECT WORLD February 14, 2010 at 1:24 pm The Eminem Guide to Becoming a Writing and Marketing Machine Donnie Bryant February 20, 2010 at 4:52 pm

{ 141 comments read them below or add one } 1 Oleg Mokhov November 23, 2009 at 10:09 am Hey Sean, Tell your unique story to an extreme and you can become truly unique and irresistible. Eminem wasnt just a technically skilled rapper Jay-Z was also ruling the charts. Eminem wasnt just an amazing and inventive rapper who was also white Beastie Boys have been doing it for over 10 years before the SS LP. Eminem wasnt just controversial and headline-grabbing Snoop Dogg and other gangsta rappers were raising eyebrows as well. No, Eminem was all those plus his STORY. He didnt simply mention where he was from he vividly told how and where he was raised, all his troubles, and where he was coming from. He was ferociously honest and genuinely angry, which drove the story even harder into the listeners. Eminem told his story to an extreme. He didnt leave out any details. And this not only made him remarkable (so few artists are this brutally open), but people who mightve shared similar experiences instantly connected with him. By telling your story to an extreme, you guarantee your remarkableness. After all, no one else has the EXACT same life story as you. Nice article on extracting some useful writing and marketing lessons from the man, Oleg 2 Spenser November 23, 2009 at 10:22 am Your wife sounds like a genius and I think we could all learn from the beginning of this awesome, out-of-the-box article, that no judgments can be made until some effort is made to understand the object in question. Eminem has truly been such a back and forth icon in my mind but I think you hit the nail on the head in praising him for what he is good at and giving caveat to those subjects in which he creates controversy. Such a great way to look at a totally different field and make it relevant. Awesome work!

3 Gabe | freebloghelp.com November 23, 2009 at 10:36 am Lovem or hatem, Eminem is truly an artist. Id like to add one more to the list: make fun of everyone you dislike. I havent done it but thats part of his shtick and it works! I guess that can be lumped into the be extreme part. Hmmm that gives a few ideas though. Now I have to decide whos the lucky SOB Im going to rip into in my first slam post. 4 Sonia Simone November 23, 2009 at 10:38 am Good point, Oleg, the story (and telling it in a compelling way) is the secret sauce. Which is very, very applicable to almost any communication. 5 Jon November 23, 2009 at 10:39 am Seeing Eminem dissected and used as a guide for the rest of us- never imagined Id see that here. This alone has solidified you in my email subscription list Though Im a skinny ginger kid from a very different background, as a wee lad I enjoyed his music somewhat. It wasnt til later though, especially college, that I caught myself listening to his lyrics over and over, sharing similar types of pain, remorse, love, regret, you name it. 6 Sonia Simone November 23, 2009 at 10:40 am @Gabe, indeed, mockery can be a very powerful weapon to weaken your enemies. Or at least your critics. 7 Claus D Jensen November 23, 2009 at 10:55 am Pretty cool and interesting post! Sometimes we can learn a lot from artists! Greetungs, Claus 8 Michael November 23, 2009 at 11:00 am I strongly recommend the movie Eight Mile High. I went in sulking and was caught by the story, his acting, the production and the slam scenes. The music still irritates me, but respect where it is due.

9 Anna McMahon November 23, 2009 at 11:07 am I always remember the interview of him talking about how he would just go through the dictionary and find words that rhyme together. He did mention that he would actually learn what each word meant so oh it makes sense when he was using the words in his wrapping. Just knowing more words and the meaning of them can make you a better writer. Eminem is definitely a genius and this article shows that there is a lot you can learn from this man. 10 Stacey Cornelilus November 23, 2009 at 11:10 am Im suddenly seeing Eminem in a whole new light. This post likely wont turn me into a fan (its not really my genre of music), but its a good reminder to switch on the critical thinking when mainstream opinion is swimming in one direction. You gave me lots to think about today, thanks, Sean. 11 Dean Dwyer November 23, 2009 at 11:10 am Back in the days when I used to teach, I would see kids like that get discounted or ignored all the time. They didnt fit the mold and consequently where quickly shuffled to the edges. As you pointed out Sean, everyone has a significant story to tell if we are willing to really listen. Kind of goes back to something Chris Brogan talks about. I wonder what would happen if we spent more time listening. It might just allow us to improve our own storytelling as well. 12 Suzie November 23, 2009 at 11:11 am Great piece. Id love to know, which do you consider his ten best tracks? 13 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 11:15 am Oleg: Couldnt agree more! I think one of the things that made Marshalls story so effective wasnt just that it was personal or vivid, but that he was also so brutally honest. Hes never had any bones about pointing fingers, but one of his biggest targets has also been himself. By exposing himself in the way that he does, it allows all his other arguments to rise to the surface, bold and believable.

Spenser: Ill tell her you said that and gladly take the kiss shell give me. : > ) Yeah, its hard with Em. I saw such amazing momentum from the guy and felt so completely let down as a fan of his intelligence that hes done so little with it since hitting the top. Even now there are songs that I just shake me head and wonder what in the world hes thinking. I still have hope that the guy will grow up and hit his full potential one day. Its okay to use your past to push you, not so much if you wallow in it. Thanks for the compliment, Spenser. Gabe: Thats true, but he doesnt just make fun of people, he somehow manages to eviscerate them in a single sentence; taking their worst flaw or insecurity and putting it in front page bold type. An extreme skill well employed. I look forward to your slam post! : >) Jon: That is one of his many remarkable qualities, that he can make us feel the most human emotions as though were living right under his skin. Thats the work of an artist for sure. Sonia: Its especially true if you use mockery as a mirror to show that you are the opposite of what they are, not by crowing about yourself, but by pointing out your enemys (or critics) flaws. Claus: Thanks, Claus. Yeah, artists are some of our finest teachers so long as were willing to pay attention to what theyre teaching. Anna: Thats one of the things that sets him apart the willingness to do what others wont; to work harder, try harder and push his skills further than most anyone else. Its hard to imagine 50 Cent going through the dictionary looking for words to rhyme with money or .45. Marshall wasnt just working on sharpening his rhymes, he was sharpening his overall intelligence as well. Michael: Ive never heard of 8 Mile High, but will add it to my queue tonight. Thanks for the recommendation! Stacey: My absolute pleasure, Stacey. If youd like a list of tracks with the most compelling content, Im happy to oblige. : > ) Dean: Wonderfully said, Dean. And I couldnt agree more. One of the reasons my wife urged me to listen to Eminem was precisely because of her twenty years as a teacher. Shes taught that kid before, many times and in many versions. Suzie: Awesome question, Suzie. Ill have to come back later to answer it as I would like to give it some thought. Are you more curious about lyrical content, rhyme scheme or just overall delivery?

14 Ryan November 23, 2009 at 11:18 am Eminem is Eminem because he put himself out there. No matter what you do keep trying with all your heart. Forget the people who criticize you to keep you down. Listen to your small still voice and those who provide the best advice. Keep on going every day and an opportunity will avail itself. You provide great marketing/writing tips with unless applied with the proper mindset theyll be useless. 15 Amy Harrison November 23, 2009 at 11:20 am I respect his uncompromising attitude. Hes a polarising personality and even though theres a whole range of emotions and complicated themes in his music, he knows what he wants to produce and he does it. He makes music his music because he believes in it and has an unflinching passion for it. Couple that with a lot of persistence and hard work and youre faced with a formidable force! 16 rafa November 23, 2009 at 11:20 am Sean, I usually dont listen to the Em, and when his picture came up on my email I thought you were promoting his latest material. I was about to skip your message but curiosity got a hold of me. Thank you, in general, for this and all your articles, and a big thank you for the one specific phrase that got me into writing this post, and hopefully many more: ENDLESS PRACTICE! You made my day! Best regards and cheers! Rafa. 17 Chris Anderson November 23, 2009 at 11:25 am Ya, I dont get into that particular type of music but he is one of the exceptions to the rule. You pretty well covered why, and I think a lot of people can learn from him. Hes a damn good artist. There is also another group from France that I learned from called Die Form. Granted the content of their songs are questionable, but it was all created by one guy. He wrote the music, made it, even produced it for awhile.

Even though they are still underground (at least here in the states that I know of) they have a very loyal following. And hes been doing this since the mid 80s. I just think anyone that has the stamina and desire to push themselves that long and hard to succeed is an inspiration. Even if what they create is questionable at times. 18 JoAnna November 23, 2009 at 11:30 am This is a brilliant post! Thanks for suggesting we look beyond writing to learn about it. 19 Joshua Black November 23, 2009 at 11:35 am Sean, I never thought Id see an Eminem article that could be interwoven into copywriting and marketing, but here we are. I too have had my ups and downs with my opinions of Mr. Mathers, but I agree that he is a one of a kind and his dedication to his craft is something that we can all learn from. I know that what you put into something is normally equal to what you get out of it, so if we all just keep pushing to be the best at our little slice of the world, one word at a time, then we can only go up from here. May the little Eminem in all of us show through. 20 Melissa November 23, 2009 at 11:52 am In my whole life I never ever thought Id find a Eminem article here. Watching my two worlds collide like this is a bit shocking. I can honestly say Ive never looked at him quite the way youve presented here. Interesting. 21 Shane Arthur November 23, 2009 at 11:59 am Eminem challenges people NOT to withhold judgement about him. If you dont truly know your enemy, your enemy will make you look foolish when you confront himthis is all part of his psychological/marketing method I believe. 22 lucy November 23, 2009 at 12:02 pm

I have always thought that Eminems writing was absolutely brilliant glad to know someone else does too. Thanks for writing about it in this forum, where I bet not many people have listened to his music. 23 Chloe Delano November 23, 2009 at 12:06 pm Love that you referenced a lyric from Still Dont Give a F***. nerd and I love it. Great article never would have seen it coming but I learned a lot. 24 Daniel Edlen November 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm I think what people often miss with Slims work is that he knows. He knows his life. He knows what that life is about. He knows our lives. He knows what we are about. With levels revealed breaking down through the bull he exposes truth in all of us. Its not just profanity and hate-mongering. In fact, Id say its usually the opposite, if you really listen. If you really listen. http://vinylart.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-eminem-should-be-respected.html Peace, @vinylart 25 Sarah November 23, 2009 at 12:27 pm Like 79,000 other readers, I get Copyblogger posts everyday. This was the first time I felt compelled to comment. Brilliant post. Your ability to compare your advice about blogging to Eminem hit home more than ever with this post. While reading it I really felt it was written for me. I know, sounds kooky, but Im really not. We all have those moments every so often; I think its important to recognize them. After finishing the post I felt sure I was on the right path. Thank you for that. My only questions remain in how much my story can help or hurt my purpose in blogging, and the type of readers I have. It is not always easy to figure out the best way to weave your history into your live, present, daily updates. But I feel that without it, there is an enormous part of you that doesnt ever exist on screen. And should. Thank goodness for Eminem. I couldnt run without him. Nothing gets me going like Lose Yourself. 26 Sonia Simone November 23, 2009 at 12:45 pm Youre such a raging

@Sean, like some of the folks here, it really never occurred to me to take a second look at Eminem. So thanks. 27 izzat aziz November 23, 2009 at 12:50 pm hope eminem will read copyblogger and actually comment, haha you got to love eminem, yes put aside his rage etc.. but love him because he being different.. look at rap market.. most of rapper rap about how good he is, how rich he is, how girl love him and bla bla.. but eminem come out and say how suck his life is.. it totally different than other that what make he great.. so blogger need to do same thing.. dont write what people most write but write something different so you can be slim shady of blogger.. 28 Danny Ethridge November 23, 2009 at 1:13 pm Hello Sean, I started not to read your posting about the person covered here. Basically, I skimmed through portions of it because I didnt want to read it at all. But I ran across one of your statements which I am going to paste below for your reader and you to use for a comparison: Though Ive always been drawn to great lyricists and songwriters, Id never heard anyone able to effectively indulge satire, rage, sorrow, shame, guilt, regret, power, passion, loneliness, bravado, stupidity, genius, leadership, idiocy, misogyny, sympathy and, believe it or not, tender compassion. The writings I am recommending are not from a lyricist or a songwriter instead they are from a simple man writing letters to his friends while he is in prison. He writes more on the positive areas mentioned in your statement I pasted above. This writer effectively writes about leadership, power, passion, and yes, tender compassion. This writer, also, writes of the guilt, sorrow, and shame our walks bring us while etching out our own paths in life. This writer gives us the full insight of how our paths can be walked in the light and as the light of the world, because of 1 man. Some of his letters are called books and have been published world wide. They have been read, discussed and dissected by millions of people. Scholars, teachers, professors, dictators, emperors, kings, politicians, laymen, and all walks of life. Come to think of it, the writer of these letters has stood in front of scholars, teachers, professors, dictators, emperors, kings, politicians, laymen and all walks of life to witness and testify of this 1 man.

I, personally, believe 1 of the best of his letters to read first is called Ephesians. Once you start reading the letter, just like a great novel, dont stop reading it until you have finished it. Once you have finished Ephesians, the next awesome, awesome letter of this person to read is called, Romans. Most people refer to this letter as his Book of Love. The 2 mentioned above are just a couple of his wonderful letters. A few other copies of his letters are called Colossians, Philippians, and Galatians. You will really enjoy reading those, too. As I was writing this reply, I noticed one of the areas missed in the quote above is the word faith In our business of internet marketing, affiliate marketing, and/or niche marketing, if we do not have faith in ourselves and goals we have set to accomplish, we will fail. This writer of these marvelous letters wrote another fantastic letter to a group of people talking to them about the word faith. He gives them example after example of people who learned to have faith and the successful results of the faith. After he gives the examples of these very successful people in their walks through life, he lets everyone else in on the formula of how to be successful. Sounds a lot like the squeeze page of a internet marketing page, doesnt it? Trust me, it isnt! Let me mention something about the successful people in the examples the writer discusses. They started out just like all of us, people with nothing but a dream, a goal, one that could and can be accomplished. Their dreams contained a vital ingredient, faith This letter of faith, by this wonderful man is called Hebrews. Check it out! You may never be the same. You may never look at your dream the same as you had in the past. You many never set your goals the same way you had up to the point of finishing reading this letter. As a veteran of internet marketing, affiliate marketing, and or niche marketing, my recommending the reading of this mans letters will change your outlook on your business and the way you conduct your business as it becomes successful. Brian Clark(Copyblogger), thank you for allowing this reply to be posted. Thanks! Danny Ethridge Internet Marketing Toolman 29 Eric Matas November 23, 2009 at 1:18 pm I gotta think Eminem would approve of this post:

I am whatever you say I am. If I wasnt, then would would I say I am? His gifts are language and marketing, perfect for rap (and social media). 30 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 1:53 pm Ryan: Not only did he not allow critics to keep him down, he also used their criticism as fuel to launch him further than he probably wouldve been able to manage on his own. Thats genius marketing in motion. Amy: No doubt. Whenever I think Ive had a difficult year, I need only listen to one of his cuts and I realize how insulated I really am. Rafa: My absolute pleasure, Rafa. Im glad you didnt skip over it. Endless practice is the duty of the winner, and a mantra Copbylogger rightly preaches. Chris: Absolutely. At the very least, its worth looking at with open eyes to see if there is some amount of value we can extract. In Ems case, Ive learned a lot. Joanna: My pleasure, Joanna. Im glad you enjoyed it. Joshua: I really like that, Joshua being the best at our own little slice of the world. Well said. One word, one post, one day at a time indeed. Melissa: Im glad I could rattle your world. : ) So, what was your previous impression of Mr. Mathers? Shane: I agree. Marshall is confrontational with his critics and feeds of their judgement. It is one of the things which makes him a brilliant marketer, and yes, he always knows his enemies well. Lucy: My pleasure. Thanks to Copyblogger for running it. Chloe: Im a raging word nerd indeed, though the three songs quoted here are Lose Yourself, Renegade, and Who Knew? Still Dont Give a #*$@ has plenty of quotable lines though. : ) Daniel: There might be even more profanity than most people imagine, but there is far, far less hate mongering. If you really listen you will hear songs that can bring you to tears. Its hard to quote Em out of context because his songs really are stories which build to crescendo, but the end of this song where he talks about putting fans before family gets me every time:

The sky darkens, my life flashes, the plane that I was supposed to be on crashes and burns to ashes Thats when I wake up, alarm clocks ringin, theres birds singin Its Spring and Hailies outside swinging, I walk right up to Kim and kiss her. Tell her I miss her, Hailie just smiles and winks at her little sister Sarah: That makes me smile wide Sarah. Im glad the post touched you in a personal way. Thank you for losing yourself in my moment. : ) Sonia: My pleasure, but we both need to thank Cindy! If it hadnt been for her its possible my world view would still be a bit too narrow. : ) Izzat: That would pretty much make my week if Marshall made it around to comment, though I read somewhere that he doesnt read blogs. Danny: Thank you for drawing a parallel, unique to the discussion. I read through your comment about the person you were covering without skimming and think I understand where you were going. Since Im not entirely sure, Ill agree that, yes, faith was missing from the list above. Here is a quote that illustrates the theme of faith nicely. Im walkin these train tracks, tryin to regain back the spirit I had fore I go back to the same crap To the same plant, and the same pants Tryin to chase rap, gotta move ASAP And get a new plan, mommas got a new man Poor little baby sister, she dont understand Sits in front of the TV, buries her nose in the pad And just colors until the crayon gets dull in her hand While she colors her big brother and mother and dad Aint no tellin what really goes on in her little head Wish I could be the daddy that neither one of us had But I keep runnin from somethin I never wanted so bad! Sometimes I get upset, cause I aint blew up yet Its like I grew up, but I aint grow me two nuts yet Dont gotta rep my step, dont got enough pep The pressures too much man, Im just tryin to do whats best And I try, sit alone and I cry Yo I wont tell no lie, not a moment goes by That I dont pray to the sky, please Im beggin you God Please dont let me pigeon holed in no regular job Yo I hope you can hear me homey wherever you are Yo Im tellin you dawg Im bailin this trailer tomorrow Tell my mother I love her, kiss baby sister goodbye

Say whenever you need me baby, Im never too far But yo I gotta get out there, the only way I know And Ima be back for you, the second that I blow On everything I own, Ill make it on my own Off to work I go, back to this 8 Mile Road Eric: Yup, if he were to read it I imagine hed enjoy the portrait painted. I especially think hed like a verbal sniper with a shotgun, which still has me smiling. : ) 31 Eric Matas November 23, 2009 at 2:13 pm I love the sniper line, but I was already following you on Twitter when I read, One has to wonder just how long he spends on each song, considering how securely each syllable is cemented in place. The hard Cs (consider/securely) followed by soft Cs (cemented/place) actually sound like manual labor, which good writing is, and which I notice when I see it/hear it. 32 Carl Natale November 23, 2009 at 2:16 pm Stupid question. Is Marshall Mathers & Eminem the same person? 33 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 2:24 pm Eric: Big smiles. Thanks for noticing. Carl: Not a stupid question at all. Yes, Marshall Mathers is Eminem. 34 Stan The Web Sales Man November 23, 2009 at 2:29 pm I just spent the last 3 weeks inhaling everything I could about the life story of eminem, Jay-z, LilWayne, Tupac, and Notorious BIG. Why because they are so ruthless with the INTENT of their copy. I think that if these guys were copywriters they would be killing it wait they are! D#mn good post 35 Shane Arthur November 23, 2009 at 2:38 pm @Eric Sean is the Ambassador of Alliteration!

36 Sami - Life, Laughs & Lemmings November 23, 2009 at 3:06 pm I never really appreciated Eminems music until I saw his movie 8 Mile. The battle scenes in it are like his lyrics genius. I saw an interview with him and he said he was rewriting and perfecting the battle scenes right up until they were filmed. I like a couple of his songs but Im generally not a fan of his style of music. Theres no doubt though, that hes a gifted lyricist whether you like his music or not. Great article. Thanks Sean. 37 Ms. Freeman November 23, 2009 at 3:33 pm .and hes cute to boot! 38 Lexi Rodrigo November 23, 2009 at 3:41 pm Lessons in good writing, including good copywriting, are everywhere. We should always keep an open mind. Lexi 39 Tom Wanek November 23, 2009 at 3:53 pm Theres so many good tips here, but my favorite is 1) Write and read all you can. Like they say, you are what you read. Reading good writing will dramatically improve your writing skills. But youve got to do this consistently work it like a muscle. 40 Lorraine November 23, 2009 at 4:27 pm I love this postand it really hit home for me. Like you, Sean, I had already formed an opinion of Eminem before Id heard his music. And Id forbidden my teen son to play Marshalls music aloud when younger siblings were around. I felt sure Eminen offered nothing more than misogynistic, foul-mouthed braggadocio. Then one day I accidentally picked up my sons Ipod instead of my ownand wound up listening to Eminem while walking the dog. An epiphany.

I now see Marshall as a social criticas well as a brilliant musician. (But I still dont let young kids listen to him!) But to extend the Eminem/marketing analogy just a bit more: Like all good marketers, Marshall hooks with emotion. His love-hate relationship with his wife, his adoration of Hailie, etc., create an emotional underscore for all his storiesand suck us into his world. 41 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 4:40 pm Stan: Thanks, Stan. So true. A version of this post that was in my head about six months ago and never made it out was, What if Eminem Had Decided to be a Copywriter Instead? It wouldve taken a much more humous approach, though I suppose its never to late. Sami: Have you heard the song 8 Mile? Its about 1% (if that) as popular as Lose Yourself but the rhyme scheme and intensity is just incredible. A piece of it is quote above in response to Dannys comment. The movie is personified perfectly in that song and highlight the raw energy of the battle rather well. Ms. Freeman: He knows it too. Heres what he had to say about it: Look at these eyes, baby blue, baby just like yourself, if they were brown, Shady lose, Shady Sits on the shelf, But Shadys cute, Shady knew, Shadys dimples would help, make ladies swoon baby, {ooh baby}, look at my sales, Lets do the math, if I was black, I wouldve sold half, I aint have to graduate from Lincoln high school to know that Lexi: True that, from the billboards on the way to school to my daughters homework when I pick her up. Its everywhere, for good and bad, so long as youre willing to have an open mind and pay attention. Tom: So many people want the fairy dust, but it just doesnt work that way. Overnight success doesnt exist. You want a body like Brad Pitt then you need to go to the gym every day. If you want to write like Stephen King then you need to read and write as often as you can. And youre absolutely right, consistency is as important as anything else, if not more so. Lorraine: Beautifully said Lorraine. Every word, especially when you busted out with braggadocio and made me smile. I agree on every count he is a brilliant social critic and absolutely hooks us with his raw emotion. 42 Kristina Daniele November 23, 2009 at 4:50 pm

You have said everything that believer to be true about Eminem and more. I have tried to explain to many why his music is so powerful and could not. Just listen was all I could say. Now I have this article to send to the naysayers. Thanks. 43 John Paul November 23, 2009 at 4:53 pm This is awesome,, seeing Em make it to a blog like copy blogger, about ems writing ability. Something that everyone allready new ablout him from his first album. Other thing you can take away from em, is he has a great ability to make you believe everything he talks about, something blogger sneed to do is be real and believable. Great Post. 44 Dana @ Online Knowledge November 23, 2009 at 4:55 pm Yeah, eminem is a unique man that produce unique song. This is why he become a big man in music business. We surely can learn something from how he do it and use it in our blogging. 45 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 5:01 pm Kristina: Yeah, on the surface I wrote the post so I could talk about writing and marketing, but my real aim was so you and I could convert the naysayers one at a time! : ) John Paul: Thanks, John. If there was artifice in Ems music, I dont think he ever wouldve managed to rise to the heights he has. His music can give you chills, but that wouldnt be the case if it was only for shock value. And yes, bloggers in general can learn a lot about how real he is and has always been. Dana: Yes we can. Thank you. 46 David Walker November 23, 2009 at 5:02 pm I love Marshall, Sean; and had the same experience although there was no wife to ask me to do it I thought it was all some cleverly created rhyme until I actually listened to what he was saying. Hes brilliant; and those who dont think so are people who insist on things being their way and are not open to creativity or appreciating an outstanding piece of work.

I think one thing that draws us to him is that, beneath the hard core facade lies a very sensitive soul and its been bared to the world. Do I listen to his albums often? No. But when I do, I really listen.. I like the idea about telling our own stories, digging back into our past and what makes us tick and drawing inspiration from that. All too often, no matter how many of us bloggers want to do it, fear holds us back when the finest writing can only come when we let it all out and free ourselves. 47 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm Another excellent comment, David. Thank you. I loved this: Do I listen to his albums often? No. But when I do, I really listen.. Thats exactly it for me. Im a dad now, and the times when I can vibe to an Eminem record are few and far between, but whenever I do I listen to every word and walk away a better writer; as you said, more willing to share my stories and dig deeper into my past. Thanks. 48 Shane Hudson - Be Motivational November 23, 2009 at 5:17 pm This is such an intriguing, I would never have expected to read about eminem (who I admit, I have never given a chance for the same reasons as you) on copyblogger but it makes sense, very good post. Thank you! 49 Tomas Stonkus November 23, 2009 at 5:19 pm Hey Sean: I have to say: You Got Me. Eminem is my favorite rapper. Yet, I never looked at him they way you just examined him. I think the reason I love him so much is because he is so personal and unique. His stories touch you and resonate with you. You know they are real because of the detail and the imagery that he uses. Only people who have been there are able to tell it like it. One thing that I liked the most from your article that you noticed is the fact that he was speaking from his experience and not making things.

It seems like he put himself out there for everybody else to see. How many of us would be able to sacrifice our personal lives and tell the rest of the world about every vice that we have done in our lives? Rarely if ever we do that. Once you examine successful people like Eminem, you start to see that their success is not accident and that all there is behind success is hard and relentless work. It stops surprising us why some people are successful and others fail. Sometimes it comes down to being authentic and standing for what you say and believe it. Be real. Be Yourself and show it. People are always looking for real things in this world that is filled with falseness. Even if that realism is sometimes, hurtful and hateful, it is still real and thats what is missing in most of our lives. Let us live. Best, Tomas 50 OneLifeNoFear November 23, 2009 at 5:31 pm Hi Excellent piece. I have thought the same things about MM for some time Stan, to me, was one of the best songs ever written I just wish I had the foresight to have put this an in article as good as yours! 51 Cassie Tuttle November 23, 2009 at 5:35 pm Theres always been something about Eminems music that draws me in. But I never took the time to examine it. When it comes to music, my first impression is always based on the tune, the beat. If I like a song based on those criteria, Ill then give the lyrics a listen. Time for me to take a much closer look at Ems words. Thanks, Sean. 52 Chloe Delano November 23, 2009 at 5:36 pm Sean, I was thinking murder my preconceptions of the alphabet was a little reference to SDGaF I cant rap anymore I just murdered the alphabet for those of us whove listened to his records ten billion times too. Happy accident!

53 Mike Morgan November 23, 2009 at 5:49 pm Great article. Being a rapper, AND a online marketerI took alot from this story.and Im even more convinced to tell my own story in the artistic way Im able to. I think about how the online audience would accept me, the Internet Marketing me, and realize I am caring too much. I cant please everyone and I dont want to. The audience that will respond to me, and become fans/customers, are those who can look past what they see 54 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 5:56 pm Shane: Thanks Shane! Time to give em a chance. Start with Stan. All the words are really easy to understand on first listen, which can make all the difference. Thomas: Very few of us. I know for me, I hold back getting too personal all the time, though I do it far more for my familys benefit than my own. When I speak of my children online, I never use their real names and I often paint in broad strokes. This is because I feel as though it isnt really my right to expose them when they havent asked. Same goes for my extended family. I would love to write about it as I would be fluid and passionate, but I know it would upset some people and so I dont. I cant imagine feeling the freedom of having no filter. OneLifeNoFear: LOL, thanks for the compliment. Yes, Stan is groundbreaking for sure. Cassie: Some of his beats are remarkable for sure, but for me they are only there to hang his brilliant lyricism. Check out Renegade, the duet with Jay-Z, and watch him take the ball away from Jay-Z over a deceptively simple beat. Lyrical genius for sure. Chloe: (Smile) Theres nothing accidental about the reference. Thats a great set of peepers on you! Mike: No doubt my man. You have to be true to yourself. Speak to everyone and speak to no one. Draw in the audience meant for you and hold them close. 55 Annabel Candy November 23, 2009 at 6:08 pm Nothing to add, just enjoyed this post and the inspiration. The man had passion and obsession for his art too. Guess thats why he made it sooooo big! 56 Scott Birkhead November 23, 2009 at 6:53 pm

I am not a rap listener, and always heard about the bad parts and about em. But then found myself watching 8-Mile and suddenly welling up with hope and seeing this gritty, painfully honest story and listening to songs that made me want to rise up. Someone above said it theres too much false in the world. True art gets to the real, regardless of whats there. Powerful stuff and an incredible post. 57 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 7:04 pm Annabel: Hey, you did add something! Yeah, it was passion, obsession for his art and a WHOLE lot of potty talk! Scott: Thank you, Scott. True art does get to the bone, though sometimes it is difficult to accept its origins. I think thats why 8 Mile managed to surprise so many people. 58 Anita Nelson November 23, 2009 at 7:15 pm This article is BRILLIANT~! I may be a tad biased I grew up a stones throw away from 8 Mile where Eminem lived. Now I only live by 23 Mile. Ouch. Anita @ModelSupplies 59 Deb Lamb November 23, 2009 at 7:16 pm OMG! Like everyone else, I too had no idea we could learn from Ems unique ability. Sean you have provided some awesome tips that I will use from this point on. Never thought about some of the things you mentioned and now Im wondering how I can be like Em? I just might create a rap blog post! Hmmm, not a bad idea! Thanks SO much for all the wonderful advice and awesome article. I just love this site!!! Deb 60 Peter November 23, 2009 at 7:34 pm

This is my take Sean Eminem, youre definitely one of the top 10 best rappers of all times Even though Reggae is my genre of music, I respect Eminem and his craft He has a unique style of combining syncopated beats with hard-core lyrics that keeps your head bopping. Eminem, why dont you do collaboration with a Jamaican Dance Hall artist? It would be interesting to hear a record with you and Bounty Killer or Beenie man. 61 Sean Platt November 23, 2009 at 7:46 pm Anita: BRILLIANT~!? See, now youve got me blushing. : > ) Deb: Ive done a few rap blog posts. They are always fun. No kidding, if you want some help tightening it up, Id be happy to lend a hand. Just drop me an email at sean at gmail dot com and well polish it to perfection. Peter: I wouldnt be surprised if he does some collab in the future. It seems like hes experimenting with the vocals a bit. There are an increasing number of songs where he adopts that dance hall lilt to his rhythm. Maybe someday. 62 George Passwater November 23, 2009 at 10:21 pm Great post! When I first heard Eminem, I too was like, what the? but after listening more, I realized his genius. There are some of his songs that go a bit too far for me, but the biggest things I see from him are: passion and drive to go forward, no matter what anyone says. That says a lot and thanks again for this great post. 63 David Johnson November 23, 2009 at 10:52 pm Everyone above me stole some of my thunder so anything I say will be a rehash of what came before me but I would like to say that Ive been a huge fan of Eminem for a long time. Most of my business contacts would cringe to hear me say that but Ive always enjoyed the genius that went into his writing, his lyrics are nothing short of genius. 64 Jenny Pilley November 24, 2009 at 3:41 am Best post Ive read for a while and mainly because I agree with everything you wrote. He is a genius, and as you say, your wife taught you a valuable lesson.

I think there is so much that can be learnt from one artist and just because there is this stigma that surrounds him doesnt mean to say that you cant appreciate his talent, dedication and pure, raw skill. 65 John M November 24, 2009 at 3:53 am I am an American who has had an old-fashioned classical education, taking Latin and Greek classes in high school and college. When I first heard Eminem I was surprised and delighted. It was great to hear a modern artist who truly expressed the power, range and depth of storytelling found in the ancient Greek plays, as your review so well describes. Those plays dealt with nasty topics and allowed characters to say passionate, evil things, because passion and evil are part of our complex nature. No matter how much American middle class culture has made life relatively safe and bland, relationships can stir those passions and remind us of our own potential for evil as well as intense and tender love. 66 payjturner November 24, 2009 at 5:24 am Nice. Your wife sounds very smart. Ive felt this way about Eminem for awhile. I was wondering if there were others like me Hes definitely someone you dont want to like at first but if you admire someone who is obviously a perfectionist and puts their all into what they do, you cant help but like his music. I admire his honesty, creativity and skill. The storytelling is like nothing I ever remember hearing in music beforeat least on a regular basis. I think almost anyone can relate to his life/feelings in some way & he addresses things that most people wouldnt touch. I think of his music as the thoughts I have when Im extremely mad or hurt that I would never speak outloud. 67 payjturner November 24, 2009 at 5:39 am oh btw, if you havent heard his new cdget it. I think it has some of the best material hes ever done. A couple of my favs are Beautiful and My Darling. My Darling is very creative. Good stuff. 68 Elijah November 24, 2009 at 9:25 am It seems like weve been on the same wave length as I just wrote a post sharing my thoughts on how hip hop has made me a better copywriter Its definitely something to be considered, and with that being said, its important to make note that lyricism is what we can benefit from not laffy taffy and bling bling.

69 Sean Platt November 24, 2009 at 9:33 am George: I used to be more tolerant of his songs that went to far because of their context, as weve talked about on Copyblogger before, but now I think his context has changed and I find that sort of stuff unnecessary and less digestible. David: I write for children and because of that it took me a while to publicly acknowledge me affection for Marshall, though Im much more comfortable now. As long as I can clearly articulate why I feel the way I do, Ive no problem. My own children know that I really like an artist named M&M and that they are not yet old enough for his potty talk. Jenny: My wife didnt just open my eyes to Eminem, she opened a window to a lo of stuff I would have probably missed otherwise. Now the two of us together, when the children arent around can appreciate his talent, dedication and pure, raw skill together. John: Ooh John, I like the comparison to ancient Greek plays! Very nice. Yes, there are nasty characters and nasty, evil things that Marshall talks about. Some of it for shock value, but some of it simply because he is willing to go deeper than most artists are to unravel his perspective on human nature. Great comment, thanks! Payjturner: I have Relapse, and though his skills are obviously present, I found the album to be a disappointment overall. I couldnt have been more excited for it, but I was hoping for a more grown up album with stories rather than punchlines. And some of the darker stuff on there, most notably Sick in the Head, was just to much for this point in his career in my opinion. Having said that, the good songs are definitely there and I am very much looking forward to Relapse 2 which should be out early next year and cover the more introspective side to his storytelling. 70 Larry November 24, 2009 at 10:57 am Totally agree, the little mans a genius. An angry genius, but hey, that goes with the territory sometimes. Interesting, too, that this appears precisely on a day when on my site features a similar article on the genius of lyrics in certain music (mine was up first, by the way). On the same page as CB once again. For more, try Waiting in the Weeds by Don Henley of the Eagles, on the Eagles 2-year old latest CD. Other end of the spectrum from Eminem its good to diversify but the precise same thing happens: the use of allegory, analogy and the pure artistry of the language is stunning. Henley is the Eminem of his genre. Music can be a writers greatest tool, even if they cant carry a tune. 71 Allen November 24, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Great Post Sean!!!!! Im new to the Blogzone so my first entry will be a comment. I dont like rap music but I love Eminem. Like you I had no real knowledge of him or his work except that he had received some bad press. Not about his work but his attitude. I listened to the rhythm and the rhyme which is usually how I decide if I want to like a song and decided to go on to the lyrics. After that I was completely hooked. His approach to all the elements you mentioned was pure genius. I couldnt wait to hear more and I really looked forward to 8 Mile. I am amazed at the response your blog received. Is this typical or has everyone been waiting to sing his praise? Thanks for drawing me in and drawing me out! 72 Kool Aid November 24, 2009 at 12:30 pm Hey Sean, Leave it to a breakdown of Eminem from you to bring me over to Copyblogger (and Im totally not surprised at your choice of topic). Eminem always manages to make it onto my ipod, no matter what mix Im making because hes just so addicting. Im sure the infectious music and rhythm is a big part of that, but I always find myself rapping right along with him, listening to his story. Great, now you got me listening to Eminem but I have to keep it on the down-low because the kids are around. 73 Sean Platt November 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm Larry: I love Don Henley, though I havent listened to him in years. This is super nerdy I realize, but one of my favorite albums when I was ten was I Cant Stand Still. I loved Them and Us a lot, among all the others. I really like the line in one of the songs off the album, though my memorys failing me at the moment: Theres three sides to every story; yours, mine and the cold hard truth. From the same era, I also love the way Jackson Browne writes and, of course, Springsteen. Allen: Im with you, and I saw 8 Mile on opening day first showing, even took my old man who Id already converted. As far as the response to this post, that has little to do with me and a lot to do with Copyblogger. I spent an hour or two on the post, but this sites spent 4 years sharpening its reputation. One thing I am surprised about as far as the response though, is the lack of controversy. No ones saying, Yeah, but which I fully expected. 74 Camille November 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm

HALLELUJIAH! I have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for Eminem for all the reasons you listed, and it is SO nice to hear another writer acknowledge them especially a former critic. Thank you! 75 Sean Platt November 24, 2009 at 12:55 pm Kool Aid: Heya there, sorry I missed you! Yeah, the songs I listen to regularly I know all the words and, for the most part, can keep time with him though I admit my flow would invite about 80 bajillion pounds of rotten tomatoes. This post, and responding to it over the last couple of days, has really made me want to write another rhyme post. In fact, I wrote one yesterday, but it was only for my daughter while I was trying to get her to edit her work. Whenever I can make her laugh its pretty much a gold ticket to get her to tour the What I Want Her to Do Factory. Camille: Seriously, I dont know how any writer could not give the man his due. They may hate everything he stands for, but the dude is a writer. Thanks, Camille. 76 Vincent November 24, 2009 at 5:55 pm Interesting perspective about Eminem. Kudos to your wife on sparking the idea for your article. I just stumbled upon copyblogger today. Consider this useful blog bookmarked. I look forward to more intriguing ideas and points of view from your regular contributors and your readers. 77 CuteMonster November 24, 2009 at 6:00 pm Just to follow up, the marketing aspect of your article has been very helpful. I have been searching for starting point to begin my own marketing efforts. As a blogger striving to be a resource for Dads, you have provided me with a much needed reference to easily comprehend. 78 PageWrite November 24, 2009 at 6:47 pm I love this post, it is such an original way to introduce lessons on writing. 79 Steve Haase November 24, 2009 at 11:01 pm Great post, Sean. The way Eminem crafts his phrases and rhymes unrhymable words is truly awesome. Does he go way over the edge at times? Sure. Is he completely and totally himself in a way that most people are terrified to be? Absolutely. Thats part of his allure, and his success.

Cheers, Steve 80 Chad November 25, 2009 at 2:51 am Youve given me a new respect for Eminem. There was almost none there before, but when you show that there is logic and seriously hard work behind what someone does it has to be noted. Its the same drive and dedication that applies to so many other aspects of life. Nice work. 81 Pavel November 25, 2009 at 5:05 am Eminem is a great man he was able to do what some can not do it ever! Thanks to the author for the article! 82 Sean Platt November 25, 2009 at 9:56 am Elijah: Sorry I missed you earlier. When time allows Ill check out your hip hop copywriter article. And yes, it is always the lyrics and never the bling. Thanks. Vincent: Thanks for bookmarking, Vincent! You cant do better than Copyblogger for copywriting tips, excellent perspective and unlikely parallels. CuteMonster: Thrilled we could help! I think there are probably a lot of us dads who are closet Eminem fans. Best of luck! PageWrite: Thanks! I tried to articulate some long marinating thoughts on an artist I respect and have a somewhat uncomfortable relationship with. Steve: Love it, Steve: Is he completely and totally himself in a way that most people are terrified to be? Well said. Marshall is clearly talking to himself half the time and that is definitely part of the allure. Chad: Thanks, Chad. Yeah, I couldnt argue with anyone who wanted to despise the dude, but strip him of his props for drive and dedication no way. Pavel: My pleasure, Pavel. I am glad you enjoyed it. 83 luke November 25, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Yes, Eminem is truly a unique artist who is able to mock everyone in an intriguing yet funny way. What really surprises me is that we can learn to write and to market the way he does. Great post! Thank you. 84 jacob November 25, 2009 at 8:31 pm hip hop will slowly catch up with its people. you JUST learned this stuff can be done with rap? haha Ems stories are nice. Hip hop is the best vessel for what human beings have and are to offer. Good Looks on the writing tips. 85 MJ Robinson November 26, 2009 at 1:05 am This is an awesome post Sean. These are great sales and marketing tips that can applied to any niche. 86 Mel November 26, 2009 at 4:09 am While hip hop is best appreciated when rapped, you cant take the written part for granted. More than than rhyme and rhythm, the written lyrics reveal the mind of the maker. And this is what Eminem has in abundance. 87 Josephine November 26, 2009 at 11:33 am Any technique that can be used by Eminem is goo with me 88 Sean Platt November 26, 2009 at 11:41 am Luke: Pleasure, Luke. Glad you enjoyed it! Jacob: No, Ive known rap was an excellent medium for storytelling since I first heard the Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right to Party, and the setting for this post starts a decade back, as stated in the first sentence. As far as the best vessel, Id have to disagree. A vessel, yes, absolutely, but with countless other categories of music as well as film, television, novels, speeches, plays and all the other endless mediums which can now include a potent two minute video on YouTube, hip hop is merely A vessel which more often than not, still has some growing up to do. Ha ha

MJ: Thanks MJ. Absolutely what works for selling millions of records can also, if done well, work for SEO services or anything else. Mel: Yep, and it is sometimes the darkest corners which are the most enlightening. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 89 Mel November 27, 2009 at 1:24 am And since were at it, why dont we have a look at Tupacs lyrics? Much has been said about his genious, but my question is, Where is his place against the likes of Eminem, Wu Tang Klan, and KRS1? 90 nushay November 27, 2009 at 4:34 am brilliant work sean..ive been defending rap my whole life and now i can easily say yeah yeah shutup and read this without having to argue and could save my blood from boiling up and vaporizing..the first song i heard from em is kim on my friends computer and i was horrified. but then after about a week i picked up his cd and started listening to his album carefully and i was hooked after the first listen..and i had one thing to say about his song kim=freaking brilliant (after i took in all the lyrics the honesty , kept me wondering why someone else hadnt thought of writing a fantasy tale like this before)..then i got his first album and i came to a conclusion that em is a genius after listening to 97 bonnie and clyde and hw it connects to kim ..ive been an eminem fan since..im a lyricist my self and and i already follow ur first tip..i read anything i can get my hands on and i have about 16 books filled with lyrics.. though i have lots more to learn..and the thing about eminem is ..he has soo much passion and u can feel it in his voice..listen to his song called girls where he lashes out at limp bizkit and if i were limp bizkit i would probably be sitting on my commode crying right now wiping my eyes with toilet paper..and hes very smart..he knows what to say and what to do next..from a very few artists, eminem and tupac have been the best at getting me to think.. and i think thats what art should be all about..if it changes the way i look at things and change me in some kind of way ..the artist has accomplished his mission..its like giving the audience the chance to look at the world with a differnet pair of shades .eminem somehow manages to give me goosebumps..and eveytime i listen to one of his tracks(which i do over and over) i walk away scratching my head after figuring out or hearing something i hadnt heard before..and about relapse..i think it was just an intro to his comeback and he said that he only concentrated on spitting after his writers block but the songs after relapse like the warning and forever are a sign that eminem is back on his tracks ..i started writing this thinking i would be brief but now i cant stop..so ill end with this.. A place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind So much pressure in this life of mine, I cry at times I once contemplated suicide, and woulda tried But when I held that 9, all I could see was my mommas eyes

No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble Not knowin its hard to carry on when no one loves you Picture me inside the misery of poverty No man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived Prayin hard for better days, promise to hold on tupac-gave me goosbumps 91 Sean Platt November 27, 2009 at 10:47 am Mel: I think Tupac was good, and that his death made him an instant legend, and I also believe that there are many phenomenal lyricists and musicians in the world of hip hop. I am by no means an authority, but pressing my ear to the exposure Ive had, there has been no one who has done what Marshall has. Lyrics, music, honesty and dedication while addressing his critics and pushing the envelope. Certainly no one else has done it with his level of success. Nushay: Wonderful comment, Nushay. Thank you for sharing. I agree with you about Relapse. I am very much looking forward to Relapse 2, so I can hear the more introspective Eminem that Ive been waiting for since The Eminem Show. Sure, weve seen it here and there, most notably Id say in When Im Gone, but I dont think Ive heard a classic song since that album eight years ago. Again, thank you for letting yourself go in the comment section. 92 rebecca November 28, 2009 at 1:20 pm Your nose is rather large. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyCEqpMupIc I LOVED Cyrano during those cranky Eminem years. Acceptance sorta takes the wind out of those sails. Perhaps thats why we dont know Cyrano post Roxanne or Eminem post award season. 93 Mona November 28, 2009 at 6:55 pm I have to admit, I also was skeptical of Eminem when he first became popular. I thought his music was trash initially. But a few years later, I too realized how amazing he truly is. Im a huge fan now. I went to VooDoo Fest 2009 in New Orleans just to see him. Flew all the way from Portland, OR. Everything you pointed out is correct. There is much to be learned from his writing, and many other talents. He is, in a word, fearless. I love him. 94 Sean Platt November 29, 2009 at 10:25 am

Rebecca: Yeah, Cyrano is awesome. I covered some of his best insults in a post written here: http://ghostwriterdad.com/cyrano-de-bergerac-the-original-ghostwriter/ Mona: WOW, Mona! Thats dedication! Ive never seen him live, other than a random appearance here or there, already recorded. His fearlessness makes it easier to swallow what might otherwise be impossible. 95 David Walker November 30, 2009 at 2:39 am Sean, Marshall M. needs to pop in and write a line.. The discussion youve generated is amazing because you picked a topic (read person) where people are either on one side or the other and somehow with your post, you have them all nodding their heads in agreement. How lyrical is that? 96 Peter H November 30, 2009 at 9:12 am Great article Sean!! It really did accurately caputure the magnitude of eminems lyrical delivery and intellect. It may be added that not only does he capture the listner with his lyrical genious and increadible ability to tell a story in each individual song- in his albums not only does he battle his world (and those in it) but he battles himself. Something that always caught my attention was the re-occuring battle between eminem and his alter ego slim shady.. (which first made an appearance in the intro of the slim shady ep)!! I really believe it is more intentional than an excuse to be a bad guy or good guy!! It allows him to discuss his deepest feelings and internal conflicts.. I would love to hear your thoughts on the slim shady v eminem battle.. Thanks for a great read!! 97 Brittany at Mommy Words November 30, 2009 at 10:35 am First, this post reminded me that I love music and I can be a mom and put Eminem back on the ipod and just skip it when the kids are around. Perhaps I will create a secret playlist with Eminem and most of the early Chili Peppers and so many others that I love! I, like you, was a very surprised Eminem supporter even though I am usually open to all kinds of music. I expected to find to find the vitriolic passion after hearing of his music. I did not expect the perfection of his lyrics and his total freedom in sharing his life to move me, and they did. I struggle with being concise in my writing and want to spend the time crafting my words so that my message is clear. Like you, I cannot share everything about my family but I

can spend the time to make my own words more powerful. I need to practice what I preach to the kids and keep working to be better. I also need to scrap the fear and know that people will not always like me all the time. I need to write from my heart and Eminem certainly is a shining example of that. Thanks for the post, the great writing, and the reminders. 98 Sean Platt November 30, 2009 at 10:37 am David: Lets start a campaign to get Marshall down here to comment! That would pretty much make my week, maybe even the month. And yeah, I expected some dissent, disagreement or even just a bit of general controversy, but NOPE. I think Im surprised about that more than anything else with this post. Peter: You are right, listening to his internal conflict is rather frightening, but gives it you an ear to the door experience that leaves most other music far behind. Theres a lot of bravado for sure, but theres also a great deal of self hate and, more than anything I feel, self exploration. 99 Sean Platt November 30, 2009 at 10:41 am Hi Brittany, looks like we just crossed one another. I think thats a great lesson that Marshall can teach to anyone willing to pay attention: speak the truth, while being concise and passionate and you WILL develop a following. Dilute your message and try to gather everyone into your fold and, ultimately, you will gather very little. 100 Joellen November 30, 2009 at 1:02 pm Love how you framed, structured and made it so simple. How come simplicity is so elusive? 101 Jennifer McIntyre @atthebluebarn November 30, 2009 at 1:11 pm Loved this article wasnt expecting it from you a lot like you were not expecting to appreciate Eminem. I wish for a brief moment in time that one of my sons could possess the talent he has. . I would have such amazing admiration for them! Thank YOU for giving me a great article/blog post to read! Jennifer 102 affiliate marketing management December 1, 2009 at 8:31 am Who would have thought that Eminem could teach us a thing or two about blogging?

I love the guy too, my brother and I actually. He first listened to his music after his movie came out around 2002. His music specially the first album has inspired people not just to sing their hearts out but to be honest with themselves too. 103 Rita December 1, 2009 at 8:59 am Sean, What an elucidating job you did on addressing the raw talents and what one can learn from Eminem. Having had children (old enough for the CD) I heard the Eminem CD non-stop for months. I know every word and backstory. What I find difficult to reconcile with Mr. Mathers body of work is that, like any art form, one can appreciate the talents of the artist without liking what one is hearing/seeing, etcThe talent is certainly there, but I cant stand the art-form in which he chose to express it. I say yuck to his body of work for one reason only: I cant stand listening to it. I find it grating to my ears and assaulting to my (very low standards, normally) of decency. 104 Sean Platt December 1, 2009 at 10:01 am Joellen: Because as humans we take great pleasure in overcomplicating things. I myself am often guilty. : ) Jennifer McIntyre: My pleasure, Jennifer. Perhaps your son does have the talent, its just lying in a different direction. Dig it up and get out the fossil brush! Rita: Yeah, Ive no problem with the genre. I love a lot of his beats and when he puts it with such powerful language, well, its one of the first things Ill put on when I have the house to myself and Im not writing (a complete rarity to begin with!). There are always songs on his CDs that I dont care for, and at least a couple that I find unlistenable, but iTunes makes it easy to ignore those forever. The good ones, for me, stay in me head and rattle around all the live long day. 105 Ina December 1, 2009 at 12:06 pm I didnt like Stan cause it was too corny but I do remember I thought, wow, thats nice of him to tell the kids: hey I am just talking here, dont actually kill your teachers, please dawg! Otherwise I guess I never payed too much attention to either him or his music. Will go back and give it a try. Thanks for the surprise: ) 106 Joven December 1, 2009 at 12:45 pm

no wonder Eminem became a hit recording artist his artistry encompasses a lot thanks for sharing all these things Sean:) 107 Nacie Carson December 1, 2009 at 1:50 pm This might be one of my favorite posts of the year across any blog. Ive always been an Eminem fan for exactly the reasons you articulated. Hes a storyteller and an extremely effective communicator of emotion. While I dont always agree with his terminology, stance on an issue, or ideas, I have always appreciated his ability to use words as tools, which as writers is what we are all aspiring to do ourselves. Thanks for sharing 108 Brian Clark December 1, 2009 at 6:23 pm Sean, The Eminem Show is also my choice for Marshalls best work by far. I can tell you song by song why that is, but Id love to hear what you think about the album overall. Slim to Marshall to Eminem in 3 albums doesnt seem to be a coincidence. But then again, nothing Marshall does is by accident. 109 Sean Platt December 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm Ina: Id have to say on Stan, Marshall managed to take something that COULD have been corny and made it rather chilling instead. When I first heard that song, I heard an artist looking an uncomfortable situation in the eye without flinching. Im glad you enjoyed the post. Joven: My pleasure, Joven. Glad you liked it! Nacie: Wow, Nacie. Thank you! That is high, high praise indeed. I too dont always agree with what Marshall says, but I am glad there is someone willing to be so raw and honest. He uses words as tools better than most writers and I believe anyone who slings syllables for a living could learn a lot. Thanks for the compliment, really. Brian: Wow, I took my dad to a taping of Jeopardy for his birthday today and came home to a Copyblogger post on 50 Cent and an invitation to pontificate on the merits of The Eminem Show. Cool. Ill be back! 110 Sean Platt December 1, 2009 at 8:44 pm Hiya Brian,

Seriously, ever since that post dropped last week, Ive thought about all the things I didnt say. Its also prompted me to listen to a lot of Eminem this past few days. For those of you following the comments, I hope you enjoy the following verbal diarrhea. :) ____ The Eminem Show is not only my personal favorite but I think its his best work by far as well. I think thats why Ive been so disappointed with everything since. I thought Marshall Mathers was better than Slim, and the Eminem Show better even still. I am still hoping it wasnt his peak. The Eminem Show was the first of his records I anticipated prior to its release. The two before I embraced only after the fact. By the time the third record was released, I was willing to stand in line and wasnt disappointed. There are songs on that album that are devastatingly good. The album as a whole is impossibly confident and Marshall isnt just at the top of his game, but by that point in his career he knew there was a large population hanging on his every word and its evident in nearly every other track. Lets see, Ill pick five songs to go off on. Cleaning Out My Closet: What could I possibly say about this song? Probably more than any other track, this is the one I think of when I think about Em. There are DEVASTATING lines in this song. Enough so that Id gladly call it a masterpiece a compliment that I think is handed out way too often. First off, the dude works Munchausens Syndrome naturally into a song, which is impressive, but he also ends the song with this: your gettin older now and its cold when your lonely, and Nathans growing up so quick, hes gonna know that your phoney, and Hailies getting so big now, you should see her, shes beautiful, but youll never see her, she wont even be at your funeral, see what hurts me the most is you wont admit you was wrong, bitch, do your song, keep tellin yourself that you was a mom, but how dare you try to take what you didnt help me to get, you selfish bitch, I hope you $@%ing burn in hell for this $@&, remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me, well guess what, I am dead, dead to you as can be And it isnt just the words its the inflection. Not only does Marshall prove his chops as a writer, he brings it as an actor as well. His tonal changes are unbelievable. Every MA! sounding like an accusation. Fierce and unforgettable. Hallies Song: I love this song. I know this one gets hated on a bit, but I see it as tender and wonderfully simple. The music is a basic track that anyone with Garageband might be able to do. He starts out singing, clearly looking for notes that arent there and barely caring, then slips into his usual rhythm by songs end.

I love this part: Now look, I love my daughter more than life in itself, but I got a wife thats determined to make my life livin hell, but I handle it well, given the circumstances Im dealt. So many chances, man, its too bad, coulda had someone else. But the years that Ive wasted are nothing to the tears that Ive tasted. So heres what Im facin: 3 felonies, 6 years of probation. Ive went to jail for this woman, Ive been to bat for this woman. Ive taken bats to peoples backs, bent over backwards for this woman And yes, I used the word tender to describe a song that also has lines about pummeling people with baseball bats. But hey, thats Marshall for you! White America: He deals with his race in this song better than in any other. Straight out the tube, right into your living room I came, and kids flipped when they knew I was produced by Dre, thats all it took, and they were instantly hooked right in, and they connected with me too because I looked like them, thats why they put my lyrics up under this microscope, searchin with a fine tooth comb, its like this rope, waitin to choke, tightening around my throat, watching me while I write this, like I dont 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 Im catchin the flack from these activists when they raggin, actin like Im the first rapper to smack a bitch, or say faggot, $^#*, just look at me like Im your closest pal, the posterchild, the #*(&%#& spokesman now for Without Me: This one just for sheer writing and delivery. He doesnt say anything overly amazing, but what he does say he says with more rhythm than most humans can hope for in a lifetime: A visionary, vision of scary. Could start a revolution, pollutin the airwaves a rebel, so just let me revel and bask in the fact that I got everyone kissin my ass {*smak*} And its a disaster, such a catastrophe for you to see so damn much of my ass; you asked for me? Well Im back, na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na (*bzzt*) Fix your bent antenna tune it in and then Im gonna enter in, endin up under your skin like a splinter. The center of attention, back for the winter. Im interesting, the best thing since wrestling, infesting in your kids ears and nesting {*bzzt*} Testing, attention please. Feel the tension, soon as someone mentions me. Heres my ten cents, my two cents is free. A nuisance, who sent? You sent for me? WOW. Sing for the Moment: Another one where hes looking right in the eyes of his fans, but not the ones like you or me who are far removed from his reality, but rather those who are actually laying on the same filthy mattress where he once was:

Yet everybody just feels like they can relate, I guess words are a (*#(&$(#) they can be great. Or they can degrade, or even worse they can teach hate. Its like these kids hang on every single statement we make. Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum. Now how the #(*)# did this metamorphosis happen? From standin on corners and porches just rapin, to havin a fortune, no more kissin ass. But then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you, fans turn on you, attorneys all want a turn at you. To get they hands on every dime you have, they want you to lose your mind every time you mad There are of course other songs with standout lines. There are parts of Business and Till I Collapse that are crazy good. Im sure Im forgetting something or leaving something out entirely. In short, and yes I realize theres nothing short about this comment, Eminem brought his best to the studio for this record. He was asking bold questions and picking fights with birds with more meat on their bones. Unfortunately, it also seems like he was setting himself up for something he hasnt been able to deliver since. Im looking forward to Relapse 2 or the Refill or whatever its called. I believe he still has it in him. 111 Ina December 2, 2009 at 5:20 am @Sean Maybe my cornyness threshold limit value is lower than other peoples 112 Sean Platt December 2, 2009 at 11:47 am Ina: Ha, fair enough. : > ) 113 I Already Tried It December 8, 2009 at 3:04 pm Sean: A seriously brilliant take on Eminem. I too was less than thrilled with him until I actually listened to his lyrics, then I was, awed(?), floored(?), stunned(?), astounded(?). He really does have an unbelievable knack for creating a feeling, developing a story, and making the listener rethink what they thought they knew. 114 Andrew Davis December 9, 2009 at 8:02 pm Hmmmm, i like this article and I dont like this article. I like it because you cover some important parts of blogging and Marketing and relating it to Eminem is a great way for the comparisons BUT it feels forced to me. What you have put here can be related to any rapper and I think there are better issues and more relevant issues you could have used for Eminem.

Also, Eminem is an incrdiblee rapper and his 1st 2 albums are classics but the reason he managed to do the marketing and contrevisal stuff was because he was cosigned by the most respected rapper of all time, Dr Dre. If you listen to Eminems 1st album Infinate, he was not that contrevisal, he was not experimenting that much with beats and it hardly sold. He tried to put himself out there but was always getting pushed back until he came 2nd in a rap battle and an intern told Dre about him. If any rapper put himself out there the most before getting signed it was 50Cent. Like i said before, good read, good principles but not sure if the connection with Eminem was strong enough. However, it is a good headline 115 Sean Platt December 10, 2009 at 4:52 pm I already tried it: true, if it was just amazing rhymes and tireless work, Eminem wouldnt have blown up nearly as big, I believe. It was that he had a story and was obviously so human, for better of worse, that helped him connect to so many people. Andrew: Ive gotta disagree. Not only was it not forced, it was an easy parallel to draw. And there are plenty of rappers that could never gain these comparisons because their art is sub par. Im not even saying that Marshall is the best, Im just saying that many musicians from every type of backbeat have bottom rung players. As far as Em only making it because of Dre., again I have to disagree. He got the good Dr.s attention because of the freestyle, but it was HIM on the freestyle, not Dre. Whos to say he wouldnt have found another mentor or made it on his own somehow? Infinite is basic compared to his later albums, sure, but its pretty amazing for being not much more than a drum machine and wisecracking personality saturated in obvious sorrow. It wasnt that he needed Dre., he needed studio time and money. The Beatles couldnt have made Rubber Soul without making Meet the Beatles first. Copyblogger never runs a bad headline, but the content on this puppy is every bit as good as the promise. Im glad you enjoyed the read. : ) 116 Kevin @ SuperSmartEbook December 28, 2009 at 2:01 am this is a great post for the coming 2010! I now a big believer, building a business is a process and I think many people fall into the internet marketing hole because of the hype and pitch thrown at them, quick cash, rich quick, $100,000 in a month, etc. Eminem has shown that from where he was to where he is now, its a PROCESS and it aint easy! All the best for 2010 everyone!

117 haber53 December 28, 2009 at 12:12 pm I think many people fall into the internet marketing hole because of the hype and pitch thrown at them, quick cash, rich quick, $100,000 in a month, etc. 118 Carey Van Wagoner December 28, 2009 at 1:07 pm My husband and I watched Eminems movie 8 mile 7 times after reading this. Thanks for a thought provoking post. 119 Lesley Riley December 29, 2009 at 7:23 pm Im a 57 year old middle-to-upper middle class white former soccer mom of 6 kids who thought i was crazy to latch on to him. I have been praising Eminem since I first heard Lose Yourself and was moved to watch, then buy 8 Mile. The guys a genius. I have always seen him as a true artist, nothing more. You have captured and explained exactly why I feel this way. 120 Vince Williams December 30, 2009 at 9:26 pm Gag me with a shovel. As the ruthless twit himself said, I wont become as dumb as some and succumb to scum. 121 Sean Platt January 4, 2010 at 10:53 am Kevin: Well said, Kevin. Empty hype is a giant hole. The beauty, and success, both lie in the process. Happy New Year to you! Carey: My pleasure. And man alive! Ive not even seen 8 Mile 7 times. Thanks for the compliment! Lesley: No doubt, the dude is a genius. Im glad my wife encouraged me to catch that ball early. And good on you for catching it as well. Happy New Year! Vince: So I take it youre not a Marshall Fan? 122 Vince Williams January 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm

Sean, whatever talent Mathers may have, hes a vile, despicable human being, like so many of the more successful rappers. Its disgusting to see him lauded this way, which gives him a legitimacy he doesnt deserve. His Mariah Carey dis says it all. Hes a lowlife. 123 Sean Platt January 5, 2010 at 11:04 am I do hear you, Vince. And I understand where youre coming from, but life isnt that black and white. Hes not being rewarded for being vile, hes being recognized for some rather undeniable brilliance. History if filled with great men who have done horrible things. The difference with Marshall is that he is so obviously public with his. Im of the mind that good learning can come from anywhere, and Marshalls taught me a lot. 124 Vince Williams January 5, 2010 at 12:49 pm Well, Sean, Id say hes taught you the wrong things. Mathers has misdirected his skills, such as they are hes doing a minstrel show, playing in blackface for The Man, and his persona is an insulting caricature. Did I say hes also a shameless opportunist? As Seth Colter Walls so eloquently put it: Is there a threaten to murder someone button over at Universal Music Groupthe owner of Interscope that gets pushed whenever Slim Shady fails to move a million units in the first week? Im not going to split rhetorical hairs to argue my point, so Ill refer you to Matt Taibbis essay, The Imus Sanction, in Rolling Stone. I especially liked this bit: Satan himself couldnt have designed a more effective vehicle for marginalizing black culture than modern hip-hop. Once again, white corporate honky man has co-opted black culture. God, how I wish Malcom X would rise from the grave and kick some ass.

125 Rick January 10, 2010 at 11:05 am Just like what Eminem said; Guess theres a Slim Shady in all of us. 126 Sean Platt January 14, 2010 at 1:58 pm Vince: Hi Vince, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I have to disagree about Marshall doing a minstrel show. This might be true if he grew up in the suburbs or something. But he didnt. He went to an all black school in an all black neighborhood, while living in an all black trailer park. Its not caricature if its swimming in the molecules around you. I wouldnt disagree that hes a shameless opportunist, but I dont think that negates what he does have to teach. I believe good lessons can come from everywhere. Coal mines may be filthy, but they also help to power our lives. I agree with you about modern hip-hop marginalizing black culture. Two thumbs up, righty-o. But that argument does nothing to to dim Ems remarkable skill with language, or the tireless work ethic that put him at the top. Rick: Maybe most of us. : ) 127 zuri January 14, 2010 at 7:49 pm What an artistic way of expressing your points, I could say its remarkable, you drive a strong points by comparing Eminem to the art of writing.I would admit that I was never a fan of Eminem, I find his songs so offensive and full of rage, but because of this post I realized that I did have a lot of prejudice regarding his songs/lyrics, and sad to say I didnt even listened to the whole album before drawing out my conclusion. Now, Im planning to buy one of his albums. I do thank you for pointing out very important and helpful tips on how to improve my writings, and especially in terms of marketing. 128 Freelance Writing January 18, 2010 at 12:29 pm Not only can Eminem craft a compelling argument in prose, he can also structure it in a way that would dazzle Dr. Seuss, not only by rhyming words that shouldnt rhyme, but by packing more poetry into a verse than should be technically possible.

Thats why Eminem became a hit recording artist because of his talent. 129 joan January 19, 2010 at 2:09 pm He writes good and meaningful song. Its obvious hes a good writer. 130 nucklord January 19, 2010 at 11:19 pm Sean, Wow. I stumbled on copyblogger.com through a Google search on co-registration, of all things. I was reading the post made by Brian Clark titled How Co-Registration Can Build Your Fan Club Fast when I saw the title of this post here and thought I wasnt reading it right. I clicked on it, read the post, then all the comments, and as they say, the rest is history. What a perfect parallel you have drawn with this post. I cant say anything that hasnt been said already by someone above me, but man this was inspiring. Thank you very much for giving me renewed motivation to persevere in succeeding in my IM business. Eminem truly is a genius, and I am so happy to not be the only one who thinks so. 131 Paul Carter Jr. January 24, 2010 at 5:27 pm Nicely done! The dissection of Em. This article truly inspired to thinking differently about writing. Inspiration is the wind of life, you never know where it might come from! (smile) With a mind opened to the new, here I am, absorbing my sponge with new liquids. This article will prove to be life changing for me. How specifically? (Smile) I wont flood this article comment with those thoughts here, not the place, obviously. That will be an article coming soon from me. Back to the article, it is important to dissect many successful fruits today! There is so much to learn from that which many dont see. Committing to the craft of writing requires Doing The Knowledge and plenty of reading and learning to keep up which is only for the passionate. Thanks for the article today!! I owe you much! http://twitter.com/paulcarterjr 132 Shawn Punch February 1, 2010 at 8:41 pm

Very cool article man. 133 Vivian Clement February 4, 2010 at 2:41 pm Thanks for the great article. I also am a songwriter and find that there is definitely a parallel between great songwriting and great writing. I can sense from this article that you really got the essense of what Em is about and that is exactly what great writing is suppose to do. It inspires you to think and then act which is what your article did for me. I went and wrote a song! Thanks for the inspiration. Vivian Clement 134 Nicholas February 22, 2010 at 7:21 am As a teenager I grew up listening to lots of hip hop by artists such as Run DMC, LL Cool J, Snoop and Dr Dre, and was pleasantly surprised when the phenomenon that was Eminem appeared on the scene. As a father, and having worked with young people who embrace much of what many of these artists communicate as values for living, though I wouldnt endorse much of what Eminem spits (raps about), its fair to say that hes a lyrical genius, who has worked tirelessly at mastering his craft. If that same diligence were to be applied by many of the young people who listen to his music, theyd go a long way. Good post by the way! 135 enggirl February 26, 2010 at 2:34 pm Theres a lot you can learn from artists like Eminem, 50 cent, lil wayne, Jay Z, etc. Hard work, determination, positive attitude toward improving their craft, being addicted to success as 50 pointed out once. They are true inspirations to me! 136 Truth Guru February 28, 2010 at 10:32 pm While pursuing truth Mastery revealed, eyes now open, wisdom gained. ;-} 137 patrick March 2, 2010 at 9:43 am Hey now that you have mentioned this, I will try and listen to him more because I am one of the guys who has dismissed him for years. That changed when I saw on TV, just last

week, the film 8 Mile (2002).I liked him. So much for judging a book by the cover 138 Andres Garcia March 16, 2010 at 9:48 pm One of the best ever!! If I were to die murdered in cold blood tomorrow Would you feel sorrow or show love Or would it matter Can never be the lead-off batter of things Shit for me to feed off Im see-saw battling But theres way too much at stake for me to be fake Theres too much on my plate And I came way too far in this game to turn and walk away And not say what I got to say What the fuck you take me for? a joke? you smoking crack? Before I do that, I beg Mariah to take me back I get up for I get down, run myself in the ground, for I put some wack shit out Im trying-a smack this one out the park, five-thousand mark You all steady trying to drown the shark Aint gonna do nothing but piss me off Lid to the can of whoop ass, just twist me off See me leap out, pull the piece out, fuck shooting Im just trying to knock his teeth out Fuck with me now, bitch, lets see you freestyle Talk is cheap, motherfucker if youre really feeling froggish, leap Youre slim, youre gonna let him get away with that? He tried to play you, you cant let him scape with that Man I hate this crap, this aint rap, This is crazy the way we act When we confuse hip-hop with real life when the music stops 139 Susie March 23, 2010 at 10:24 am This is a fantastic piece of writing, I knew Eminem was hilarious and talented I had just never realised how this applied to me and my writing. Thanks! 140 Paul Carter Jr. March 23, 2010 at 2:53 pm By the way, the title of this article was a well written title, dont you think? Congrats! (smiles)

141 Caleb M March 27, 2010 at 11:23 am Sean even though Im many months late I still need to thank you so much for putting Marshalls art out there for observation. As an Em fan from day 1 you have to defend the man like non other, its always been an uphill fight trying to get people to look past the content and stare at the concepts. Once people get past that their instantly hooked. Its funny how so much has changed in the last couple of years esp. during his hiatus. I keep thinking about how the Eminem Show was him demanding respect from his peers and critics and wanting to be placed on the same pedestal as the Jay zs, Nas Biggie and Tupac. Despite all his success and riches the one thing he wanted more than any of that was recognition which he conceded he would never get on songs like Till I Collapse and more so his verse on were back. Now years later, ever y rapper coming up looks to him as their idol, critics place him atop every top 5 mcs list and there is a general high regard for him as a legend. Leave a Comment Name * E-mail * Website

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