Eminem, the rapper, utilizes lyrics in his songs to convey his distinct outlook on life and communicate his varied experiences. This essay will examine the significant themes found in Eminem’s songs and evaluate how he effectively communicates them to the audience through language techniques and overall language usage. Furthermore, it will delve into the importance of these themes within Eminem’s personal context.
One recurring theme in Eminem’s songs is poverty, which reflects his personal experiences of growing up in impoverished conditions. He often alludes to his past and the difficult circumstances he encountered, including residing in a trailer park, being raised in a destitute suburb, and working low-wage jobs. The tracks “Cleaning out my closet” and “Mockingbird” both address the topic of poverty. In “Cleaning out my closet,” he candidly expresses his strained relationship with his mother and his difficulty forgiving her for the mistreatment he endured during his youth.
By employing language techniques such as the assonance “commotion emotion run deep as oceans exploding,” Eminem establishes a sorrowful atmosphere in the song. The metaphorical title of the song represents Eminem’s act of decluttering his emotional baggage by means of his music. Eminem alludes to actual events from his childhood throughout the song, like his experiences in public housing systems, and his use of slang terms like “bitchin” exemplifies the context in which Eminem operates.
In the track “Mockingbird,” which is dedicated to Eminem’s daughters, poverty is once again mentioned. The song’s title, “Mockingbird,” holds significant meaning as it directly references the children’s lullaby, “hush little baby.” The purpose of this song is to provide comfort to his daughters, similar to how a lullaby does. Just like in the lullaby, Eminem expresses his willingness to give anything to his daughters as proof of his love for them. He says, “Ima give you the world, ima buy a diamond ring for you, ima sing for you, I’ll do anything to see you smile.”
In the second verse of the song, Eminem mentions poverty and recounts a past Christmas when he couldn’t afford presents for his daughter Hallie. He recalls how his mom wrapped the gifts and said some weren’t from him because he couldn’t buy them. He also talks about living in a dangerous neighborhood where their houses were frequently broken into or targeted for violence. The lyrics use assonance to create a somber mood. Towards the end of the song “Mockingbird,” Eminem reflects on how entering the music industry completely transformed his life. Other songs that mention the music industry include “Stan,” “Cleaning out my closet,” “Toy soldiers,” and, as previously mentioned, “Mockingbird.”
Eminem, despite his break in the music industry, harbors disdain towards it. He expresses frustration about being separated from his family through lyrics like “Daddy’s always on the move,” “you started seeing Daddy on TV,” and “Papa was a rolling stone.” Additionally, he believes that the industry now prioritizes violence and danger over music. There was a time when one could freely rhyme without fearing for their loved ones’ lives. Moreover, Eminem feels that he is hated by some people for no reason since becoming famous. He states, “The owners of it have a grudge against me for nothing.” Interestingly enough, he holds a similar level of contempt towards his fans. He remarks how even someone as insignificant as a receptionist at The Source has an obsession with him and thinks that he will be their salvation. One of his songs called “Stan” depicts the story of an overly infatuated fan who tragically takes his own life along with his girlfriend’s and unborn child’s after Eminem fails to respond to his fan mail.
Eminem often incorporates mentions of violence into his lyrics, which can be observed in songs such as “Toy soldiers,” “Cleaning out my closet,” and “Mockingbird.” Additionally, the theme of violence is also discussed in the song “Stan.” The acts of violence referenced in his lyrics encompass various aspects including domestic violence, depression, self-harm, and gang wars. It is noteworthy that these examples directly reflect Eminem’s personal experiences. For instance, he acknowledges the wise choice of removing bullets from a gun to avoid potential harm or death to someone else, alluding to an incident involving his wife.
