PAThe rapper Eminem has come under fire for allegedly homophobic lyrics on a track featured on his new album, Kamikaze.
Kamikaze takes a number of shots at other artists and personalities but one lyric in song, The Fall – directed at Tyler the Creator – has sparked outrage online for its homophobic language.
On the track Eminem raps ‘Tyler create nothin’, I see why you called yourself a f****t, b*tch / It’s not just ‘cause you lack attention, it’s ‘cause you worship D12’s balls, you’re sacrilegious.’
it’s never ok to say a word that is filled with hate. I don’t care what year you were born in or what meaning it has to you.
if it contributes to hate and bigotry then it is hateful. period.
there is never an ok time to say the word fa**ot
I don’t care who you are.
— Dan Reynolds (@DanReynolds) August 31, 2018
A number of prominent figures have criticised Eminem’s choice of language, including Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, who took to Twitter to take a stand about homophobic language.
He wrote on Twitter:
It’s never ok to say a word that is filled with hate. I don’t care what year you were born in or what meaning it has to you.
if it contributes to hate and bigotry then it is hateful. period. there is never an ok time to say the word f****t I don’t care who you are. [sic]
While Dan doesn’t call Eminem out by name it seems obvious, based on the timing, his comments are directed at the rapper.
PAThis isn’t the first time Eminem’s been in trouble for using homophobic language. He’s used the same word several times in the past, most notably on The Marshall Mathers LP and the single Rap God.
Eminem has denied being homophobic several times in the past, most notably in 2013 during an interview with Rolling Stone.
When asked why he used the f-word in his songs Eminem explained:
I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times. But that word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words [with homophobia].
It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people.
He went on to say he’s known for talking sh*t about other people, including himself, and explicitly said: ‘the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all’.
Eminem finished:
I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves.
Unfortunately regardless of how Eminem feels about the language he chooses to use it’s undeniable, the f-word is a particularly charged word and by using it in a derogatory manner he perpetuates the idea how being gay is a bad thing.
Judging by the reaction online, it seems most people agree with me on this as well. One fan wrote on Twitter, even though they were a huge Eminem fan they couldn’t believe the language he uses in 2018.
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More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.