The Bridge: Eminem is Elvis«
Thread Started on Dec 30, 2004, 6:51pm »
By Darryl James
Anyone who understands music history knows that Rock & Roll was founded by Blacks. The two most prominent names should be Chuck Berry and Little Richard, yet, they are frequently omitted from lists of Rock founders. The name that always comes up as a “pioneer” is Elvis Presley. In fact, the music world is celebrating the birth of Rock with the anniversary of Elvis’ first record.Watching Eminem’s rise to the head of the Rap music class and witnessing his labeling as a “pioneer” of Rap music, makes me wonder just how many people really know and understand the history of popular music in this country.Anyone with a cursory understanding of music history should realize that Eminem is being groomed as an icon of Rap music.This is an official reminder that history is not always recorded based on the truth.Noted African American journalist Tony Brown outlined three stages of development for popular music in America—Blacks create it, whites hate it, then whites take it.Stage one—Blacks take previously recorded music, and using the break beats, began talking rhythmically over it to create a new art called Rap music.Stage two--From 1979 through the nineties, America disparage and attack Rap music, repeatedly asking when it will go away.Stage three, part one—Beastie Boys—These white b-boys actually have respect for Rap and for Rock, which they eventually get lumped in. Stage three, part, two--Vanilla Ice releases one single based on a popular chant stolen from a Black fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha) Immediately, he is embraced by popular media. Unfortunately for him, he has very little talent. His career hits the bricks when he is discovered to be a fraud in too many areas, and Blacks fail to embrace him and make him “cool.”
Stage three, part three--Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem begins recording and performing in the Midwest’s underground. He gets a little notoriety, but loses his first major emcee battle at the Rap Olympics (held at the 1997 Rap Sheet Conference). Fortunately for him, he is picked up by Dr. Dre and Interscope Records. Eminem is supported by a huge machine (composed of Dr. Dre’s beats and vicarious reputation, along with Interscope’s marketing and promotions machine). The machine takes him to the top of the charts and to media previously hostile to Rap music. Blacks love him and help to make him “cool.”
Eminem is now the hottest artist in Rap music and is being touted as a “pioneer,” while being crowned by some as “The King” of the art form.The Elvis story follows a similar path. The Colonel put Elvis in the mix with what was then called “Race music,” building his notoriety on the backs of Blacks. Elvis rocketed to the top of the art form, and eventually was crowned “The King.”
Remember that today, most of us look at Rock as a white art form, with Elvis as the most visible “pioneer.”
Contemporary Black Rap artists are largely relegated to “Gangsta” rhymes over pedestrian beats. The most stellar of artists from Common and Mos Def to Public Enemy are downplayed as the music scene is “dumbed down” making Eminem appear more talented that he actually is.Why am I pointing this out? Because when I speak out against the icon that Eminem is becoming, more and more Blacks are defending him, touting his amazing lyrical skills (for the record, Eminem is mediocre at best). Not many see an actual danger to the history of Rap music, believing that there is something magical about “our” art form that will prevent it from being co-opted in the same manner as Rock.The problem is that when we fail to record or at least remember what we create, we are still slaves to the system. Quick—who invented the traffic light?I doubt very seriously that Little Richard, Chuck Berry and the other TRUE PIONEERS of Rock sat by in silence when Elvis was being crowned “The King.” To this day, Little Richard takes advantage of every opportunity to express his rage over being written out of Rock’s history. Be honest--do you laugh at him when you see him express his outrage?We didn’t record our history where Rock was concerned and we didn’t even pay attention to the machine when it was creating Elvis’ legacy. How do we know that we didn’t create Country music? I’d like to ask Charlie Pride about that. How do we know that we didn’t create Opera? I’d like to ask Marion Anderson or Leontyne Pryce. How do we know that we didn’t create classical music?If you don’t believe that the machine creates white versions of Black success stories, just ask The Jackson Five about The Osmonds. Or for a more contemporary story, ask Boyz II Men about N Sync, Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees. Previously Boyz II Men was America’s favorite boy group. Now, it’s hard for them to get arrested.This is not to say that there are no pure white artists who come to a style of music created by Blacks and create with respect for the art form and with intrinsic ability. For example, The Beatles still stand today as pioneers in Rock because they penned lyrics and melodies that were so deeply emotive and transcendent of their time that their artistry can not be denied. Teena Marie is so soulful in her artistic presentation, that many new school heads discovering her in live concert are shocked that she is white. Lady T never came to the table with anything other than respect for her art and pure talent. Her whiteness is secondary to her contribution to the art form.On the other hand, Eminem’s entire existence in the music industry is based on the fact that he is a white boy excelling at a Black art. His content is designed to make him a Jimmy Dean of Rap music, and his music is embraced by venues previously unfriendly to Rap music.Simply put, his success is based on his whiteness.The sad part is that Blacks, for the most part, have no idea that he is a purposeful invention, or that his story will become more important than the remainder of the art form’s history.Our minds are enslaved, and accordingly, so is our music and our musical achievements.Will the next generation know who created Rap music? Will they care? Do You?Call me a reverse racist. Call me a complainer. Call me what you want to, but when you go and learn your history, call me and apologize.Eminem is Elvis.
Thread Started on Dec 30, 2004, 6:51pm »
By Darryl James
Anyone who understands music history knows that Rock & Roll was founded by Blacks. The two most prominent names should be Chuck Berry and Little Richard, yet, they are frequently omitted from lists of Rock founders. The name that always comes up as a “pioneer” is Elvis Presley. In fact, the music world is celebrating the birth of Rock with the anniversary of Elvis’ first record.Watching Eminem’s rise to the head of the Rap music class and witnessing his labeling as a “pioneer” of Rap music, makes me wonder just how many people really know and understand the history of popular music in this country.Anyone with a cursory understanding of music history should realize that Eminem is being groomed as an icon of Rap music.This is an official reminder that history is not always recorded based on the truth.Noted African American journalist Tony Brown outlined three stages of development for popular music in America—Blacks create it, whites hate it, then whites take it.Stage one—Blacks take previously recorded music, and using the break beats, began talking rhythmically over it to create a new art called Rap music.Stage two--From 1979 through the nineties, America disparage and attack Rap music, repeatedly asking when it will go away.Stage three, part one—Beastie Boys—These white b-boys actually have respect for Rap and for Rock, which they eventually get lumped in. Stage three, part, two--Vanilla Ice releases one single based on a popular chant stolen from a Black fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha) Immediately, he is embraced by popular media. Unfortunately for him, he has very little talent. His career hits the bricks when he is discovered to be a fraud in too many areas, and Blacks fail to embrace him and make him “cool.”
Stage three, part three--Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem begins recording and performing in the Midwest’s underground. He gets a little notoriety, but loses his first major emcee battle at the Rap Olympics (held at the 1997 Rap Sheet Conference). Fortunately for him, he is picked up by Dr. Dre and Interscope Records. Eminem is supported by a huge machine (composed of Dr. Dre’s beats and vicarious reputation, along with Interscope’s marketing and promotions machine). The machine takes him to the top of the charts and to media previously hostile to Rap music. Blacks love him and help to make him “cool.”
Eminem is now the hottest artist in Rap music and is being touted as a “pioneer,” while being crowned by some as “The King” of the art form.The Elvis story follows a similar path. The Colonel put Elvis in the mix with what was then called “Race music,” building his notoriety on the backs of Blacks. Elvis rocketed to the top of the art form, and eventually was crowned “The King.”
Remember that today, most of us look at Rock as a white art form, with Elvis as the most visible “pioneer.”
Contemporary Black Rap artists are largely relegated to “Gangsta” rhymes over pedestrian beats. The most stellar of artists from Common and Mos Def to Public Enemy are downplayed as the music scene is “dumbed down” making Eminem appear more talented that he actually is.Why am I pointing this out? Because when I speak out against the icon that Eminem is becoming, more and more Blacks are defending him, touting his amazing lyrical skills (for the record, Eminem is mediocre at best). Not many see an actual danger to the history of Rap music, believing that there is something magical about “our” art form that will prevent it from being co-opted in the same manner as Rock.The problem is that when we fail to record or at least remember what we create, we are still slaves to the system. Quick—who invented the traffic light?I doubt very seriously that Little Richard, Chuck Berry and the other TRUE PIONEERS of Rock sat by in silence when Elvis was being crowned “The King.” To this day, Little Richard takes advantage of every opportunity to express his rage over being written out of Rock’s history. Be honest--do you laugh at him when you see him express his outrage?We didn’t record our history where Rock was concerned and we didn’t even pay attention to the machine when it was creating Elvis’ legacy. How do we know that we didn’t create Country music? I’d like to ask Charlie Pride about that. How do we know that we didn’t create Opera? I’d like to ask Marion Anderson or Leontyne Pryce. How do we know that we didn’t create classical music?If you don’t believe that the machine creates white versions of Black success stories, just ask The Jackson Five about The Osmonds. Or for a more contemporary story, ask Boyz II Men about N Sync, Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees. Previously Boyz II Men was America’s favorite boy group. Now, it’s hard for them to get arrested.This is not to say that there are no pure white artists who come to a style of music created by Blacks and create with respect for the art form and with intrinsic ability. For example, The Beatles still stand today as pioneers in Rock because they penned lyrics and melodies that were so deeply emotive and transcendent of their time that their artistry can not be denied. Teena Marie is so soulful in her artistic presentation, that many new school heads discovering her in live concert are shocked that she is white. Lady T never came to the table with anything other than respect for her art and pure talent. Her whiteness is secondary to her contribution to the art form.On the other hand, Eminem’s entire existence in the music industry is based on the fact that he is a white boy excelling at a Black art. His content is designed to make him a Jimmy Dean of Rap music, and his music is embraced by venues previously unfriendly to Rap music.Simply put, his success is based on his whiteness.The sad part is that Blacks, for the most part, have no idea that he is a purposeful invention, or that his story will become more important than the remainder of the art form’s history.Our minds are enslaved, and accordingly, so is our music and our musical achievements.Will the next generation know who created Rap music? Will they care? Do You?Call me a reverse racist. Call me a complainer. Call me what you want to, but when you go and learn your history, call me and apologize.Eminem is Elvis.
3 comments:
Hey wow ..how did you got your site that wide? Great ..but it's killing your article format a bit..and it's worth the reading right!?\cool stuff anyway,thnx
NBD
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Great article! It really sends a message to many who don't realize how the media tends to forget significant artists who paved the way for the now well known musicians. My only question is that you think Eminem is mediocre at best? I would easily consider him top 6 all time, among Biggie, Tupac, Big L, Nas, and Jayz. Your tone on Em is a bit harsh. His music is really deep my brother. It goes beyond lyrical content, beyond emotional barriers.. AND so what if he's white!
Couldn't agree more. I have to defend rap from Eminem all too often in conversations with my friends, and, yes, I'm also always insisting that he is as mediocre a lyricist as you get. It's not like he's terrible, but God knows he deserves half the respect he's accrued. In a hundred years Tupac and B.I.G. will likely be cliff notes in the white co-opted retelling of the art form's rise. Damn shame.
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