Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, was featured on Sunday’s “60 Minutes,” a major show in the U.S, to discuss his upbringing and the rapper’s return to the top of the music charts.
At 37 years old and sober, journalist Anderson Cooper said that Eminem had the determination and energy of a fighter, who was out to achieve one thing. Eminem said that this one thing was respect. “I felt like a fighter coming back,” he said.
Interviewed in his hometown, Detroit, the rapper showed viewers places of importance such as the local underground clubs where the rapper used to battle with rhymes. “I started to feel like maybe Marshall’s getting a little respect.”
Eminem said his motivation for his lyrics were partly fueled by the doubts of other people. “And there was also the fact of the no-getting-away-from fact that I am white and this is predominantly black music. And people telling me you don’t belong. Like you’re not going to succeed because you are this color. Then you want to show those people that you can and will.”
The rapper, who had been called a misogynist and homophobe, explained the reason why he though people saw him in this way. “I felt like I was being attacked,” he said. “I was being singled out. I felt like, ‘Is it because of the color of my skin? Is it because of that, you’re paying more attention?’ There are certain rappers that do and say the same things that I’m saying and I don’t hear no one say anything about that.”
Eminem has won 11 Grammys and one Oscar. The rapper has not only the talent to prove his success but the experiences of an extraordinary life story to go along with it as well.
Written by Catherine
