The Tassoni Defensive: Eminem, Murder is not a joke!

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Eminem, Murder is not a joke!

This past Friday, Eminem released his eleventh studio album. At almost 50 years old, the Detroit-based rapper has continued to be prominent in today's hip-hop culture. Eminem has been known for his truthful lyrics based on his past experiences as well as his ability to roast his haters through his music. He is a great example of using music entertainment to convey free speech.

The new album, labeled Music To Be Murdered By, has gained lots of attention this week, but some think Eminem may have stepped out of line. In the track Unaccommodating, the controversial rapper sang the following:

"But I'm contemplating yelling 'Bombs away' on the game/Like I'm outside of an Ariana Grande concert waiting."

In May of 2017, a suicide bomber killed twenty-three people and left 139 people injured during an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK and it shocked the world, so it is understandable why people would lash out and object Eminem's use of words.

In response, Eminem decided to release a letter on his social media to show his way of thinking and reasoning for his choice of lyrics. He says:

"For the victims of this album, may you rest peacefully. For the rest of you, please listen more closely next time. Goodnight!"

To sum it up, Eminem told his haters that if you don't like his music, you don't have to listen to it. And I agree with him. This is his music and his choice to express feelings use these words to move people. He has build a high reputation for decades and possesses all the power he needs, so haters deciding to not listen to his music has little to no effect on him.

This is an example of how fame and wealth can distort the ethical line. If an artist with a much smaller fanbase used lyrics like this, they may be shut down by the public and hurt their progress. Because Eminem has built a strong following and has been known for offensive lyrics, this moment doesn't hurt him but actually gains him more press for his album and more fans.

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/music-eminem-issues-statement-to-gentle-listeners-offended-by-new-album-20200123

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About The Blog

These are confusing times. The First Amendment has allowed us for more than two hundred years to speak freely and share ideas without punishment. But the issue today is not whether or not we can speak freely. It is about what we "can" say and what we "cannot" say. People are constantly being called out for things they have said, whether it was today or twenty years ago. Nobody wants to offend or insult anyone, so celebrities and businesses are forced to play it safe and speak in a way that includes everyone. But everyone has haters.

This blog is not about targeting our society as a whole and assuming that we are all offended. The goal is to call out the very small percentage of people that believe that their problems are more important than everyone else's. The goal is to call out the media that tries to make these stories big in order for you to assume that everyone feels this way when really nobody could care less. The goal is to defend those who are being bashed for speaking freely.

Now, I understand that there is a line. This imaginary line represents the ethical view of our society. I believe that the line has been lowered to support others that have been attacked with hate because of their race, sexuality, beliefs, or other values that define them. I do not support this kind of hate and I believe that there are some things that can be but should not be said. This blog is not about defending those kind of offensives but instead, preventing the ethical line from lowering to support the one person that is taking advantage of the system.

If you are unclear, a good example I think of is a stand-up comedy show. Let's say you are at a show watching a comedian tell jokes. You have already bought the tickets and you know that this comedian says a lot of offensive jokes. During the show, the comedian tells a joke about dogs. Everyone laughs, including you because he is a good comedian and knows how to do his jobs. However, you hate dogs because ten years ago, a dog killed your cat and since then, you despise every dog you see. After the show, you go on social media and lash out at this comedian for supporting dogs and that we should all hate him because he hurt you. Now, I don't know your views on dogs, but I could probably assume most people are a fan of dogs. This person had a bad experience and now is very sensitive about this kind of pet. We shouldn't need to sympathize and lower the ethical line to support this one anti-dog person.

But what if the joke wasn't about a dog but instead about suicide? What if you have lost someone to suicide, so making light of this personally offends you? A comedian's job is to make you laugh, and sometimes it can be by any means necessary. The comedian may not always believe in what they say, but you paid money to laugh, so if you are laughing, then what's the problem? This blog will feature articles that are below the ethical line but are supported by a few people who believe that their problems are greater and that we should all give them attention. I am often not offended by anything, but I'd rather care about a problem that we all share. Don't waste my time.

About Nick

Nick is a Senior at High Point University. He is majoring in Strategic Communications as well as minoring in Marketing and Social Media Marketing. He is a brother and active member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He is also the captain for the HPU Bass Fishing Team. Nick grew up in a small coastal town in Maine and enjoyed taking advantage of the outdoors. He played Ice Hockey and Soccer for his High School and was a member of the FCA. After College, Nick plans on securing a career in marketing in Philadelphia.

The Tassoni Defensive

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Eminem, Murder is not a joke!

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