I’m sad to say that I missed Anderson Cooper’s interview with Eminem last night on 60 Minutes. First of all – Eminem, clean and sober and thoughtful, on 60 Minutes is kind of awesome. I’ve said this before, but I’ve really begun to respect Eminem lately. His interviews to promote his latest album have shown how interesting and intelligent he is, and how he really does have a maturing and increasingly inclusive world-view. In his New York Times profile, Eminem even came out in support of gay marriage, and he’s given a lot of credit to Elton John for Elton’s help and support in getting clean. At about 8:30 mark on the video below, Anderson challenges Eminem on his lyrics, his language, especially regarding violence, misogyny and homophobia. Eminem lets the word “f-ggot” fly (in front of Anderson!).
On last night’s “60 Minutes,” rapper Eminem had an unlikely interviewer: Anderson Cooper. Basically, the hip-hop star repeated the life story that most people learned (in fictionalized form) by watching “8 Mile” in 2002. Cooper did ask Eminem about his use of anti-gay slurs in his lyrics.
Cooper asked Eminem, who has often been branded a homophobe, why he uses words like “lez” and “f*g” in his lyrics, but seemed to accept this answer: “The scene that I came up in, that word was thrown around so much, you know? F****t was, like, it was thrown around constantly, to each other, like in battling, you know what I mean?”
“But, I mean, do you not like gay people?” Cooper asked.
“No I don’t have any problem with nobody, you know what I mean. Like, I’m just whatever,” Eminem replied.
The rapper also said he doesn’t use profanity “around my house, no. But this is music, this is my art, this is what I do.” And as for the people criticizing his lyrics, he feels he’s “singled out,” he says. Other rappers “do and say the same things that I’m saying. And I don’t hear no one saying anything about that. I didn’t just invent saying offensive things.”
Well… Eminem didn’t really answer the question the best way, honestly. Would I like Em to actually apologize for some of the language he’s used in the past? Sure. But I do understand what he’s basically trying to say – that he was going through a process, that those are the words he heard around him, that he is an artist who is still growing. I’m not defending the use of those words, just that I understand what a journey Em has been through, and how far he’s come.
amazing talent and mind.. Keep going Eminem you are diffently going in the right direction.
I came in about half way through the interview, right before this part- I agree, he could have answered it better. But I can’t say enough how much I LOVE Eminem! I think his journey is incredible. He just keeps growing and trying to understand himself and his past and to own his actions. When he showed Anderson his “notes”, Anderson commented that he had seen lots of criminals in prison with similar style writing/note taking, etc. It was funny. I truly think Em is a genius!
Hmmm…The problem is, the young kids who listen to his music aren’t thinking about his “process” or that he is actually good friends with some gay people. They are taking on the attitudes they hear in his music. They like and internalize the aggression they hear. They copy it. I’m not just talking out of the clouds here, I’ve noticed that there is a lack of critical thinking amongst youth, especially where their musical tastes are concerned, and they really do copy the attitudes/styles of their favourite artists…
“No I don’t have any problem with nobody, you know what I mean. Like, I’m just whatever,” Eminem replied.
Nope Kaiser – he is not as smart as you say he is. In fact, he cannot even string a sentence togehter.
“I mean like, I’m just whatever” – yeah Marshall ….. we know EXACTLY what you mean…..Words of a true philosopher……..
As a lesbian I understand and I don’t get bent about these things or about 50’s men should lick it. There is so much real hate in the world. Scary everyday hate that make me fear for my partner (who would be “butch” in dress) and my children, even myself at times. I don’t feel the need to find it in everything, I would rather put my energy to changing how people see homosexuals by being the best I can.
All that being said I do agree with Mistral, I don’t think that Em’s lyrics are good for youth at all – that is where parenting comes in.
Also, I kind of love Em. 🙂
That interview would have been so much better if he and Anderson had started making out.
Yeah, I’m with Lway here. For a man who makes his living with words, he is severely inarticulate. “Thoughtful” is hardly the word that springs to mind. On the other hand, I am glad to hear he’s apparently more tolerant than his lyrics would suggest.
@6: 😀
And on a second note – does Coop have a different t-shirt?! Most picture I see of him is with the same Fred Perry one.
@mistral Eminem has always said that his music isn’t for kids. Last night AC asked him about kids listening to his music and he said parents should parent.
He’s right. I have his newest CD and I listen to it on my Ipod so my kids can’t hear it.
I loved the interview last night, especially when AC looked at his notes and told him he’d seen crazy people write like that.
I’d rather have Em around than Carl Paladino, one of those Westboro Baptist Church members or Andrew Shirvell, thank you very much.
While Em doesn’t come across as very eloquent here, he’s worked with Sir Reg Dwight, which is a lot more than any of those above mentioned hypocrites would ever do.
I am terribly shy and when I try to talk to certain people in certain situations, I have the vocabulary and sentence structure abilities of a four year old. I believe Eminem suffers the same…
I love AC!! So cool to see him on 60 minutes
I don’t respect Em or think he’s smart or different or even more mature. He’s certainly not articulate or well-spoken — strange for someone who uses words to make a living.
He will not apologize for using those hateful words. Why should he? They made him rich after all.
Plus, he admitted that even though he doesn’t have a problem with “nobody” those words were used when he was growing up. This, too, is a cop out.
His only redeeming quality right now is that he does appear to care for his kids, but still he’s sending them mixed messages, too.
@Other Chris! 🙂 Great response to the article.
It is so cool how much Em has evolved with this new album but he still has a crazy flow. Also his fans can appreciate the more mature and sober him but still listen to him killing old songs and collabs.
He is a great dad and has finally managed to achieve sobriety.
I’m still stunned by the ‘pass’ this guy seems to get. Where is he in this process again? because his last song with Rihanna talks about tying his girlfriend to the bed and setting the house on fire if she ever tried to leave him again.
I’m all for freedom of speech, and I don’t think you love someone if you haven’t wanted to kill them at some point, but at the same time, I don’t plan it out and I certainly don’t memorialize it in song.
This young man is deeply troubled. He needs help. Not to mention the hateful speech that he puts out into the world and the damage that does.
I don’t think anyone is doing him any favors by pretending this is some normal or healthy expression.
I don’t know if he’s smart or not. I actually think it’s irrelevant. It’s like asking if jeffrey dahmer had good table manners.
why is everyone on him about this? hes constantly said he supports gays. he just likes the way certain words work in raps. people need something to hate him about. he doesn’t need to apologize to a gossip blog or anyone else.
the man loves elton john. there is no bigger queen then elton!!
LOL @ wtf. you’re just not getting him i don’t think….he sings to cope. he isn’t going to get any personal relief if he doesn’t say what he needs to say.
I think he’s very intelligent, always has been. I cringe at some of his wife-and-mom-kiling lyrics, but they seem to be just that, lyrics. I do think he does NOT hate gay people, and I certainly recall as a kid the word he mentioned being used for to mean a wuss, not a gay person. I also have to cheer at a former class outcast besting all his old classmates who bullied him.
Nah.
Many writers are not particularly well-spoken, actually–not any better than the average person, that is–and will often say that they seemingly develop a new/different ‘voice’ while writing; one that is entirely different than when they actually talk/converse. Sometimes we call it the voice of our muse, and it is very much like that, sometimes; it’s as if it belongs to someone else. As a writer I completely understand why he can speak so clumsily though he clearly has am admirable vocabulary. I suspect Em is somewhat like this … though I’m not sure what he is is a ‘writer’ per se.
Anyway, I like him. Always have.
me too angel. i <3 him. i love his music.
that interview kinda impressed. The guy is just a cool guy. He was wearing his timex and basic clothes. I hear he even drives a hyundai. I think what always turned me off to rap was the excess. i understand, it’s their money do what you will but it was always so trashy with the breitling watches and their names in the tile in the foyer of their mansions. Then when sean combs bought his 16 year old a maybach Oh Please!
I like him because he’s not a phony. It seems like he is a lot more eloquent through his ‘art’, and one shouldn’t criticize another’s communication lacking when we all have attributes and flaws. His music is not for kids and he’s decreased his use of biased and offensively isolating terms. I think he’s grown as a person; as we all do on our own time in our own terms.
I love him too because he’s real. The younger gen these days, this is what they listen to! I would rather listen to Eminem than all the other rappers! Trust me.
I keep thinking about Ozzy. Can’t stand to hear him in an interview, but a genius with his lyrics.
coming from a family of musicians, some gay. They march to their own drummer.
Still good people.
He tops my Freebie list. Like, so far above everyone else on it, it’s not even funny.
And I agree, his music is not for kids. Parents have a responsibility to control their children’s access until they deem them responsible and capable of making decisions based on their “raisin'” and not what some musician is singing.
Hiphop was probably the only creative outlet he was exposed to. There’s a young african american male scholar with a book out about the negativity and problems of hiphop as an artform. I heard him talking on the radio. The music is not for me, but I appreciate the positive energy it took for MM to transform his reality. As far as the bling, the result of an oppressed people wanting to show that they are now having their time. Why is Vanilla Ice popping up in media?? yuck. is he trying to piggyback on MM???
@WTF
I completely agree with you. And I wish he would stop lamenting about all of his “critics.” He has none. Everyone kisses his ass.
I just lost pounds of respect for Anderson. If Anderson was talking to some dumbshit kid from Kentucky and the kid said “faggot,” Anderson would cut into him like nobody’s business. But this punk says it and Anderson just nods and smiles. I guess even the so-called “provocative, honest” journalists can be bought/persuaded.
Also, why the f***ing hell does Eminem always act like he’s victimized because he’s white??!? He’s allowed to say the things he says BECAUSE he’s white!!! When 50 Cent said “screw guys who don’t eat p***y,” when he was OBVIOUSLY dissing straight guys who refuse to do it because they think it’s gross, he is called a homophobe. But Eminem says faggot nonstop and he’s just given a pass.
And I wish Eminem would stop acting like he’s some sort of creative genius because he scribbles lyrics on wrinkled paper. The idea of the writer writing the first line of a best-seller on a cocktail napkin is an old, tired trope. God I hate this guy.
((Also: I love the comment that his mother made a few years ago. “You know that you’re all worshiping a loser who lived in his mother’s trailer until he was 32, right?”))
I agree, parents should “parent”. BUT—they aren’t managing to do it. Most parents have no clue what their kids listen to.
Even if parents are controlling what the kids have access to at home, kids aren’t just listening to music at home! These songs are all over the Music Vid channels, all over the radio at every time of day, and if they are in school they will hear whatever music and videos they want to hear via their friends’ iPods/MP3 players/phones and on the library computers.
Media literacy is a huge FAIL in our society, and it is a pretty serious question. One that we need to do more to address in our homes and schools and with our broadcasters and all other media content providers…
“((Also: I love the comment that his mother made a few years ago. “You know that you’re all worshiping a loser who lived in his mother’s trailer until he was 32, right?”))”
This just shows how much he’s overcome. What parent calls their child a loser? She didn’t mind suing that “loser” for money when he first made it big. He was able to work through that and offer his kids a better life.
‘I agree, parents should “parent”. BUT—they aren’t managing to do it. Most parents have no clue what their kids listen to.’
You can’t penalize someone b/c people won’t be responsible parents. We’d have to get rid of all movies w/o a G rating, almost all music, most websites.
My son recently stumbled across a sex slang that he’s too young to understand. I don’t blame the website, I blame myself for not paying closer attention and letting him use the computer that doesn’t have parental controls installed.
I agree with everyone above that parents should parent, probably since I don’t have kids I don’t really care. I love Em and this interview was awesome. Thanks for posting!
“This just shows how much he’s overcome. What parent calls their child a loser? She didn’t mind suing that “loser” for money when he first made it big. He was able to work through that and offer his kids a better life.”
You’re giving him too much of a pass. He slept on the couch of her trailer because he was too preoccupied with his rapping career to go out and get a job and support himself. And then as soon as he gets rich and famous, he publicly belittles her, calling his own mother a drug addict and a whore. If my son called me a whore on national television, I would tell everyone what a loser he was too. I think the media was way too hard on her.
“You’re giving him too much of a pass. He slept on the couch of her trailer because he was too preoccupied with his rapping career to go out and get a job and support himself.”
So he slept on his mom’s couch after he became famous until he was 32?
Eminem grew up in the suburbs. It’s on wikipedia. He and his mom moved around in his younger years. He’s abusive dissing Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon in his latest album. Other folks don’t get dissed anymore. Alot of rappers have moved on to more female sensitive work. It’s not all bunnies and unicorns, but it’s improved. Eminem’s weak lyrics, I swear. Does he talk about social issues or love? No. That love the way you lie song is just lyrics of a abusive guy making excuses for his abusive ways.
What Journey??!! Go praise the kid from the hood that’s helping other people and in college. You people are so brainwashed. He was broke and then his mom hot him into the suburbs. He was born in Missouri. Like Missouri has any real hoods. Barely any people of color there.
Girls have ‘like’ and Eminem has ‘ you know’
@8908-
So I take it you’ve never heard of St. Louis then?
Not that he grew up in Missouri anyhow, so I’m not sure how you were intending to pursue that line of argument.
“He was born in Missouri. Like Missouri has any real hoods. Barely any people of color there.”
I don’t care if he was raised in the “hood”. I can identify with his issues with his mom and absent dad. I didn’t grow up in a ‘hood’ however I did grow up in a dysfunctional/abusive family and that’s what I identify with and admire that he was able to rise above. I’m not brainwashed and I don’t like every song he’s put out, but I do give credit to anyone who was able to come out of that situation and break the cycle. It can be a tough cycle to break and alot of people aren’t able to.
“It can be a tough cycle to break and alot of people aren’t able to.”
You mean except for, like, every rapper that’s ever become famous?
I respect Em. He is a poet, and he experienced what Michael Moore did too in Detroit—and he rapped about it—with his youthful rage….and then fame made him an addict. He’s always been honest and now he can make a difference. I wish him the best in his art and in his sobriety.
He’s lookin’ old in a weird way
‘You mean except for, like, every rapper that’s ever become famous?’
huh? I admire anyone who manages to break the cycle of abuse whether that person is famous or not. I’ve seen what happens when they can’t break the cycle and it is heartbreaking.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Eminem had been born a woman instead. And as a woman, sang angry songs about beating her husband to death or raping her parent of the opposite sex. People would be talking about how she belonged in a mental institution, not how talented she was, regardless if she was talented or not. And no guy would be caught dead listening to her music or saying he loved her.
I don’t understand why we allow guys to get away with this stuff.
Julie- you might be right. All the women I know LOVED Jagged Little Pill when it came out, especially that one song (y’all ought to know) but it had dudes all over grasping nervously at their balls, like Alanis was going to come out of the radio and make them all eunuchs.
“Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Eminem had been born a woman instead. And as a woman, sang angry songs about beating her husband to death”
You mean like the Dixie’s Chick’s song about killing “Earl” (the abusive husband)?
MM isn’t really that good defending himself. His defense was lame.
Yeah he came out of the cycle by rapping about killing his mother and the mother of kids. If he stood up and said he was wrong about it all . If he went to speak to young men who are abusers I wouldn’t have an issue with him, but he makes excuses. Just like love the way you lie goes on about yeah I beat you, but I love you so much. Read the lyrics. How did he come out about being abusive when he cuts down the women in his life and says things about people like Mariah Carey. He’s doing that in his current album. Disses her. No one came out of a cycle of abuse
When they are still verbally abusive to people.
So you are brainwashed. You ignore what the guy says and does. Its funny they went after all those black men about their rap music …correctly so…. but Eminem is still being crude and abusive. He just pits out singles that aren’t him raging out.
He acts like he’s so hard, how come he didn’t accept Nick Cannon’s proposal for a boxing match. Whimpy idiot.
He’s the great white hope for white folks that love rap. That’s who he is supported by. There are great white artists in other genres. Sad folks have to support trash to feel a part of a great craft.
Go listen to Tupac Shakur’s …Dear Momma or Changes or Brenda’s Got a baby. That man was a poet and he had a mom that did drugs. Said he was crazy about her anyway. Parents make mistakes. It’s still your mother. Until he actually apologizes for how he’s talked about the women in his life in public and stop with the abusive language. Apologize for dissing every female in pop music, like Christina Aguilera who can belt out Nina Simone…. he can disappear
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=mp1Q6nYoI80
So this guy ragged on women in entertainment when he first started. He supposedly changed?!?! People don’t even pay attention. This guy put this out just a year ago…. he hasn’t changed. He is too much of a wuss to attack a man, but a woman. He went after Mariah some years ago and when he came back he went after her again last year claiming he dated her, yet he was the only one that knew about it? Tabs wouldve been all on that. Plus an abusive short wannabe gangsta white dude, who doesn’t even have as much money as her. He came in 15 as far as rappers with dough. Mariah has been a hit maker for 2 decades. So please. Nick does look good and is an executive of ish. Been out there for over a decade.
Did he live in St. Loius ….NO. I don’t have to win any argument cause the facts are on the internet under his bio. I’ve been to Missouri and know people from there. I’m right next door to Missouri.
Rural country area … primarily . People stare you down in a grocery store like you’re going to steal something, cause of race. So please!
Katija, you are absolutely right about his white privilege.
He’s a toolbox.
Most women seem to love him, though. They may not even enjoy rap music in general, but they scoop up his album whenever it hits the shelves. Awkward.
@Julie
Seriously, yes. I’m wondering too why women put up with this stuff, wondering more every day.
No way could a woman write how she wants to kill her husband and beat up everyone, and use slurs and get in fights with everyone and call men low down names have a bunch of men just lovin it. Not a chance.
Seriously, could a woman do it? If not why should one defend it. This guy is pathology.
UMMMM eminem is a great rapper and all (no denying that) but the language he uses & promotes is DISGUSTING and WRONG. He is a bad influence. He is also a hypocrit, its okay to blast profanity at the world but not around his daughters? What about everyone else’s daughters? I used to love Eminem but the guy is a F*CK.
Oh and Anti-Icon, Eminem was an addict long before he got famous. Please don’t think the world did this to him, he wishes.
When I was growing up listening to thrash metal and hardcore, me and my friends used to laugh about parent groups and Christians who would complain and try to ban the “Satanic” music we were listening too. I imagine that today’s kids who listen to Eminem also laugh at how lame PC adults sound when they criticise him and talk about how dangerous “his message” is.
But on the other hand I’m also wondering why Eminem gets a free pass from people who normally crucify celebrities for making racist, misogynistic or homophobic remarks.
You mean like the Dixie’s Chick’s song about killing “Earl” (the abusive husband)?
I see a difference here, as I’m pretty sure Kim never put Marshall in Intensive Care as the fabled Earl did to Wanda…
you know, it’s possible to be both a great writer and a lousy speaker.
Anderson Cooper loves free speech, just not that which offends him. Quite a many people are hypocritical like this. I don’t want anyone apologizing for any language they use, whether I like it or not. As for Andi C, if he is so concerned about gay youth, why doesn’t he come out of the closet and tell them he’s proud of who he is and that he wants to be a role model for what they can be/do?
Eminem nor Miley Cyrus, etc are supposed to be parenting your kids, you are. If you don’t like it, turn it off.
“No I don’t have any problem with nobody, you know what I mean. Like, I’m just whatever,” Eminem replied.”
Maybe he speaks that way so his demographic target audience can relate to him. If sounded too articulate and used too many BIG WORDS they’d probably think he’d turned into a wanker.
To me, criticizing someone because of the lyrics they sing is like criticizing an author for the words they write.
Yes, tales and beliefs trail throughout his songs, but not every single word necessarily represents what he has gone through or what he believes.
A writer almost always finds a way to sneak a bit of themselves into a book, but that doesn’t mean the whole book represents themselves.
Nice post!