# What do black people think of Eminem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641 "2002-12-18T20:38:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/1 "2002-12-18T20:38:56Z")
Eminem is percieved by most white people to be a credible rapper but I was thinking what is the opinion of black people of him? Is he bad or amaturish, what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/2 "2002-12-18T20:54:01Z")
Not that this type of generalization is OK, because your question supposes that: 1. only black people can say what is and is not credible rap 2. a black person, or even several, can speak for all black people 3. all black people have a legitimate opinion about rap music so shame on you, but, he does appear to be well respected in the urban community where I work among the african american youth, and among other rap artists on the mtv ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/3 "2002-12-18T21:00:32Z")
I don’t think there’s a “Black Consciousness”. What do White people think of Eminem? I’m white, and I don’t really think much about Eminem at all. Sure, a couple of his songs are good/interesting/provocative, but I don’t own any of his stuff. I wouldn’t really be comfortable as the Caucasian World’s Mouth Piece. I think the real question is, **Ryan\_Liam** , what do _you_ think of Eminem? ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/4 "2002-12-18T21:05:51Z")
No Winston, Ryan’s question would be be " Why do I like (or not like) Eminem". ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/5 "2002-12-18T21:17:42Z")
I think you’re being a little hard on the OP - this is not GQ, I don’t think he’s asking for a _factual_ answer as to what the “black population” thinks of Eminem. Since this is IMHO, I think it’s more likely he wants to know what _individual_ black people think of him. FWIW, I did see an interview with a black rapper (may have been on BET…not sure) where they asked him about Eminem. The guy said he has a lot of respect for him, as he has proved himself on the club circuit and in “battles”. It was kind of funny in “8 Mile” when that one rapper compared him to “Vanilla Ice” during a battle, though. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/6 "2002-12-18T23:30:58Z")
Aaron McGruder seems to loathe him. At least he did when there was a forum on the boondocks site. Many blacks on the board there like him though. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/7 "2002-12-18T23:53:04Z")
I’m not black, but I will say that eminem is played quite regularly on the hip hop radio stations here, which are aimed at black listeners. However, I’m in Detroit, so that may not be true everywhere. It is true though, that Eminem got his break by getting noticed on the battle circuit. You don’t make it in that scene(especially if you’re white) without people respecting you. ---
**Author:** ![\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b2d939/32.png) [@\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/8 "2002-12-19T00:04:01Z")
This may be a little off topic… but a few weeks ago the Elvis special was on and many people commented on the barriers he broke way back then. Carson Daily said that he does not think of music in terms of color anymore and sees it does not matter everyday doing TRL on MTV. Besides the music has intertwined so much pop/country Rap/rock ect. I think people are getting used to it by now. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/9 "2002-12-19T00:05:47Z")
I like some of his stuff. I’m not a hardcore rap fan so I don’t know anything about whose got “street cred”. ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/10 "2002-12-19T04:48:08Z")
I’m pretty sure that black rap star Dr Dre backed Eminem early on. I know I heard Eminem in a song on Dre’s Chronic 2001 CD. Dre is old school…so if he appreciates Marshall Mathers, then I would surmise that in general, many other black rap fans have respect for him. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/11 "2002-12-19T05:14:30Z")
Of course, it’s possible that Dre only supported Eminem for financial reasons - Dre is probably a smart businessman as well as (IMO) very talented. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/12 "2002-12-19T05:36:54Z")
Black person checking in here. I don’t think anything about him, he’s a white guy that raps and is down with an aspect of urban culture that I’m not down with. ---
**Author:** ![racosun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@racosun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racosun)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/13 "2002-12-19T07:44:40Z")
Dre liked his style, and knew he would be a major hit. They still work together. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/14 "2002-12-19T08:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EasyPhil \* > \*\* > I don’t think anything about him, he’s a white guy that raps and is down with an aspect of urban culture that I’m not down with. \*\* Does that mean you don’t agree with it or don’t know anything about it? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/15 "2002-12-19T11:50:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Winston Smith \* > \*\*I don’t think there’s a “Black Consciousness”. > > What do White people think of Eminem? I’m white, and I don’t really think much about Eminem at all. Sure, a couple of his songs are good/interesting/provocative, but I don’t own any of his stuff. I wouldn’t really be comfortable as the Caucasian World’s Mouth Piece. > > I think the real question is, **Ryan\_Liam** , what do _you_ think of Eminem? \*\* I think he’s shit. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/16 "2002-12-19T11:55:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by greck \* > \*\*Not that this type of generalization is OK, because your question supposes that: > > 1. only black people can say what is and is not credible rap > 2. a black person, or even several, can speak for all black people > 3. all black people have a legitimate opinion about rap music > > so shame on you, but, he does appear to be well respected in the urban community where I work among the african american youth, and among other rap artists on the mtv \*\* Rap is mainly a profession done by Black people, and I think do have a more credible opinion of his work moreso than white people. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/17 "2002-12-19T14:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I think do have a more credible opinion of his work moreso than white people. By that logic, a white person would have more credibility in their criticism of classical music than a black person would. This assumes that all white people are into classical music, which they aren’t. I don’t listen to rap much, so I don’t know if Eminem deserves the hype he gets. At the same time, I rarely think entertainers deserve the hype they get. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/18 "2002-12-19T14:37:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryan\_Liam \* > \*\*I think he’s shit. \*\* Just shit, or \* The \*Shit. One’s good, one’s bad. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/19 "2002-12-19T14:47:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryan\_Liam \* > \*\*I think he’s shit. \*\* Um, but why? I love people who ask for others’ opinions yet won’t go very deeply (or at all) into their own. Why not explain exactly why you think “he’s shit”? ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641/20 "2002-12-19T15:28:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\*Does that mean you don’t agree with it or don’t know anything about it? \*\* I’m not sure what question you’re asking here. There’s some rap that I like. What works for me is the rhythmic power of the tune more so than the diatribes that often go along with it. I’m not a fan, student, or conneisseur of rap, though I do hear it on a weekly basis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-black-people-think-of-eminem/143641.md?page=2)