Grammy-winning rapper Eminem recently discussed maturing in hip-hop and how his content is growing up as he nears the age of 40.
Em believes he has now out-grown his past lyrics and taken a more mature approach to life.
"There was so much [drug-based] stuff like that off [Relapse] that I felt like I was starting to run it into the ground. I think consciously I went in a different direction with this record," explained Eminem, noting that "Slim Shady" still exists. On the subject of misogynistic lyrics within Eminem's catalog, the rapper noted, "Anything I've ever said, I certainly was feeling at the time. But I think I've calmed down a bit. My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be." Further pressed about his previous gay-bashing or homophobic lyrics, Eminem said that at 37 years old, he considers himself tolerant.
Jay-Z recently talked about finding maturity in his rhymes while still competing on the same level as Lil Wayne.
"One of the reasons I wanted to make Blueprint 3 was because of the challenge," Jay told the magazine in a cover story out this week. "We've seen people like LL [Cool J] have longevity, and we respect the heritage of what he's done, but it's not like, right now, he's competing on the same level as Lil Wayne. So for me to still be able to compete at that level at my age, that's rarefied air. It's never been done. I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, 'Rap is a young man's game,' and they keep trying to make young songs. But you don't know the slang -- it changes every day. You can visit the topic, but these young kids live it every day, and you're just visiting. So you're trying to be something you're not, and the audience doesn't buy into that. And people wonder why. 'I made a great Southern bounce song!' You're from New York, and you're 70! Why are you bouncing?"
Earlier this year, producer Swizz Beatz talked about giving up his past infatuations with jewelry and expensive vehicles.
With no plans to slow down, he maintains this next year as a rebirth of his old self. "Part of the graduation stage is dumbing-down the toys a little bit. You gotta understand, I was doing these things since I was 17, 18 years old, and I'm 31 now. If you are doing the same things in your 30s that you were doing in your teens, something's not right," says Swizz with a chuckle. And it's clear that things have changed. Gone are the extravagant cars and necklaces decked with diamonds, and in their place is a grown man with a clear vision for the future. He is determined to put a tangible feeling back into music, and with his new album in the works, this is his moment. "Music is something that should stick with you and represent a moment in time. I need to raise the bar for that. I need to personally take the risk to make those sounds and take those elements where everyone is over there, but Swizz is over here."
Eminem's upcoming Recovery album is set to drop next week.
The road to Recovery begins a day earlier. Following its leak last week, Eminem's seventh studio album has been officially moved up one day. The rapper's latest collection will arrive in stores and online on Monday, June 21, Rap-Up.com can confirm. It was previously set for a traditional Tuesday release in the U.S. The revised date presumably had to do with its premature leak online.
On previous albums, Eminem has publicly addressed gays, drug usage, violence, popular celebrities and his relationship with his mother and ex-wife.
Check out a recent Eminem interview down below:
No comments:
Post a Comment