What's a musical artist that you "should" like, but you don't.
EminemI perfectly fit the demo and musical tastes that Eminem widely tapped into in the early 2000s – Skinny Tall Midwest White Boy Throttled By Teenage Anger.
Cut from the basketball team, didn’t know how to face my future, Mom battling health/drug issues, Dad gone from home a lot, parents unable to get ahead of their financial problems.
A home of typical dusfunction where Eminem’s music would otherwise be welcomed with open arms.
Instead, I quietly took him to be a bit of an overdone phoney. For one too many of my classmates became Eminem wannabes to the point it didn’t say anything to be a fan of him. Unlike how it said something to be a fan of Insane Clown Posse, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and Nu Metal. (In retrospect I know those offerings sorely fail the test of time but as a 7th/8th/9th grader understand that’s the material I was given.)
I thought Eminem played up and even wallowed in his hardships too much, but to most 8th graders that’s what balanced Eminem as both “hard” yet relatable.
Two, I wondered about the music itself. Eminem’s lyrics were always strong and memorable but the beats weren’t nearly as sophisticated other rappers.
And finally, if I wanted to go all the way with it, my parents would’ve had my head forcibly shaved if I sat down to dinner with my hair dyed blonde.
My parents didn’t like my music and over our teen years had my brothers and I get rid of CDs by Blink 182, Chili Peppers, and Linkin Park. All three of which I still like listening to on the local Alt Rock station.
