Hi all...

My take on all this? I'd say the main reason that the lad is getting so much flak is due to the popularity.

This is where I think that the folk-Eminemineminem comparison has the problem. I DO think that songs like "Banks of the Ohio" and the like would cause an uproar, but only if they were as widespread and widely played as Emineminemineminem's stuff is, and (perhaps more importantly) folk was a format that parents were uncomfortable with.

Honestly? I really believe that if the ol' boy hadn't latched on to the promotion machine and stayed a minor player in the recording industry, NOONE would care. While extreme, his lyrics aren't anywhere as bad as some other rap lyrics are. I'll GUARANTEE you that if you look around (NWA, Professor Griff etc), you'll find lyrics with more vitriol, homophobia, mysoginy, racism, etc. than ANYTHING that Eminem has put out.

Now... I also don't defend his lyrics as "good" or inoffensive either. Personally, I really think he sucks. However, I also don't think he's as "extreme" as he's been painted. He's merely cursed with being highly visable and popular.

Now... if you want 'extreme'... go look up GG Allin & the Murder Junkies. Now HE was a sick bastard.

And stay outta my early punk collection. It's all Tipper-friendly. Really. Honestly.

M