tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post2919507497892284340..comments2023-12-29T14:39:38.577-08:00Comments on That Bootleg Guy: XXL Magazine's 100 Biggest Moments in Hip Hop HistoryAaron C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03840720779725600492noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-68673032185606223642008-02-04T22:09:00.000-08:002008-02-04T22:09:00.000-08:00Couldn't agree more.Couldn't agree more.Joe Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825174217179302019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-38849227337601312222008-02-03T20:48:00.000-08:002008-02-03T20:48:00.000-08:00Well I for one appreciate Joe's perspective, but I...Well I for one appreciate Joe's perspective, but I'd like to respectfully ask the question: How big of a deal was the Eminem vs. GLAAD story at the time?<BR/><BR/>Notwithstanding the reaction of any individuals who were offended, it seems like the Elton hug sure did make all the bad press go away for Em. And, I'm talking ALL of it. Dude killed his wife on wax, then wrote another song where he disposed of her body (and the bodies of her new husband and stepson).<BR/><BR/>After the Elton hug, Eminem could do no wrong in the media eyes and in that context AJC is absolutely right about the Teflon comment.<BR/><BR/>I guess I'm saying, from where I sit, the Elton intervention worked like a charm. And that's a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-46013423237739994692008-02-02T21:16:00.000-08:002008-02-02T21:16:00.000-08:00Well, not to speak for my entire community (which ...Well, not to speak for my entire community (which is pretty much exactly what I was pissed at Elton John for doing in the first place), I'll bite:<BR/><BR/>"I never understood the big deal about Eminem's homophobia. Anti-gay lyrics have been a part of the rap genre since Superman was called a 'fairy'."<BR/><BR/>There are a few things at work here. One is that Eminem's brand of homophobia was, like everything he did, way more provocative, graphic, and hateful than calling Superman a "fairy." That, I don't think is the main issue. The main issue is that Eminem enjoyed mainstream exposure no hip-hop artist ever had before, which, if you're a part of a community that had been repeatedly been singled out for hate and ridicule in his lyrics, has to be distressful. The argument that rap has always been homophobic is, of course, ridiculous for reasons that are almost too obvious. "That's the way things are and have always been" has never, ever been reason enough not to strive to make things better. The fact that far, far too few in the rap community have been willing to take on the issue of homophobia doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken on.<BR/><BR/>"Would the gay community really even ACCEPT an apology from this guy? Really?"<BR/><BR/>Here I'm going to split a hair and say that if Eminem had officially issued an apology, someone in the gay "leadership" (the president of GLADD or whoever the fuck) would have accepted it, no matter how insincere the apology was, because that's the PR game you're in when you're in an advocacy group. Like how Al Sharpton had to embrace Bill O'Reilly after that Harlem diner thing. As for the gay community at large: would they have accepted an apology from Eminem? I doubt it. Not if it was an insincere apology (which it would have been, because, hello, Eminem fucking HATES gay people). Now, whether people believe that Eminem hating gay people is reason enough to pull him from record stores and radio waves is another issue, and one that was subject to more of a difference of opinion at the time. But to ask the actual gay community to embrace (as Elton John did, on our behalf) a man who had repeatedly and brazenly called us faggots for the better part of two albums...how fucking Uncle Tom is that? (Sorry, there's no gay variant for that term yet. At least I don't think here is. "How fucking Mary Cheney is that?" See, there's no *pop*.)<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the dissertation, Cam. Here's your blog back.Joe Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825174217179302019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-43135604647417581292008-02-02T07:13:00.000-08:002008-02-02T07:13:00.000-08:00Not to start a super serious discussion on THIS bl...Not to start a super serious discussion on THIS blog (: but I never understood the big deal about Eminem's homophobia. Anti-gay lyrics have been a part of the rap genre since Superman was called a "fairy".<BR/><BR/>That doesn't make it "right", but it just seemed unfair to single out Eminem like he was advocating violence or anything.<BR/><BR/>Would the gay community really even ACCEPT an apology from this guy? Really?<BR/><BR/>That would make it all better??<BR/><BR/>I guess I just don't get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-29880150799404387302008-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:002008-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00LOVED Big Pun. His underground stuff is a zillion...LOVED Big Pun. His underground stuff is a zillion times better than the commercial material, which is/was pretty damn good, too. I happily ignore that he bit Kool G Rap's entire style.<BR/><BR/>Nicka takes me back with that 1998 stuff though. Master P dropping an album per week (The Ghetto Commission? Kane and Abel? Mia X?)<BR/><BR/>Shitty '98 albums Nicka forgot: TQ, AZ, "Streets is Watching" sdtk.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-34134523664812930112008-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:002008-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:00I agree with anony about Pun/1998 to a point. The...I agree with anony about Pun/1998 to a point. There was some sick stuff coming out at that time but there was some unrivaled absolute garbage, too;<BR/>Camron, Mase, Master P/Anyone on No Limit, Canibus' debut album, etc.<BR/><BR/>However, 1998 = Gangstarr, Moment of Truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-92212584506386825962008-01-31T20:40:00.000-08:002008-01-31T20:40:00.000-08:00I think you're really understating the impact of B...I think you're really understating the impact of Big Pun's death. His breakthrough year of 1998 was a big year for the industry as everyone was back to focusing on good music after the Biggie/Tupac aftermath. Pun stood out in a year where everyone was blowing up. His "Yeeah Baby" album is crazy underrated. Who knows how much farther along the Latino influnence in rap would be if he was still alive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-54089598111139447532008-01-31T15:37:00.000-08:002008-01-31T15:37:00.000-08:00I went online to see the whole list and I remember...I went online to see the whole list and I remember MAYBE 30-40 of these things. And I listen to rap.<BR/><BR/>As for the Elton John/Eminem thing, I remember that GLAAD was planning this ginormous protest of the show and the turnout was next to nil. Then, when everyone saw Elton and Em hugging it out, the world went back to not caring about the gay opinon. Not saying it was right, y'know... <BR/><BR/>Although AJC raises a good point cuz to this day, I have no idea how Eminem survived that whole "n*gger"-on-tape incident.<BR/><BR/>Well, I know *how*, but still...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333991649672303972.post-18067648297493378002008-01-31T01:13:00.000-08:002008-01-31T01:13:00.000-08:00Turns out I'm still steamed about that whole Elton...Turns out I'm still steamed about that whole Elton John/Eminem thing. <BR/><BR/>Elton: "I forgive you!" <BR/>Eminem: "I didn't say I was sorry, faggot." <BR/>Elton: "Apology accepted!"<BR/><BR/>Way to bend over (uh...no pun intended) for a guy who spent the better part of two years calling you and all your friends fags just because he was the biggest thing going in pop music. Thanks, man.Joe Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825174217179302019noreply@blogger.com