Today, we’ll be talking about the two most controversial musical genre of all time, viz. hip-hop and emo. On one hand, almost every teenager is intimidated by these genres while on another hand, both of these genres are despised by the older generation. Despite the fact that both of these genres have nothing common in musical instruments they use and in the range of vocals they use, the common region for both of these genres is that they are surrounded by controversy all the time for one particular reason. Let’s whirl around the controversy surrounding two genres, hip-hop and emo.
Introduction
Let’s introduce ourselves two of the most controversial figures from both of these genres, Eminem and Marilyn Manson. You may disagree with me if I put Marilyn Manson under Emo genre. Trust me, even I do not know for sure if he falls under either Goth or Emo genre. I’d love to place him under Emo genre, let me do this for the convenience of proving a point here. Although, I have nothing to prove against the Artists and their respective styles. These two artists are major public figures who faced backlash from the public and their own friends for their art.
Media & Backlashes
The hip-hop news stories look somewhat destined to make the genre and in overall, the rappers, look bad. Eminem has been on multiple legal battles for the words he has used in his songs, aka art. It might seem to be a little frustrating when your musical idol throws homophobic slurs everywhere all the time but we all know he has been involved in a lot of controversies as well. The rappers like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dog, etc. have been accused of creating violent, unapologetic and unforgiving music. On the other hand, Marilyn Manson was accused of spreading hate amongst younger people who apparently copied the dressing style of Marilyn Manson for a planned school shootout.
On top of all these controversies, the hip-hop genre is accused of a primary source for cultivating violence in children’s’ minds, decreasing their ability to talk to people with respect and more. Likewise, the artists following the emo genre are accused of using the platform for increasing disbelief upon God. Marilyn Manson went as far as to burn the Bible during his concert. So, he became an easy target for the public to blame upon for the school shooting where the shooters showed up he shows up in public. His influence was condemned by society very badly.
Analysis
The freedom of speech doesn’t really hold any weight if the words you’re putting out in the world look a little different from what general people are used to putting out in the world. But they are constantly called out by the public for their defamation. If both hip-hop and emo genre were to comply with the society’s norm of being normal, then The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Antichrist Superstar, THE PALE EMPEROR, etc. wouldn’t exist today.
There are less violent songs from both of these artists such as Mockingbird, Lose Yourself, Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge, The Beautiful People, etc. which are hidden behind the shadows of their antisocial classics such as Kim, Criminal, Mutilation Is The Most Sincere Form Of Flattery, Disengaged, etc. The meaning behind lyrics of Mockingbird can still make the listeners cry. The album Antichrist Superstar makes people question their belief, which in a way I think is good. This makes us open-minded and makes us really think about the stuff we believe in.
We all can see the frustration behind the attempts of defamation by the society in Eminem’s ‘The Way I Am’ where he brings both his and Marilyn Manson’s issues with the society. Music has become such a cultural phenomenon that it is almost next to impossible to escape from. It is a way of expressing a persona, in ways where the choices could either be explaining a personal incident in a poetic approach or be a complete fictional plot backed up by the imagination of an artist.
Conclusion
While listening to the music, let’s try to learn the perspectives of where the ideas are coming from. Music for the true listeners is about trying to be as open-minded as possible. There is always another side of entertainment we expect from music. But we cannot deny the influence of music on our personal lives. It is about respecting the art coming out from both hip-hop and emo genre. Do you listen to Eminem and Marilyn Manson as well? What do you think about these antisocial artists? Let me know in the comment section below. Also, follow Laviasco to read lyrics review.