Eminem: A Working Class Hero is Something To Be

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

“8 Mile” rapper, Eminem, may not be Detroit’s most famous son, but it’s not for lack of trying. Or, for that matter, posturing. The recording artist has decided that the effect of the Motown meltdown on the working stiff is top notch fodder for the hang dog (or is that Snoop Dog?) side of his public persona. Marshall Mathers was born in a pleasant middle class suburb and earned $18 million or so last year notwithstanding. Obviously. But penning a paean to pistonhead paradise lost isn’t enough for our boy, he’s got to bring it. Well, them. Two hundred of them. TV Squad [via Yahoo! via the Detroit Free Press] reports that Eminem is transporting 200 unemployed Detroit workers to the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this Friday just to prove a point: he’s a man of the people and his new album is dope. No, wait; that’s not it. I’ve got it! Wall Street has screwed all the selfless, salt of the earth automotive workers who’ve never heard of Eminem and, other than the free food, booze, and flight this stunt entails, wouldn’t cross the street to give Marshall the time of day. Nor him them. So I guess it’s a wash. Peace out, yo.


Robert Farago
Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 24 comments
  • BDB BDB on May 13, 2009
    And to echo what some others have said, the guy has some real talent. My wife (who doesn’t fit any of the common notions of an Eminem fan) loves his music. I'm hardly in the rap fan demographic, either, and Eminem is on my iPod. He does have talent, though Sturgeon's Law applies to rap just like every other kind of music. Eminem should be turning 40 soon. How old is Keith Richards again? In his mid-60s?
  • Dolo54 Dolo54 on May 13, 2009

    No good deed goes unpunished I suppose.

  • No_slushbox No_slushbox on May 13, 2009

    It looks like the above video was made to show support for Michigan State in the NCAA Final Four, not really much more than that. I haven't heard Eminem say anything about Wall Street or the government. The Jimmy Kimmel thing is a publicity stunt (and is rather harsh, the unemployed autoworkers have been though enough, they shouldn't be forced to watch Jimmy Kimmel), but at least Eminem is from southeast Michigan, unlike the "Shutt'in Detroit Down" guy. frenchy: It's amazing that Snoop Dogg has only had one good CD, yet makes millions lending his name to other rappers' CDs. It's kind of like how Sting gets half the royalties for Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing", except times 100.

  • Cashmoney Cashmoney on May 13, 2009

    Shorter jurisb: "I don't like Eminem's music or his politics and I don't understand why the rest of the world doesn't agree with me. Therefore Eminem has no talent."

Next