Eminem was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, becoming the sixth rapper to make it on his first ballot (Missy Elliott became the seventh, and first woman, a year later).
Once you have accepted that the functional definition of “rock & roll” refers not to a specific style of music popularized in the 1950s but rather all of the elements that led to and sprung from that music — and that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rightly celebrates musicians in such genres as jazz, soul, disco, R&B, pop, and rap — Eminem’s inclusion is a no-brainer.
Only the “rap isn’t rock” purists could begin to argue otherwise.
Eminem is rightly considered one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all-time, both for his skill as a writer and rapper and his influence on music and culture. He has won a slew of awards, including 15 Grammys and an Oscar, and is among the ten best-selling musical artists in history. All ten of his albums have gone platinum or multi-platinum, with two (The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, reaching diamond status).
He has dominated rap as one of the very few white artists taken seriously in the genre, particularly in the first decade plus of his career.
All of the accolades and gaudy sales aside, I think what sets Eminem apart artistically is his eagerness to transform his inner demons, insecurities, and traumas into riveting poetry. Seldom do artists bare their souls, and their histories, with so much raw emotion.
Eminem is also a cackling class clown, quick to engage in juvenile name-calling and scatological humor, but he always returns to the confessional mode that makes his songs so compelling.
For that honesty and emotional bravery, as much as his popularity and influence, I am thrilled to see Eminem join the Rock Hall.
Yeah, it’s my life
In my own words, I guess
[Verse 1]
Have you ever loved someone so much, you’d give an arm for?
Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for
When they know they’re your heart and you know you are their armor
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her
But what happens when karma turns right around to bite you?
And everything you stand for turns on you to spite you?
What happens when you become the main source of her pain?
“Daddy, look what I made!” “Dad’s gotta go catch a plane”
“Daddy, where’s Mommy? I can’t find Mommy, where is she?”
“I don’t know, go play, Hailie, baby, your daddy’s busy
Daddy’s writin’ a song, this song ain’t gon’ write itself
I’ll give you one underdog, then you gotta swing by yourself”
Then turn right around on that song and tell her you love her
And put hands on her mother who’s a spitting image of her
That’s Slim Shady, yeah, baby, Slim Shady’s crazy
Shady made me, but tonight Shady’s rock-a-bye baby, ha
[Chorus]
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel no pain, just smile back
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel my pain, just smile back
[Verse 2]
I keep havin’ this dream, I’m pushin’ Hailie on the swing
She keeps screamin’ she don’t want me to sing
“You’re makin’ Mommy cry, why? Why is Mommy cryin’?”
“Baby, Daddy ain’t leavin’ no more” “Daddy, you’re lyin’!
You always say that, you always say this is the last time
But you ain’t leavin’ no more, Daddy, you’re mine!”
She’s pilin’ boxes in front of the door, tryna block it
“Daddy, please! Daddy, don’t leave! Daddy, no, stop it!”
Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket
It’s got a picture, “This’ll keep you safe, Daddy, take it wit’ ya!”
I look up, it’s just me standin’ in the mirror
These fuckin’ walls must be talkin’ ’cause, man, I can hear ’em
They’re sayin’, “You got one more chance to do right and it’s tonight
Now go out there and show ’em that you love ’em ‘fore it’s too late.”
And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door
It turns to a stage, they’re gone and the spotlight is on and I’m singin’
[Chorus]
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel no pain, just smile back
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel my pain, just smile back
[Verse 3]
Sixty-thousand people all jumpin’ out their seat
The curtain closes, they’re throwin’ roses at my feet
I take a bow and “Thank you all for comin’ out”
They’re screamin’ so loud, I take one last look at the crowd
I glance down, I don’t believe what I’m seein’
“Daddy, it’s me! Help Mommy, her wrists are bleedin’!”
“But baby, we’re in Sweden, how did you get to Sweden?”
“I followed you, Daddy, you told me that you weren’t leavin’
You lied to me, Dad, and now you made Mommy sad
And I bought you this coin, it says ‘Number One Dad’
That’s all I wanted, I just wanna give you this coin
I get the point, fine, me and Mommy are goin’.”
“But baby, wait!” – “It’s too late, Dad, you made the choice
Now go up there and show ’em that you love ’em more than us
That’s what they want, they want you, Marshall, they keep
Screamin’ your name, it’s no wonder you can’t go to sleep
Just take another pill, yeah, I bet you you will
You rap about it, yeah, word, keep it real.”
I hear applause, all this time I couldn’t see
How could it be that the curtain is closin’ on me?
I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it
Put it to my brain, scream, “Die, Shady!” and pop it
The sky darkens, my life flashes, the plane that I was
Supposed to be on crashes and burns to ashes
That’s when I wake up, alarm clock’s ringin’, there’s birds singin’
It’s spring and Hailie’s outside swingin’
I walk right up to Kim and kiss her, tell her I miss her
Hailie just smiles and winks at her little sister, almost as if to say
[Chorus]
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel no pain, just smile back
And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I’m lookin’ down on you smilin’
And I didn’t feel a thing
So, baby, don’t feel my pain, just smile back
Meet Me In Montauk 
Agreed that Eminem is a no-brainer for the Rock Hall.
I’ve been less interested in his more recent albums as I find he has taken on a more aggressive, less melodic, less whimsical tone. Still, there is no denying the man’s talent and impact on music.