Musical Notes — Eminem
Voiceover by Lawrence Standifer Stevens / Written by Joseph E. Casanova
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With 15 Grammies, an Academy Award and a career spanning over 25 years, superstar rapper Eminem has earned the right to be called “The King of Hip Hop.”
Eminem scored some of his biggest singles with “I Love the Way You Lie” and “Monster” with Barbados songbird Rhianna.
The rapper gained new public respect when he performed the critically-praised “Stan” with friend and musical icon Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
The following year, he savagely parodied boy bands, rap metal groups and politicians in the hit “Without Me.”
Eminem drew comparisons to James Dean with his starring role in the indie flick, 8 Mile, in which he also won an Oscar for its theme song, the now immortal “Lose Yourself.”
For my 40th birthday, I celebrated with him and 50,000 of our closest friends at his first concert in the Alamo City.
I was pretty fly for a middle-aged guy in my white concert T-shirt and backward baseball cap. I drew strange looks from concert goers ranging from pre-teen to late 20’s.
I was perhaps the oldest person there and regarded as either some kid’s dad, or worse yet, someone’s grandpa, as my nephew, Cole, often called me.
I didn’t care. I was in the presence of hip-hop royalty. I was lucky enough to secure 7th row, which was a little birthday present I bought for myself.
A Snoop Dog wannabe, standing behind me sporting corn rows and a grill that outshined the stage lights, tapped me on the shoulder.
“Umm…can I help you?”
“Hey, man, do you know where you are?”
“Yes, I’m at the Eminem concert! Do you know where you are?
“I’m here hanging with my homies!”
“Well, what do you think I’m doing?!” I asked.
“You rock on with yo bad self!”
I sho did!
