Though his politics on MANY subjects are reprehensible, Eminem has one thing right. He’s backing John Kerry for President.
It may not seem like a big thing, but this person is one of the most influential hip-hop musicians in the nation, and as such, can motivate the young people to get out and vote.
Article archived here.Em Bashes Bush, Mourns Uncle
Thu Oct 21, 7:05 PM ET
Entertainment – E! Online
By Josh Grossberg
First Michael Jackson (news) gets hit, now Eminem (news – web sites)’s taking a potshot at President Bush (news – web sites).
“Mosh,” a Bush-berating track off the rapper’s upcoming Encore album, was all over the Internet Thursday after a leaked copy managed to make its way to file-sharing sites.
By late afternoon, the song was available through nearly 400 hosts on Morpheus.
Produced by Em’s mentor, Dr. Dre, “Mosh” features some blistering lyrics, ripping the war in Iraq (news – web sites). “Let the President answer on higher anarchy/Strap him with an AK-47, let him go fight his own war/Let him impress daddy that way,” Eminem raps, adding, “No more blood for oil.”
The leaked track, first reported in Rolling Stone, is the latest political outburst by the never reticent rapper. In the Nov. 5 issue of the magazine, the Shady One says, “[President Bush]’s got our troops over there dying for no reason,” says Eminem. “He jumped the gun, and he f—ed up so bad he doesn’t know what to do right now.”
The rapper says he has registered to vote for the first time but didn’t go as far as endorsing a candidate. “Whatever my decision is, I would like to see Bush out of office,” Eminem says. “I don’t wanna see my little brother get drafted–he just turned eighteen. People think their votes don’t count, but people need to get out and vote.”
“Mosh” is the second track off Encore to be heard so far. The video for the lead single, “Just Lose It,” was banned by BET in deference to Jackson, whom Eminem mocks in the clip.
As an incentive for fans to actually buy the CD instead of illegally downloading the album when it drops Nov. 16, Eminem has launched the Very Shady Xmas Contest. Fans who pay for the disc will be eligible for 400 prizes, ranging from Eminem-styled shows to Shady merchandise coupons to Sirius satellite radio equipment to a shot at working on the rapper’s next video.
Speaking of Sirius, Eminem will kick off his new channel on the satellite radio service, Shade 45, next week with an exclusive, live broadcast of the Shady National Convention at New York’s Roseland Ballroom. Eminem is slated to perform more cuts from Encore during the Oct. 28 event.
Meanwhile, there’s word that the 32-year-old rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, is mourning the death of an uncle.
Todd Nelson, who helped raise an infant Eminem when his biological father abandoned the family, committed suicide at his home in Michigan on Tuesday, London’s Daily Mirror reports.
The 42-year-old Nelson shot himself in the head while sitting in his car in his backyard. He had supposedly become depressed in recent days following an altercation with a sheriff involving a dog.
A rep at Eminem’s label Interscope, Dennis Dennehy, declined to comment.
But the hip-hopster’s grandmother, Betty Kreslin, told the Mirror, “I’m so heartbroken, I don’t know if I can handle this as well. He’ll be buried next to my Ronnie.”
Nelson is the second member of Eminem’s family to die by his own hand. The rap star’s other uncle, Ronnie Mathers, killed himself last year after a bad break-up with his girlfriend.
“This news has hit Marshall hard. It will bring back all the memories of losing Ronnie,” an unnamed “friend” of Eminem is quoted in the Mirror. “To lose two uncles at such a young age is terribly sad, especially as his father has never been around. The fact they both committed suicide is so tragic.”
Eminem has reportedly agreed to pick up the tab for Nelson’s funeral, though it’s unknown whether the rapper will attend.