Eminem has defended the use of homophobic words on his new album ‘The Marshall Mathers LP 2’, saying he has “no issue” with gay people.
The rapper, who released his new studio album yesterday (November 4), has been criticised for use of the word “faggot” in some tracks on the album, including ‘Rap God’ which was previewed prior to the album’s release. However, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Eminem claims that his use of the word is not rooted in homophobia.
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Claiming he does not equate use of the word faggot to a person’s sexuality, Eminem says when he came up as a rapper in Detroit the word was used freely. “It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole,” he explains. “So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people.
He goes on to add: “Not saying it’s wrong or it’s right, but at this point in my career – man, I say so much shit that’s tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves. And I don’t know how else to say this, I still look at myself the same way that I did when I was battling and broke.”
Earlier this year, the rapper revealed the video to the single ‘Survival’, which appears on the video game Call Of Duty: Ghosts – scroll down to view it. It follows the album’s first single, ‘Berzerk’, which was released last month (September 9).
Eminem’s eighth studio album, ‘The Marshall Mathers LP 2’ is conceived as a sequel to the rapper’s classic 2000 album ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’. The artwork recalls that of the earlier the album, featuring Eminem’s childhood home in north east Detroit, which has recently been put up for auction.