On Dec 7th, the Rap God released a new single that is definitely a chart-topper titled "Untouchables". Eminem has been a visionary and explicitly honest rapper ever since he started, making "Untouchables" one of the most expressive songs that has ever been made. "Untouchables" attacks controversial issues such as white privilege and racism in America, specifically focusing in on the interactions between white cops and black citizens.
Earlier in October, Eminem released an anti-Trump rap; however, his left-wing political views have been no secret. He has been known to rap about the problems in the government throughout the years, making this year a particularly heated subject. Even though he is a white rapper, he is aware of his privileges of being a white male and uses that power to support those who experience injustice.
Eminem starts off right away with discussing the disturbed police system in America, by taking the viewpoint of a black citizen. The first verse in "Untouchables" takes the perspective of a white cop taunting an African American using language such as “black boy”. Furthermore, he expresses racial profiling issues in alluding to how white cops often profile African Americans as criminals and engaging in illegal activity.
Eminem starts off strong with what this song is about and the perspective it takes. Hearing these racial slurs are not always easy to hear, but it grabs the listener's attention and can shock them enough to understand the problems that occur daily. He touches upon how white cops often justify their actions as “it’s for the red, white, and blue”. But, in reality, these murderers committed are often irrational and unnecessary so the cop has to create a reason for his actions.
He then goes on to mock the attitude that some cops have towards black citizens because they are often susceptible to allowing their power to go to their head and believe they are superior. He raps about how no one really cares about their culture and touches upon Freddie Gray’s death which was caused by police brutality in the van ride to the police station.
Then, Eminem opens up about how he sometimes is embarrassed by the white culture and he acknowledges the unfair treatment that blacks have been receiving throughout time.
He throws in a controversial line: “to the sixties, having black-skin is risky, ‘cause this keeps happening”. He compares our current political climate to the sixties because not much has improved between the whites and the blacks. Eminem acknowledges how both sides have committed crimes of racism, but have also deserved respect despite whatever few incidents had occurred. Eminem acknowledges that we’re at a “stalemate” because as time goes on, the cops get more mad as well as black rights supporters get angrier.
Eminem switches to a black perspective once again. He points out that white cops who go into black neighborhoods are often unfit to do so because they don’t understand the culture and therefore go in with preconceived notions of the dangers of these neighborhoods. A line that really stuck out was “and bad cops fuck it up for the good cops, and man stop sendin’ white cops in the black neighborhoods who ain’t acclimated to them”.
Eminem is aware that not all cops are bad, but some cops aren’t fit for the position they are in. The blacks basically already have their odds against them because they’re designated to these impoverished areas.
Finally, Eminem acknowledges the consequences of protesting. While protesting is a good way to get your voice heard, it also opens you up to criticism. Eminem raps “so they call it a Kaepernick tantrum if you don’t stand for the national anthem”. In 2016, Kaepernick got both praise and criticism when he stopped standing for the national anthem as a form of protest against police brutality. People are sticking up for justice, but that doesn’t always come easily.
Attention in the popular media to issues as large-scale and popular as police brutality sparks a fire within the audience that causes them to question their own stance on the issue and possibly even strengthens it. Eminem gave power to an issue that has caused so many people to feel powerless. Eminem gave rise to the understanding that there are more factors to a headline in the newspaper than what is said.
There is a long and tiresome history of violence that gets frustrating when it can’t get “fixed” or exceedingly better. However, where there is one voice, there are at least ten backing it up. With a culture so accustomed to oppression, it becomes difficult to escape the cycle. However, it takes conscious effort and dedication to improving the well-being of society as a whole, for life, liberty, and justice.
