Caution: explicit ideas

Welcome to the Eminem Show…\nYes, I am just one more of the millions of suburban kids who went out and bought the new Eminem CD last week. And just as his single says -- it's felt so empty without him.\nNow mind you, I haven't personally felt his loss, but I truly believe that the rap scene needed him to return. Up until now, the big names on top can't stop rapping about their "bling-bling," fast cars and fast women. Finally, a rapper emerges with a concept album that has much more depth than the recently released single. \nTo his business competitors, Eminem says on the record that he can make his millions of dollars and he "doesn't need a 10-year-old to do it." So much for Master P's Little Romeo and the "promising" film career of Snoop's Lil' Bow Wow. \nTo his critics, he makes the stark comment in the song "White America" that what has bothered the world has never been his lyrics, but the fact that he was using them and happened to be white at the same time. He says that he never was the first rapper to use derogatory phrases towards women and homosexuals, but since his music left Harlem and found it's way into the Cleaver's living room, suddenly there was a crisis at hand. They get scared because "little Eric looks just like him."\nTo his sue-happy mother, he spurts perhaps the most uneasing Eminem song to date when he "cleans out his closet" of his past and gives the listener an all-too-frank biography of his childhood and feelings towards his mother.\nAll of this aside, though, in honesty, what's so refreshing about this album isn't Eminem's signature middle finger to the world. The album shows a surprising amount of growth in his opinions as an entertainer and role model. Song after song, he reinstates the need for artists to be aware that some of their fans look only to them for release. That music and art heal the wounds of the socially troubled teens around the nation, and because of this, they must always be true to their words and ideals. He doesn't glamorize his lifestyle, he simply reports it, allowing at least some voice to connect with those quiet teens with whom no one seems to want to identify. \nEminem is a proud father, constantly referring to his daughter Hailey as his life's greatest achievement. As a parent, has come to understand a bit more the influence of music on young minds -- he jokingly admits that he might not let Hailey listen to all of his songs. But, he still refuses to water down his thoughts, and says he will only remain true to them. \nI thank Marshall for the opinion that kids are harmed not by an introduction to violence and crude reality, but by it's denial and suppression. When kids don't know about how harsh the real world can be or bottle their anger up for too long, that's when things get ugly. It's not up to parents to hide the world's ills from their children, but walk them through them, allowing for understanding and thus grounds upon which to make better decisions. \nThus, as Eminem says, "I'm just playin' America." As we all grow up, our best lessons are learned in play. I say pick up the album and you might realize that the explicit lyrics label isn't placed there for swear words, but for explicit truth. \nSometimes, that can be much harder to bear than your usual four letters.