Eminem's Mosh a strong political voice


Oct. 29, 2004, midnight | By Isamu Bae | 19 years, 5 months ago

Rapper Eminem's newest music video likely a strong political influence


Hundreds of black-caped people rush towards a building, undeterred by the menacing presence of the cops. They enter looking like a reincarnation of the Illuminati, a gang of hoodlums ready to burn down the entire world. The mob rushes into the buiding and lines up to… vote.

Forget all of the corny political stances of many celebrities, such as Britney Spears' support of Bush solely because he is the leader of the country. Forget all of your prejudices about rappers and their relatively immoral lyrics. Because Eminem's newest music video Mosh is one wicked piece of art.

The music video starts off with a classroom of students saying the pledge of allegiance. A plane roars right over the school and goes off-screen with a boom. It is obvious right there and then that this is not one of his usual music videos.

The music is a strong chant that sends a chill up your spine. The lyrics are not about pimps and hos and gold bling and partying all day. The lyrics are about the state of America, from racial profiling to poverty to the war on Iraq. Take for instance what he feels about Bush and the war. "Let the President answer on high anarchy/ Strap him with AK-47, let him go/ Fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way."

Eminem uses a black, hooded cloak as the symbol of those that rise up against the injustices being wrought. These are no longer the black, hooded cloaks so often associated with gangs and violence; these are black, cloaked figures exercising political power. The crowd Eminem gathers and gives a stirring speech to is not bent on vandalizing everything in sight but rather on voting on the second of November.

The video is powerful enough to make viewers want to follow Eminem in his movement towards taking Bush off the throne. It is a pity that few celebrities feel responsible enough about their influence on the world to similarly get people to take an active role in the political community.

"Come along, follow me as I lead through the darkness,
As I provide just enough spark, that we need to proceed,
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength,
Come with me, and I won't steer you wrong,
Put your faith and your trust as I guide us through the fog,
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp,
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors."

The video can be found at http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html



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Isamu Bae. Isamu Bae (AKA Izzy) is a senior and finally put up his staff bio. He's 17 and has no idea what he's supposed to put here, so this is all some filler material. He writes, draws, reads, plays games, practices martial arts (for lack of … More »

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