DETROIT — Marshall Mathers III, better known as Eminem, celebrated Disability Pride Month by releasing an album targeting the full spectrum of disabled people. The work uplifts and exalts blind, deaf and quadriplegic folks, among many others.
“The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” was released on Friday, July 12; it builds upon his fervent and extensive efforts to increase awareness and acceptance of disability by way of negative publicity and the “calling out” of wheelchair users, those with seizure disorders, little people and even autistics with low support needs.
“Ever since he was a child, Eminem has always felt connected to the disabled,” said a close friend of the famed rapper. “But when he entered the rap game, he rarely heard anyone in hip-hop attack the disability community. He was definitely shook, and he wanted to do something about it.”
While most celebrities feign kindness with philanthropic endeavors and charitable donations to various organizations — occasionally making appearances, giving halfhearted speeches or launching fundraisers — Eminem felt the best way to contribute was through perennial diss tracks that put disabled folks in a new societal light. “Everybody is always apologizing, ‘aww’ing or thanking disabled folks for being inspirational just for their existence, and he felt that was overly cringe. He wanted something real, something genuine, something that would truly get people’s attention beyond them saying ‘that’s nice.’ So he put the ‘dis’ in ‘diss’ tracks and never looked back.”
Over his illustrious 25-year career, Eminem has tirelessly worked to cook any and all disabled folks, going after disabled icons like Christopher Reeve and even targeting your own grandmother.
Yet even as he spits such hateful bars, Eminem still manages to highlight major disability issues such as proper lubrication of wheelchair bearings:
“So next time you see grandma, tease her / and roll up with a fresh set of wheels / all greased up”
“Brand New Dance” on The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
… as well as the problem of trash and debris causing difficulty for wheelchair users navigating their urban environment:
“If you real, grab your chair up by the wheel / if you wanna feel just like the man of steel / windmillin’ on a million banana peels”
“Brand New Dance” on The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
He even shows solidarity by reexamining his own identity:
“Yeah, I’m sick like the terminally ill / but more like sick as in the term ‘mentally ill’”
“Antichrist” on The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Local disability activist Tammy Hubert expressed her gratitude at Eminem’s consistent igniting of rap beef between himself and disabled folks, citing the increased notoriety and awareness that arises from such rampant public use of slurs and epithets. “Trying to encourage society to be inclusive of people with disabilities can be an unsatisfying grind, and it often feels like no one’s listening. But when I get those feelings of hopelessness, I just slip on my headphones, play Eminem and reignite my advocacy through such lyrics as ‘Dance until you’re wheelchair-bound, here we go!’
“He just makes me feel seen when he expresses his genuine disgust at my mere existence — something a lot of abled advocates will never understand.”
Ko