when he won the 1997 Wake Up Show Freestyle Performer of the Year from L.A. DJs Sway and Tech, along with earning second place in an annual freestyle rap competition, Rap Sheet magazine's "Rap Olympics" (www.eminemworld.com). Catching some attention in 1998, Eminem put out the Slim Shady EP, and legend Dr. Dre signed him to his Aftermath label ("Eminem: Courting controversy."). Marshall Mathers created the persona "Slim Shady" and penned his emcee name "Eminem," which stems from his initials. According to Mathers in an interview with Source, "Slim Shady is the evil side of me, the sarcastic, foul-mouthed side of me" (www.eminemworld.com).
             Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem, a.k.a. Slim Shady, is criticized for his lyrical content, for which people accuse him of condoning violence toward women and hating homosexuals. Accused of being a misogynist, Julie Bindel, founder of the action group Justice for Women, told the Sunday Times on February 4, 2001, "He is misogynist scum who will influence some women and men...Rather than censor him, though, I wish someone who took offence at his lyrics would leave him in a coma." ("Eminem: Courting controversy.").
             Eminem is a complete individual who does not care what the implications of his records are or if he offends anyone in speaking his mind. He states, "I'm not responsible for every kid out there. I'm not a role model, and I don't claim to be." (Bozza 1999). As a young man in the spotlight, people of American society tend to think that Eminem has an obligation to be moral and form a good role model for the children listening to his albums. Instead of thinking of him as a poor white kid from Detroit who makes mistakes, many people put Eminem on a pedestal of perfection and then criticize when he falls. Did anyone ever ask the artist his intentions? They overlook Eminem'...