This story mentions sexual assault.
Clearly, Eminem didn't get the message that using music to threaten women is not cool (we've tried everything – SMS, Snapchat, carrier pigeon).
The 42-year-old rapper (YES, 42) just rapped about raping Australian pop star Iggy Azalea.
To quote Eminem directly: "So what's it gon’;be? Put that s*** away Iggy. You don't wanna blow that rape whistle on me. Scream! I love it. 'Fore I get lost with the gettin' off."
Those lyrics appeared in a vile 60-second track unveiled on iTunes yesterday. It came from the star's album appropriately called Bad Meets Evil with fellow rapper Royce da 5'9". (If only rappers spent more time deciding on good stage names, and less time normalising violence against women with catchy music).
Iggy Azalea responded to the verbal attack with a series of tweets:
"I'm bored of the old men threatening young women as entertainment trend and much more interested in the young women getting $ trend. zzzz"
"It's especially awkward because my 14-year-old brother is the biggest Eminem fan and now the artist he admired says he wants to rape me. Nice!"
"Women in music have the bigger balls anyhow we endure much more harassment and critic. good morninnggggg!!!!!! off to camera block for AMAs!"
Now, Iggy is actually just Eminem's latest target. Last week, he rapped about wanting to punch Lana Del Rey in the face and he routinely writes dark lyrics about hurting or mistreating women. In fact, degrading women through music is a kind of Eminem's "thing". It's one of the things he's best known for as an "artist" (in this case, read "douchebag").
It's offensive, obviously. But it's also just deeply unoriginal. And exhausting.
Do better, Eminem. And Iggy? We got your back, girl.
If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
Feature Image: MTV/Getty.
Top Comments
I wonder if she is more upset at being described as a "pop star" rather than a rap star?
Personally I am a fan of pop, so please don't include rap music, surely the toilet genre of music , in the same category as pop
Don't assume that all rap is like the rubbish you hear on the radio. I used to think that and it turned out I was missing out on some really great artists by dismissing the entire genre.
No sympathy here. Put some pants on Iggy and maybe be classy rather then a smartass and people might respect you.
...So it's her fault because of what she's wearing?
No. If she's singing about "pussy" and someone responds, well why sing about pussy. It's a number of things.
Singing about pussy doesn't invite someone to rape you.
Singing about it in a rap song doesn't mean somebody's going to do it.