In the music video for Eminem's new song, "Darkness," the Grammy-winner rapper takes a stand in support of gun control. The video highlights various mass shootings that have taken place over the past few years, including Las Vegas and Santa Fe, Texas.
Eminem is no stranger to stirring up controversy with his music. His breakout single, titled "Just Don't Give a F*ck," was controversial on account of its title alone. This was followed by controversial music videos as well, including "The Real Slim Shady," which took aim at everything from boy bands to mental health. Now, Eminem's released a new album, Music to be Murdered by, as well as a music video for his new track, "Darkness," which is far cry from the more tongue-in-cheek antics of his alter ego Slim Shady.
On his personal Twitter account, Eminem shared a YouTube link to the official "Darkness" music video, followed by another tweet featuring the album cover for Music to be Murdered by, on which Eminem is holding a gun to his head in one hand and an ax to his head in the other. The video centers around an older man consuming alcohol and prescription pills before firing at innocent bystanders outside his window with an assault rifle. By the end of the video, police raid his hotel room moments after the shooter has taken his own life. Check out the video below:
Although the lyrics to the song appear to be referring to Eminem's personal experience as a performer - namely the more isolating aspects of it, like dealing with the press, preparation before a show, and substance abuse - he finds a connective thread between these experiences and those of any individual mass shooter in recent years with the use of double entendres. For example, one verse reads: "Alcohol on my breath as I reach for the Scope ... Now it's just magazines sprawled out on the floor." The "scope" and magazines refer to mouthwash and print magazines, as well as the scope on a gun and a round of ammunition, respectively.
Eminem is hardly the first celebrity to use his fame as a platform to share their personal opinions. During the 77th Golden Globes, Russell Crowe used the time during his acceptance speech to seek aid for the Australian bushfires, while Michelle Williams spoke out about women's reproductive rights. Whether his fans support his stance or not, Eminem is certainly staying on brand as an artist who's perfectly content relaying his personal views through his music without concerning himself with the opinion of critics.
Source: Eminem, Marshall Mathers