Eminem's Controversial Visual For "Darkness" Urges The American Public To Register To Vote

BY Erika Marie 15.0K Views
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Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records Release Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records Release
An artistic take on one of America's most notorious mass shootings.

Marshall Mathers likes to share albums without notice, and repeating his 2018 move with Kamikaze, Eminem dropped his latest record, Music To Be Murdered By, on Friday morning. The Michigan rapper's 20-track album hosts a bevy of artists with looks from Ed Sheeran, Black Thought, Q-Tip, Juice WRLD, White Gold, Anderson .Paak, Don Toliver, Joell Ortiz, Skylar Grey, KXNG Crooked, Young M.A, and Royce Da 5'9".

Along with Music To Be Murdered By's release comes a music video for the project's lead single "Darkness." The visual, like the track itself, shows a solo Eminem as he battles his demons. The revered emcee is shown alone in a dimly light blue space or wandering around a drug and alcohol-filled hotel room. The controversial clip soon is revealed to be Em's artistic take on the 2017 Las Vegas shooting when a man named Stephen Paddock opened fire from a Mandalay Bay Hotel room onto concertgoers below. He killed 58 people and injured over 400 others before turning a gun on himself.

The music video ends with Eminem standing in front of multiple television screens, watching various reports of shootings across America. "When will this end? When enough people care," is written before a message to register to vote is shown.

Quotable Lyrics

Feels like I'm loathing in Las Vegas
Haven't got the vaguest why I'm so lost
But I'd make you this small wager
If I bet you, I'll be in tomorrow's paper
Who would the odds favor?
(Hello darkness, my old friend)


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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