In a recent interview on NO VULTURES, hip-hop artist Glasses Malone from Los Angeles offered insights into the presence of white privilege within the hip-hop industry.
"Eminem is unbelievably talented; let’s start there. He’s not dope because he’s white. He’s just dope! Now, is he selling better because he’s white? Sure, white people relate to him and see themselves. That’s an easy sale. Marketing 101. Show me, me, that looks like this, I’ll buy," said Glasses Malone.
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He continued, emphasizing Eminem's talent, "I think Eminem is, don’t get me wrong, is top 10 talented, at worst. He’s as talented as any MC can be. This guy is unbelievable. But, of course, he’s gonna sell more units because people can market easier when you can see yourself in them. I mean, he’s the American guy."
Glasses Malone delved into the cultural aspects of hip-hop, contrasting artists like Kanye West and Drake. He highlighted the disparities in experiences, saying, "Hip-Hop is all about street Urban culture. Kanye West’s first album was College Dropout. The average guy at his age was not going to college. There are some guys from the ghetto that went to college, but I don’t know about Cuz’s experience, but it ain’t really important. I love Ye's stuff, and I love Drake's stuff. But Drake's stuff was just obvious. The point I’m saying is, Eminem grew up in the ghetto somewhere and some trailer park," Glasses Malone added.
Eminem has previously addressed white privilege in his music, including in his hit song "White America," where he raps: "Look at my sales / Let’s do the math: If I was Black, I would’ve sold half / I ain’t have to graduate from Lincoln High School to know that / But I could rap, so f–k school, I’m too cool to go back / Give me the mic, Show me where the f–kin’ studio’s at / When I was underground, no one gave a f–k I was White…"
This conversation adds depth to the ongoing dialogue about race and privilege within the hip-hop industry.