Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2024
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Department
Criminology and Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Sarah El Sayed
Second Advisor
Christi L. Gullion
Third Advisor
James D. Kelsay
Abstract
Eminem's lyrical life course trajectory helps provide insight into hip-hop and rap music's arguably criminal social stigma. Previous studies have examined Eminem's songs, but these topics focused on singular songs and themes rather than a lyrical life course. This study fills the gap by providing a content analysis of Eminem's solo studio albums, where it identifies themes and patterns that appear in the album's lyrics. The purpose of this study was to use research questions based on theory and previous research to examine Eminem's lyrics and personas. Using Eminem's thirteen solo studio albums consisting of two-hundred-nine songs, this study focused on the themes of misogyny, gang influence/violence, social implications of violence and hate, juvenile and destructive behaviors, family and relationship dynamics, race, and socio-economic status/background to identify patterns and change throughout the lyrical life course. Through the study, Eminem's lyrics were expressed by the personas of Eminem, Slim Shady, and Marshall Mathers, and using Moffit's Developmental Taxonomy (1993), this study identified them as life-course-persistent and adolescent-limited offenders through the lyrical life course.
Keywords
Eminem, Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, Hip-Hop, Rap, Hate, Juvenile
Disciplines
Criminology | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Family, Life Course, and Society | Place and Environment | Race and Ethnicity | Theory, Knowledge and Science | Urban Studies and Planning
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Rosales, Anthony Raul and Rosales, Anthony R., "THE DEATH OF SLIM SHADY: EMINEM’S LYRICAL LIFE COURSE TRAJECTORY" (2024). Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses. 124.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/crcj_theses/124
Included in
Criminology Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Theory, Knowledge and Science Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons