Art and especiialy music really is a big part of who we are individually as well as a country. The video that talked about a song being a map and direction-finder and if you know the song, you can find your way around the world is true on so many levels. Music guides us throughout our lives, whether in a positive way or a negative way. Eminem is seen as an outcast and parents (including my own) often don't allow their children to listen to his music because of his crude lyrics and harsh language, but if you look into Eminem's background and really listen to the meaning of his songs, he makes good points and life lessons that everyone should know about. Eminem has been through it all, from drugs, to abuse, to jail, to being an adoring father and husband to an ancoholic wife. Now honestly, if you went through those same things I'm sure your lyrics might be a little crude also. His music is real, its more than just a good beat that people will dance to. It has a meaning and it comes from his heart, which I think is what makes him such a great artist. The majority of his songs deal with the life he's lived and the struggles he's faced. One of my favorite songs ever is Mockingbird by Eminem where he talks about all the things he's faced, like dealing with his wifes drinking and jail time, getting robbed, being broke, being away from his kids so much because of his job, and through it all - all he wanted to do was make a better life for his girls and he was doing all he could to be a good father to them. That shows his identity and has an actual meaning, unlike most rap songs. Music also is a strong way to connect people. Whenver you first meet a person, "what kind of music do you listen to?" seems to be one of the first questions that pops up. People who listen to the same types of music often have similar histories, believes, and outlooks on the world which brings them closer together.

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