Eminem also explained why he and Elvis Presley are so alike.
For the Elvis film soundtrack, Eminem and CeeLo Green collaborated on the song “The King And I.” The new song was released today as part of the soundtrack for the upcoming film Elvis, a biopic about the controversial artist from the 1950s. Elvis Presley has been allegedly stealing from other black musicians, and accusations abound that he was racist behind locked doors. With that in mind, it’s simple to see why so many people hold a poor opinion of the artist.
The Detroit rapper raps about stealing black art in his new song “The King & I,” stating to just have done it himself. Em is, of course, a visitor in hip-house, hop’s and he recognizes his role as a white artist in the game. “I stole black music, yeah true,” Em begins. “Perhaps used it (For what?) as a tool to combat school/Kids came back on some bathroom sh*t/Now I call a hater a bidet (Why?)/’Cause they mad that they can’t do sh*t (Haha).”
Presley was rumoured to have said in the late 1950s, “The only thing a Black woman can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes,” but the claim was false. Presley denied stating anything along such lines in a 1957 interview with Jet Magazine, saying, “I never said anything like that, and people who know me know I wouldn’t have said that.” Despite this, the Hip Hop culture has long shunned Presley as a “king.”
Chuck D of Public Enemy memorably rapped “Fight The Power” from It Takes A Nation Of Millions in 1988. “Elvis was a hero to most/But he never meant sh*t to me you see/Straight up racist that sucker was/Simple and plain,” to which Flavor Flav added, “Muthaf**k him and John Wayne.”
Em added some more bars regarding the analogies between himself and Elvis Presley throughout the song. In true Eminem manner, he chose to be snarky with what he has said, making a reference to “Jailhouse Rock.” While some may scoff at some of these bars, it’s evident that Em is at least aware of these issues. “Now I’m about to explain to you all the parallels/Between Elvis and me, myself/It seem obvious: one, he’s pale as me/Second, we both been hailed as kings/He used to rock the Jailhouse, and I used to rock The Shelter/We sell like Velveeta Shells & Cheese (Woo!) (Let’s go!).”
Presley was quoted in the same Jet Magazine story as saying that he “could never aspire to match the musical achievements of Fats Domino or the Inkspot’s Bill Kenny” and that he “could never hope to equal the musical feats of Fats Domino or the Inkspot’s Bill Kenny.” However, many people believed that Presley’s popularity as a musical and cultural hero was largely due to his skin colour, a feeling shared by others who question Eminem’s accomplishment.
Listen to Eminem & CeeLo Green’s new collab below.
