Barker and Taylor (2007, pp. ix) noted how the band during their concert wears makeup and play songs, which are about the persona the band members, have taken on. Their core and the obvious aim is to profit rather than be real and tell the truth about themselves to their fans. Performance as such could be considered entertaining, however, it cannot be considered authentic. (Barker & Taylor, 2007, pp. ix) Performers, artist and cultural products can only be authentic if they do not contradict their understood nature. Dinn (2012) states “when we think about the authenticity of a musical product, debating its presence or absence with our friends or colleagues, we often rely on sentiments like sincerity. To me, this points to an important element in understanding how music is validated.” Musical pieces which evoke and emit thoughts and sentiments, would often resonate with certain people as sincere, however the music which inspires that specific aesthetic often requires a performance by a performer who is also seen as credible, sound, truthful and/or genuine. (Dinn, …show more content…
Furthermore, he is well-known as the world’s biggest selling rap artist and the most popular living gangsta rap artist. Additionally, he is also known for his critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical film “8 Mile”. Each genre within popular music has its own definition of authenticity. For instance in rock, the artists and music can be considered authentic only if they are direct and honest and have not been tainted by “commerce, trends and derivativeness”.(Armstrong, 2010, pp.336) Within the genre of rap, authenticity is profoundly essential more than in any other genre. Armstrong(2010, pp.336) illustrates three kinds of authenticity: The first concerns with being true and consistent with oneself. What this means is that rap music values self-creation and individuality. The second form focuses on the location and place.”Rap prioritizes artists’ local allegiances and territorial identities. Finally, the question becomes whether a performer has the requisite relation and proximity to an original source of rap.” (Armstrong, 2010, pp.336) According to Armstrong (2010, pp.336) Eminem has a strong base in all three forms of authenticity. The idea of