Sean Forbes showed Eminem his ASL interpretation of “Lose Yourself” back in 2005, and now he is rehearsing for the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime performance.
Introducing the artist to the audience, Detroit Free Press reveals his connection to Eminem. Sean’s father was rubbing shoulders in the same music business, and studio circles as Marshall and Forbes followed the tradition. He was a regular at Ferndale’s 54 Sound studio, where Eminem spent a lot of time working on his early projects.
It was that studio where Sean showed Eminem the video of him performing an energetic ASL interpretation of “Lose Yourself” and explained that deaf people could experience and enjoy music.
Since then, ASL interpreters have become a familiar sight at many shows, giving the taste of rich lyricism to the audience that could not access it before. However, it is the first time the NFL has incorporated sign-language performances as part of the halftime program. And it is a landmark moment for Forbes:
“The doors to accessibility are busted wide open with something like this. So this is very much a full-circle moment, being from Detroit, being part of the Eminem camp — or even going back to being 12 and listening to N.W.A., Dre and Snoop on my Walkman,” Detroit Free Press quotes Forbes.
The Detroit deaf rapper cannot reveal much about the upcoming show, only that he interprets for Eminem and Snoop Dogg. Another ASL specialist, deaf rapper Warren (WaWa) Snipe, will share responsibility with Sean, interpreting for other artists.
Read the article in full on Detroit Free Press.
