Mark Hicks, former manager of D12 and marketing consultant for Shady Records, recently sat down with Panda CHOP! News to talk about Eminem’s actual impact on hip hop and Detroit.
Eminem’s Hidden Contributions to Hip Hop
According to Hicks, what fans see publicly is just a fraction of what Em does behind the scenes.
“People don’t know 95% of what Eminem contributes to the culture”, Hicks said. “He and Paul Rosenberg do so much for the community, but they don’t want credit. That’s just who they are – great people”.
Of course, it is an open secret for those who are willing to look and listen. For instance, just last year, Royce 5’9, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Marshall Mathers Foundation, gave a brief outline of some of the projects the charity is running. It includes millions of dollars in support for underserved communities.
Also, he explained that Eminem prefers to keep his good deeds quiet, often helping individuals, organisations, and local artists without ever seeking recognition.
Standing Up for Detroit’s Talent
However, Hicks also addressed criticism from some younger Detroit rappers who claim Eminem has not supported the city enough. “It’s the dumbest thing you could ever say”, Hicks stated. “He’s opened doors, I’ve seen it with my own eyes”.
In fact, Hicks shared that Eminem always makes sure to spotlight Detroit talent wherever he goes. “Em tells people, ‘Yeah, you got New York and LA, but don’t sleep on Detroit’”, he recalled. “He’s always been a flag bearer for Michigan”.
Additionally, Hicks compared Eminem’s generosity to that of his peers. “People on his level don’t do half of what he does”, he said. “It’s crazy seeing 22-year-old rappers disrespect him just because he didn’t hand them a million-dollar deal. That makes no sense”.
Through his quiet actions and constant advocacy, Eminem continues to uplift Detroit’s music scene. Definitely, his legacy goes far beyond chart-topping hits.
