Eminem Raps It Up, Casually

As soon as he stepped on the stage Monday at the House of Blues, it was evident that Eminem isn’t your average rapper--and it wasn’t just that he’s white. Going against the genre’s macho grain, the Detroit-based artist began his show by thanking the people who have made “Slim Shady LP,” his new major-label debut album, one of the year’s most anticipated hip-hop releases.

Joined by fellow Michigan rhymer Royce, Eminem then alternated between rapping and addressing the audience during a 30-minute set that he treated more as a coming-out party than an actual concert. The crowd’s anticipation created a charged atmosphere, and in this no-lose situation Eminem played it casual rather than attempting to capitalize on the album’s strengths--it’s his ultra-confrontational songs, biting humor and more attitude than a stand-up comic that have made Eminem one of rap’s most promising artists.

Even though he wasn’t an especially dynamic performer, Eminem easily manipulated the crowd. Between tunes, the blond rapper would brag about his chemically altered mental state as he walked back and forth across the stage, dousing the crowd with bottled water. It was hardly exciting, but the audience savored his every word.