This is a followup to a recent post with lyrics from Christian rapper KJ-52.
Lyrics for Dear Slim Part 2 are available.
Purchase KJ-52 CDs at Grassroots Music
Christian rap artist KJ-52 has recently stirred up some people with his single Dear Slim, in which he rights an open letter to Eminem. In it he discusses Eminem’s seeming personality change from his first album, KJ’s frustration with being compared to Eminem until he realized his own music made a difference in people’s lives, and similarities between KJ’s and Eminem’s lives when growing up, despite the vastly different messages they now proclaim.
Comparisons to Eminem were the reason KJ initially decided to write “Dear Slim”. “…I just had to address the issue. The funny thing to me is how big it blew up. That was never the intention. I never thought that this was going to be the song that really gets my name out, causes a reaction and really touches people. …”
Some have accused KJ-52 of writing this song for purely monetary motives and seeking to capitalize on Eminem’s popularity with a “dis” against him. KJ response: “Come on, I do Christian rap. I live in a one-bedroom apartment and drive a beat-up mini van. How much money am I going to make? People download the song [from my Web site] anyway.
… the response I’ve gotten from people saying how much the song changed their lives, to me that was the bigger picture.”
Apparently Eminem has even received a copy of “Dear Slim”. “There was a road pastor backstage who gave him a copy and talked to him. He walked out with it in his pocket.”
My final thoughts:
KJ’s gotten a lot of press for this song. Based on the lives his music has changed, I think “Dear Slim” is a success. If nothing else, he’s putting the message of Christ in front of ears that might never hear it, even if at first they simply think his point is to dis Eminem.
“One Love. One God. One Way.”
Resources and Works Cited:
• All Hip Hop article
• JS Online article
• Jesus Freak Hideout: KJ-52 interview
• Gospelflava interview
Kj 52 is Awesome! love your music kj! By the way, what does the KJ stand for anyway?
Hey KJ, keep prayin for em homie. dont worry about what people are saying about your songs to slim, its your intentions they should be lookin at. God weighs and measures all motives of the heart. Your hearts in the right place dawg. str8 up the rappers who acknowledge the spiritual side know about God, they might not have had an experience with him yet. but the good news will get spread to all corners of the earth before Christs return, so keep spreadin the good news brother. peace and God bless
Yo KJ I heard both ur songs bout slim and I know u must be getting slack from em fans but I guess Even they didn’t listen to how hurt and hopeless slim sayz he feels from his in his songs. SO keep it up and hopefuly ur song will get to him so keep it real and I will stand with u in prayer.
peace out
Whats going on, KJ.
I just moved to FL from SC about a year ago. I was trying to find a good Christian station on my radio the other day and heard your song “Dear Slim”. I really couldn’t believe my ears and I almost started to cry. Number one, because the song really has a strong spiritual message directed to mostly all the non believers and of course, Marshall Mathers. And number two, because that was a really awesome thing to do for Slim. I know being a Christian we are all Gods soliders, spreading the word of God. Just lookin’ out for Em and telling him that you pray for him, pray for him to see the light and accept Christ…..words can’t describe how cool that is. I just want to say thanks for witnessing to him, maybe Eminmem will pick up your lyrics one day and maybe he’ll make a change in his life. God bless you.
For God did not send his one and only son into the world to condem the world, but so through Him the world might be SAVED.
John 3:17
hy kj52 i am a big fan of your music.. i am from romania and i learn at a christian college named emanuel..i hope in the future i will lisen more and more music signed kj 52 but until then one love one god one way
i really have to admire you KJ. i haven’t had the opportunity to hear your music yet, but i hope to do that soon. i am definitely hoping to buy one of your cd’s, but that’ll have to wait a while :(. anyway, keep up the good work and God bless!!! see ya
Sarah
haha, me again. i have a question for you KJ. would you ever be doing any international concerts in the near future? like, sweden, for example :)? just curios. see ya
Sarah
Hey everyone for like the last 3 years Eminem was my idol. I worshiped the ground he walked on. then i got saved march 12 2003 and relized that Eminem’s lyrics was not cool. I juss started listening to kj-52 and its awesome. The songs Dear Slim, and Dear Slim 2 are so true Eminem does need to get right with god cause he needs him. I dont think KJ-52 is using eminems name for money or propaganda. I think he is juss trying to say that Eminem needs to get right with God. ALso i think that everyone has their own opinion and we can say what we want. Juss dont hate on Jesus or God. Or KJ-52 pCe
Wut up KJ. i’d never heard of you till my cousin hooked me up with your cd and i heard sum of your songs. i respect you man tha way you tell it. i was a huge eminem fan and i know most of the words ta his songs but alot of that has changed since i heard you. you got jus as much talent and your bringin a goood message forawd which isnt heard of as much in the rap world. dear slim and dear slim 2 are great songs. i dont understand how people think your tryin ta dis marshall. i think its pretty clear that your tryin ta get him ta know jesus and man thats awsome. ill be prayin wit you man and i only pray that sumday marshall will accept christ. i really wanna see you in concert sumtime man and i hope thats a possibility. you should look into “Aquire The Fire” up in Indianapolis. its a weekend thang with about 40 thousand people and you would be awsome there. you changed my life man and opened up a new world. hope ta see you sumtime. peace out
Hey man what’s up? Well…I never even heard of you until my friend put in your cd on the way to youth group tonight. He apparently met you at a Christian book review sometime last week here in Kokomo Indiana. Our whole youth group sat around and listened to “Dear Slim”. Totally awesome! I must confess, I own some of Eminem’s cds and I actually use to like him, but not in the past few months, and especially not after that song you wrote. Your totally right. Eminem, all he does is creates low self esteem and encourages violence and suicide. Who wants to listen to that? But it would be really cool to see Marshall accept Christ someday. And hopefully youp planted a seed in him. Somebody had too. Hope to see you at ATF someday. Keep it real and God bless!
Yo Kj
I think your really brave to stand up to Slim and try and help him…..hopefully everyone relizes ur no dissin’ him. Hope slim responds. Keep on prayin’. Use to listen to Slim all the time with out really listening to him lyrics thanx for helpin’ me inthe rite direction. Luv ur work keep it really kj i mean it!
KJ - A good friend burned me the CD and i listened to dear slim, i took the CD out and put Murphy Lees new CD in - i decided to take that out too, and if i was going to give one the chance it would be yours- awesome song man now i cant get enough of it ! a life without christ is a life that is never fixed
“Dear Slim 1 & 2″ by KJ 52 was really a great one.Upon hearing the song, i also felt the struggle that he has to save eminem. I used to listen on eminem’s song before but now, i’d rather listen to kj’s song. i first got to listen on his song on the radio, christian radio here in the philippines and i found it so interesting coz as it can also talk to the young people and encourage them and lead them to God.
I want to thank you for coming out with dear slim.It made my mom so happy! So thank you again and keep it up,congratulatons!
do ilve you your music and your message im praying for slim oh and thank you for coming out with dear slim and dear slim2
i love you your music and your message im praying for slim oh and thank you for coming out with dear slim and dear slim2
Hey To KJ-52 them 2 songs are really good and i agree with them but i still am going to listen to eminem. kj is great but hes nowhere near as good as eminem. but thats it. anyone who reads this and has an opinion about what i said e-mail me at lakeside0186@yahoo.com