There's an interesting piece in the New Republic about Eminem and class distinctions, essentially asserting that he wouldn't be half as popular if he were a middle-class white kid from suburbia (ala Vanilla Ice).

By the artistic standards of the medium, there's little question that Eminem's talent rivals that of his peers; he demonstrates clever word play, a preternatural sense of time, and a capacity for vulnerability (alongside his infamous capacity for hate) that is all too often absent in hip-hop. But talent is merely the first hurdle that Eminem must clear. Because, even as race recedes as the crucial element of street credibility for hip-hop artists, its proxy, class, becomes increasingly important.

Interesting stuff. Have a read.