‘Welcome Back the King’ Eminem Confirms Announcement of Date to Become a Judge on The Voice

When it comes to coaches on The Voice, it’s become sort of a revolving door of talent. Unlike most talent competition shows that attempted to retain their judging panel season after season, The Voice has owned the fact that they could literally get anyone to sit in the turning chairs for a season or two. When it all started, the quartet of coaches represented the various genres of music. Adam Levine was pop-rock. Blake Shelton was country music. Christina Aguilera was pop. CeeLo Green was R&B.

For the most part, the show has maintained this concept when revealing each season’s quartet, but in recent seasons, The Voice has explored other genres of music. With the likes of Chance the Rapper and Snoop Dogg, The Voice has explored the world of rap and hip-hop, proving that just because they dominate that area of the industry doesn’t mean they can’t guide any singer who steps onto The Voice stage. So, is there a universe in which Eminem would be a good coach on The Voice?

Eminem Is Filled With a Wealth of Knowledge and Experience

 

    While we can only dream about the roster of music superstars who have been contacted to join The Voice as a coach, it’s time to explore the reality of what it might look like should Eminem ever get the opportunity. When the rapper burst onto the scene in the early 2000s, he came in like a wrecking ball. Breaking down racial barriers and emerging as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, Eminem, also known as Marshall Mathers, utilized his platform to depict a generation and class that had not had such a voice.

Easily one of the most controversial figures at the time, his ability to cross into the mainstream with hits like “The Real Slim Shady,” “Stan,” and “My Name Is” afforded him the chance to be pop culture’s biggest acts. So, by the time he shocked the world with the critically acclaimed 8 Mile, Eminem was finally seen in a new light. He was taken seriously beyond being a white rapper in a predominantly Black field. “Lose Yourself” became his magnum opus, winning an Academy Award, and it was still at the start of his blossoming career.

Over the past two-plus decades, Eminem has forged his own path. He’s explored music on his own terms. He’s influenced the world of hip-hop while still being very much a part of the game. He’s an entrepreneur. He formed his own label and helped launch new artists’ careers. He even has a restaurant, Mom’s Spaghetti, inspired by his hit song! Is there anything missing from his resume that wouldn’t allow him to be a strong coach on The Voice? To be a good coach on The Voice, they not only have to be talented, but they must also have experience in the industry. They have to know what it’s like to fight to get ahead. They need to understand what it means to hear ‘no’. They must be familiar with the industry so they can effectively guide their artists to their optimal destination.

Having his own mentor, Proof, when he was coming up in the Detroit hip hop scene, Eminem knows what it’s like to be a young artist with a dream. It’s the most valuable experience a coach could have when mentoring the singers on The Voice. Since becoming the legend he has, Eminem has already been a mentor to aspiring singers through his own label. Being able to bring that experience to The Voice would make him a worthwhile addition. Part of the game is about showmanship.

Eminem has commanded stages for decades and would be able to provide his knowledge to those singers needing help in that department. The first part of The Voice focuses on the Blind Audition and the process of selecting a coach. For Eminem to be appealing as a coach, he must have singers want to join his team. Eminem is an icon and role model. There would absolutely be artists lining up to join his season for the rare shot of getting to work alongside him.

‘The Voice’ Has a History of Wildcard Coaches

Image via NBC

Looking specifically at the American iteration of the show, The Voice has had a history of wildcard coaches over the years. By wildcard, I mean individuals who broke the mold of the previously determined recipe of success for The Voice. When The Voice experienced their first turnover in Season 4, when Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green departed, being replaced by Shakira and Usher, respectively. Having big careers in the pop world, they were logical swaps. Perhaps the biggest shift was during Season 7 with the introduction of Pharrell Williams. Mostly known as a producer, his ability to bring his experience from a different vantage proved that The Voice doesn’t always need “singers” in the coaches’ chairs.

And then came Chance the Rapper, and then Snoop Dogg. It was truly the first time that The Voice strayed away from pure pop and brought in individuals who mastered a different music genre. Chance the Rapper, in his two seasons, did well, bringing a fresh perspective as a writer and someone who was still building their identity. For Snoop Dogg, it was easily the boldest choice the show had ever made. With initial trepidation as to how he would serve, he became an exceptional rookie coach. He proved that experience as a showman and face of Death Jam Records was exactly what The Voice needed. While some may consider Eminem to be a wild card option, with precedent already set, he could make a fantastic addition to The Voice family.