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Los Angeles - Eminem has defended using the term "faggot" in his tracks.
The singer uses the word - a homosexual slur, seen by many as offensive - in the song Rap God from his The Marshall Mathers LP2, but claims he doesn't mean it in its usual context.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "That word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin' or whatever, I never really equated those words... [to actually mean 'homosexual'].
"It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people. And, not saying it's wrong or it's right, but at this point in my career - man, I say so much shit that's tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself."
'I still look at myself the same way'
The Berzerk rapper reiterated he is in favour of gay rights but says he's unlikely to change his ways or edit his language in future.
He added: "I've been doing this shit for, what, 14 years now? And I think people know my personal stance on things and the personas that I create in my music. And if someone doesn't understand that by now, I don't think there's anything I can do to change their mind about it.
"The real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I'm glad we live in a time where it's really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves.
"And I don't know how else to say this, I still look at myself the same way than I did when I was battling and broke."
The singer uses the word - a homosexual slur, seen by many as offensive - in the song Rap God from his The Marshall Mathers LP2, but claims he doesn't mean it in its usual context.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "That word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin' or whatever, I never really equated those words... [to actually mean 'homosexual'].
"It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people. And, not saying it's wrong or it's right, but at this point in my career - man, I say so much shit that's tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself."
'I still look at myself the same way'
The Berzerk rapper reiterated he is in favour of gay rights but says he's unlikely to change his ways or edit his language in future.
He added: "I've been doing this shit for, what, 14 years now? And I think people know my personal stance on things and the personas that I create in my music. And if someone doesn't understand that by now, I don't think there's anything I can do to change their mind about it.
"The real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I'm glad we live in a time where it's really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves.
"And I don't know how else to say this, I still look at myself the same way than I did when I was battling and broke."
