Eminem’s ASL Interpreter Steals the Show at Firefly Music Festival [VIDEO]
Eminem was one of the headliners at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware, but the Detroit rapper's American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter is the one who stole the show.
While going hard on the track, "Rap God" (from The Marshall Matters LP 2 studio album), the rapper's ASL interpreter, who was identified as Holly Maniatty, set social media on fire after a concertgoer uploaded a clip of Maniatty doing sign language to incredibly fast lyrics, reports ET Canada.
Turns out, this isn't Maniatty's first time at the rodeo. The famed ASL interpreter has also performed alongside rappers Snoop Dogg, JAY-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys and Waka Flocka Flame.
Last summer, Maniatty told CBC in an exclusive interview that she often spends three to four months researching the songs artists regularly perform at their concerts, especially hip-hop shows.
“For example, when I was getting ready for the Wu-Tang show, they talk about riots in the street," Maniatty said. "And at that time, the Ferguson riots were just kind of finishing up so of course your mind would jump there because that’s a current event but you kind of have to take a moment.”
She continued: “Go see when that song was written and see that they’re probably talking about the L.A. riots. And then think about something that’s more iconic about the L.A. riots in terms of visual accessibility and kind of build your interpretation that way to make it as authentic and close to the meaning of the person who wrote it. You just want to make sure that you’re providing the most authentic interpretation you can.”
Back in 2015, ASL interpreter Shelby Mitchusson made a sign language video for Eminem's "Lose Yourself," and it went viral, racking up over 1.5 million views.
Earlier this month, Eminem responded to criticism over the realistic gunshot sound effects he used at the Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival, which caused the audience to panic. According to Billboard, the rapper issued a warning ahead of his Firefly performance that read: "If you are easily frightened by loud noises or offended by explicit lyrics you shouldn't be here."
Watch Holly Maniatty Steal The Show
Watch Holly Maniatty "Go Hard in the Paint" with Waka Flocka