Eminem's ASL interpreter stole the show at Firefly

She's the same interpreter behind a lot of your favorite rappers.

If you've been to a big concert recently, you may have witnessed the mesmerizing skills of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.

Their skills are as enthralling as the performers on stage, and the latest viral video of one interpreter at an Eminem concert in particular is proof.

The original video, uploaded to Facebook by Kate Starr Fillingame, shows famed interpreter Holly Maniatty to the side of the stage, signing along to "Rap God" with Eminem as he performs at the Firefly Music Festival.

Maniatty has become a star in her own right after numerous appearances alongside rappers like Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Wu Tang Clan, Beastie Boys, and more over the years — in addition to previous Eminem concerts. She's also the same interpreter that garnered internet attention after a video with Waka Flocka showed the rapper confusing her signing for dancing.

According to an interview with CBC, Maniatty got her start interpreting shows like Eminem's after interpreting a Marilyn Manson concert. For hip hop shows in particular, there is a lot of research and preparation that goes into her performance.

"For example, when I was getting ready for the Wu-Tang show, they talk about riots in the street. 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 explained to CBC.

"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 as authentic and close to the meaning of the person who wrote it," she continued. "You just want to make sure that you're providing the most authentic interpretation you can."

Maniatty is just one wave in a sea of accessible concerts over the past few years. Rappers like Chance the Rapper are making the presence of interpreters like her mandatory at their shows. Last year, the Chicago native announced his live performances on tour would incorporate interpreters, and reserved 50 front row seats for the deaf and hard of hearing fans in his audiences.

Topics Music

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