It’s not because I hate him, or because he’s made a fortune out of expelling rage. It’s not because I dislike rap music, or because I’m narrow-minded about the way he chooses to say what he has to say.

It’s because he’s been made into a celebrity by a machine that attempts to manufacture their product at a daily rate.

The latest proof: A cover story in the once most prominent music magazine in the country.

Taking a glimpse at the July 24 Rolling Stone cover — a shirtless drawing of the top-selling rapper copping the same pose as he has on the last two covers — sealed the deal.

Their levels have reached a new low: “The Genius of Eminem: Essential Albums, Bootlegs and the Making of ‘Lose Yourself.'”

Eminem has a story. He’s told it before; he’ll probably do it a few more times. Whether talking about it on an album or living an alter ego in a movie, he doesn’t seem to let it go.

Is he spewing about social issues and how they’ve affected him — or is it just a whiny white guy talking about how much he hates his mom and how much he loves his daughter, peppered with the oh-so-literary profanity that only someone like his daughter can look up to?

I don’t want to digress too far from my point: It isn’t just Eminem.

It’s also Avril Lavigne, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, 50 Cent, Colin Farrell, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Clay Aiken, Madonna, Hillary Clinton, Michael Jackson, J-Lo and Ben and even “Dubya.”

It’s not that a general public will not ever be amused by the triumphs and foibles of a given celebrity or that this obsession is ever going to end. Hell, I eat it up as much as the next person does — to the point of coughing up $1.97 to read Star Magazine over my break.

It’s just that it pisses me off.

Kelefa Sanneh, who penned the article, has done nothing more than provided Rolling Stone readers with a Teen Beat fan club update of what’s been happening to Eminem in the last few years.

In a prowess of either “He’s so great” or “He’s so cute,” Sanneh’s article only lives in about a page and a half of copy.

The rest is snippets of other people talking about how truly wonderful he is.

Ironically, the article itself never comes close to illustrating the genius of Eminem. I didn’t learn anything about him that I’ve never heard before, and it only provided a few behind-the-scenes tidbits.

It’s great the guy has sold 20 million albums, starred in a movie based on his life, continues to receive movie offers once a week, heads a clothing line, a record company and is on the market for endorsements.

But isn’t the argument provided he’s not only a product of the machine, but also incorporating himself as a manufacturer?

Pick anyone else and you could do the same: Take Demi Moore, for example.

Moore’s career went from being a Brat-Packer to calling her own shots.

Being regarded as a sex symbol, she constantly united her sexual image and her art — highlighted by a “highest-paid” lead actress status for simply removing her top.

After taking a break from the biz, she gets nipped and tucked, coming back with a new movie and boyfriend that has made her slumped career a thing of the past.

Moore may truly share something with Kutcher, but one really needs to consider that Moore has always looked out for herself, especially in a business frame of mind.

What better way to throw yourself on every tabloid in the country by hooking up with someone 15 years younger than you?

Now that’s genius. Ricka, ricka Slim Shady, indeed.

Fan or not, the most satisfying thing about Eminem’s seven-page “I’m the greatest” advertisement: In the section labeled “5 Bootlegs Worth Your Time,” Eminem pokes fun in a song called “The Sauce,” explaining how his once-favorite magazine went downhill.

Isn’t it ironic how my feelings for Rolling Stone could not mirror those of ol’ Shady himself? There’s a whole new argument in itself: Maybe I’ll write a song about it.

Eminem a genius? Maybe to some. I wouldn’t consider him to be one, but this is all a speculative, subjective matter of taste.

I guess if you’re going to devote a cover story to some dude who likes to rap about his opinions and experiences, at least you could live up to your claim.