Rakim praises Eminem on Shade 45.
It’s no secret that Eminem admires Rakim, the “Godfather of the Modern Flow.” Consider Em’s declaration in “Rap God” that he is a “Product Of Rakim.” Or there’s “I’m Back,” in which Em does a macabre take on Rakim’s “My Melody” bars. Em has a long history of respect on his side, and when asked, the former Aftermath legend has been quick to reciprocate. During a recent interview on Shade 45 with DJ Whoo Kid, Ra made sure to mention Em.
The legendary Rakim made a visit to Shade 45 for an interview with DJ Whoo Kid. On the show, DJ Whoo Kid asks Rakim about having respect for lyricists in the rap game and Eminem being a good lyricist on which he replied “He’s beast. That’s my man“.
An open co-sign during a time when Em’s credibility has been questioned, particularly by elder statesmen like Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian. Whoo Kidd jumps in with a question about whether Ra respects lyricists more than a more songwriting-inclined artist.
“It depends,” responds the legendary emcee. “You got some rappers who make dope songs, and you got lyricists that make us rewind the song. It’s like, I’m still a fan of hip-hop. It could be male, female, white, black. I know it when I hear it, and I love to hear it. People pushing the envelope, keeping the genre alive.”
That’s another case of reality recognizing reality. Rakim and Eminem deserve respect for being true beasts on the mic. It’s a shame they never collaborated on any music that was released, but who knows what Dr. Dre’s vaults hold.
Eminem passed Lil Wayne (six) for the most top 10 starts among men in the chart’s 55-year history with “Rap God.” The song has been certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 1,896,000 copies in the United States as of September 2017.
Watch the full thing below.
