Throughout the album Kamikaze, Eminem has put numerous rappers, as well as artists in general, on the altar of criticism with his disses. This was despite the fact that he was already 45 years old and had seen many changes in the rap game.

The gap in skill level between the rap God and newer rappers remains vast, making a confrontation with Eminem currently an impossible choice for them. No rapper wants to be a target for Slim Shady, especially when the past has shown that those who do often do not end up well.

However, among them, one person dared to stand up and respond to Eminem, leading to one of the most memorable battles in hip-hop history: the confrontation between the old and the new, the past and the future, which left a significant impact on hip-hop culture.

Everything began on May 7, 2012, when Cleveland rapper Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) made inappropriate comments about Hailie Jade, Eminem’s daughter, on Twitter. Complimenting someone on their attractiveness isn’t uncommon, but MGK failed to consider that Hailie was only 16 at the time, creating a strange atmosphere around Kelly’s tweet. At that moment, nothing happened, but on October 18, 2015, MGK appeared in an interview with Hot 97 FM and revealed that he had been banned from several radio stations due to his comments about Hailie.

He stated that when a photo of Hailie was posted, he was only 21 or 22 years old and meant to say she was beautiful, but respectfully. He felt people viewed him as a creep because of their age difference, and he lamented that some people now refuse to listen to or review his music.

On March 1, 2018, MGK featured on Tech N9ne’s song “No Reason,” where he subtly aimed at Eminem. In his verses, MGK referenced Eminem’s track “I Need a Doctor,” expressing his feeling of not being recognized by Eminem or the audience, which carried significant weight for MGK as he openly acknowledged Eminem as his idol. However, the situation didn’t truly grab the audience’s attention until the evening of August 31, 2018, when Eminem unexpectedly released Kamikaze, one of the most notable albums of his career. This album was a diss rap album in which Eminem targeted numerous artists, focusing primarily on the new wave of hip-hop artists like Lil Pump, Lil Xan, and others.

Many rappers quickly responded to Eminem’s attacks, including Jaru, 6ix9ine, Iggy Azalea, and Joe Budden, among others. While 6ix9ine even remixed Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” in a mocking manner, others voiced their opinions on Eminem’s comments. However, it was MGK’s diss track “Rap Devil,” released on September 3, 2018, in response to “Not Alike,” that stood out. In “Rap Devil,” MGK asserted that he was not just standing up for himself, but for his generation as well, echoing the same rebellious spirit that Eminem had once embodied.

“Rap Devil” consists of four verses, with a beat produced by Ronnie J. Despite some skepticism from audiences regarding the production, MGK received acknowledgment from Eminem, who later stated that “Rap Devil” was not a bad track. Throughout “Rap Devil,” MGK referred to Eminem’s age, questioning his relevance in contemporary rap and stating that he was only bullying younger artists to maintain his position as rap God.

In response, Eminem released “Killshot” on September 14, 2018, officially concluding the feud. The title “Killshot” references a film set in Detroit, Eminem’s hometown. Eminem’s verses included clever wordplay and punchlines that mocked MGK’s career and music. He compared MGK to an obsessed fan trying to imitate him and threw in references to MGK’s past comments about Eminem’s daughter, implying that he wouldn’t even consider MGK a worthy opponent.

After the release of “Killshot,” MGK’s reputation suffered greatly. On September 17, 2018, he wore a shirt featuring the track “Killshot” during a performance of “Rap Devil,” which led to backlash from fans. Later, he expressed disappointment during an interview, stating he wished he could have addressed the situation directly with Eminem.

Ultimately, Eminem mentioned MGK once more in the song “Unaccommodating” from his album Music to Be Murdered By, affirming that the beef was finished. Reflecting on this feud, it’s crucial to recognize the bravery that MGK showed in standing up to Eminem when many wouldn’t dare. In hip-hop culture, diss tracks are a common platform for expression, and both Eminem and MGK left a significant legacy of diss tracks that will endure in the history of rap.

Let’s appreciate the contributions both artists have made to hip-hop, and remember that the essence of art transcends fame and wealth. The legacy of their rivalry reminds us of the importance of authenticity in artistry. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to support the hip-hop community. See you in the next video!