Hollywood actor and comedian Nick Cannon is too proud to back down. The hip-hop veteran has stepped up to defend going to war against self-proclaimed rap god Eminem.
Nick Cannon Won’t Back Down
In a new interview, Cannon dished on his dedication to fueling a rap battle against Slim Shady. Nick also explained why he couldn’t help but clap back at Em after getting singled out on a 2019 song.
“My response was his invitation to Wild ‘N Out, and that still stands. You gotta remember, I was defending myself once again. He keeps bringing it up for decades. I’m one of those cats that matches energy. I don’t do it — I overdo it. Even in high school, I was a little guy, but if you made fun of me, I was gonna make fun of you, your momma, and that’s the same energy of Wild ‘N Out. It was a month of social commentary, but if you’ve ever heard me speak on this matter, I always give that dude his props as an icon in hip-hop. I think he knows better now. If he keeps talking about me, I’m gonna keep talking back.” (Billboard)
It Doesn’t End There
Cannon had some more thoughts on the headline-generating situation. He also explained past comments made about Em being a product of institutional racism.
“It’s the idea that there is a superior class of people who are judged by a different measuring stick. It’s something Eminem has even addressed being a guest in the house of hip-hop. When you come from a culture that was built by a community that didn’t have something of their own, but were able to embrace it and it became a new conduit of information for a new culture. And when someone comes in and shines in that medium and takes it to the masses, it’s the same thing as [what] Elvis Presley [did]. There’s nothing wrong with it, but you gotta accept it for what it is.” (Billboard)
Wait, There’s More
In December 2019, Cannon released his hard-hitting “Canceled” song going at Em. The record features a past, controversial Slim Shady sample.
Over 10 years ago, a freestyle surfaced of Em calling black women “b*tches” and “dumb.”
Before You Go
Back in 2003, Em apologized for his past racist bars after they went viral.
The racism charge clearly has the potential to do real damage to Eminem, in a way that even venom-spitting at “fags” and “bitches” cannot. He put out a statement explaining: “The tape … was something I made out of anger, stupidity and frustration when I was a teenager. I’d just broken up with my girlfriend, who was African American, and I reacted like the angry, stupid kid I was. I hope people will take it for the foolishness that it was, not for what somebody is trying to make it into today.” (Independent)