Since transitioning to a different genre, MGK appears to have found renewed confidence, evidenced by his return to the world of rap and his readiness to stir up old rivalries. He seems eager to re-examine, and perhaps rewrite, the history of their clash. MGK has often cited the fallout from his spat with Eminem, especially the impact of Eminem’s cutting “Killshot” diss track, as a significant factor in the decline of his hip-hop trajectory. This beef, according to MGK, tainted his album sales and damaged his reputation, ultimately contributing to his departure from the hip-hop arena. Yet, here we find ourselves once more, amid the echoes of a long-past musical battle.
However, as MGK rekindles this conversation, Eminem is focusing elsewhere. The legendary Detroit rapper is far too occupied with his latest creative venture. Eminem is in the midst of promoting his new album, “The Death of Slim Shady”. This album has already made waves, with its lead single dominating music charts in over 20 countries, outperforming all other songs in the Top 5 during its debut week.
Reflecting on the history of their conflict, its been a whole six years since Eminem and MGK traded lyrical jabs. Kellys Rap Devil diss track was a direct response to the comments Eminem made in his song “Not Alike” on his surprise tenth studio album “Kamikaze”. Eminems barbs were in reaction to derogatory remarks MGK made about his daughter, Hailie Jade, when she was just 16 years old back in 2012.
After MGK’s bold release of “Rap Devil,” Eminem swiftly retaliated with another searing diss track titled “Killshot.” This track is reputed to have played a critical role in MGKs decision to leave the hip-hop world behind and venture into pop-funk.
In a candid interview with actor Dave Franco, MGK candidly discussed the ramifications of this infamous beef on his career. He stated that Hotel Diablo, his 2019 release, was a pivotal project for him. It marked a point where he truly expressed his authentic self without external pressures, particularly from his label. According to MGK, As a hip-hop album, its flawless front to back, and also a hint at the evolution of how I went into a pop-punk album. But it was coming off the tail-end of that infamous beef [with Eminem]. So no one wanted to give it the time of day. Its like if you make a terrible movie and then you come out with a great movie right after, but people want to focus on the fact that they hated whatever you just did. What I did in the beef was exactly what it should be, but that project wasnt welcomed. However, this experience fueled a newfound independence in MGK’s work, leading to a subsequent album that was met with positive reception by critics and audiences alike, due in large part to its raw, unfiltered quality.
As the music world engages with these echoes of past conflicts, fans on all sides are left speculating: Is this just another chapter in an ongoing saga, or the closing act of a story that has already been told?