Eminem and MGK have had a long-running feud that stems from multiple factors over the years. It started brewing back in 2012, but erupted in 2018 after MGK called Eminem’s then 16-year-old daughter Hailie “hot as fuck” in a tweet. Eminem took offense and dissed MGK on his album Kamikaze. MGK then responded with his own diss track aimed at Eminem. The beef highlights differences in age, careers, popularity, and respect in the rap game.
How Did The Beef Start?
MGK and Eminem’s feud has its origins back in 2012. At the time, MGK tweeted that Eminem’s daughter Hailie was “hot as fuck” when she was just 16 years old. Eminem was obviously bothered by a fellow rapper sexualizing his underage daughter. However, he did not immediately retaliate.
The feud lay dormant for years until Eminem surprise dropped his album Kamikaze in 2018. On the track “Not Alike”, Eminem directly calls out MGK and criticizes him for his 2012 tweet about Hailie:
“I’m talkin’ to you, but you already know who the fuck you R. Kelly; I don’t use sublims and sure as fuck don’t sneak-diss”
“But keep commenting on my daughter Hailie”
With this lyric, Eminem made it clear he had not forgotten about MGK’s inappropriate tweet and was ready to retaliate six years later.
MGK Strikes Back
MGK did not take kindly to Eminem’s diss on Kamikaze. He responded with his own diss track called “Rap Devil” where he directly attacks Eminem for a variety of reasons:
- He criticizes Eminem’s age and relevancy in rap
- He accuses Eminem of trying to sabotage his career
- He claims he is not scared of Eminem
Some key lyrics from “Rap Devil” include:
“Em, you’re pushing 50, why you claim I’ma call Puff when you’re the one that called Diddy”
“I’m the greatest rapper since 25 years old Marshall Mathers”
“Just remember you said my name/ I’m the Motherfuckin’ Rap Devil”
With these lyrics, MGK positioned himself as the hot young rapper coming for Eminem’s crown, while portraying Eminem as old and outdated.
Eminem Strikes Back – Hard
Eminem wasted no time clapping back at MGK with the track “Killshot” where he goes after MGK ruthlessly:
- He criticizes MGK’s rap skills and career
- Implies MGK is just an Eminem wannabe
- Threatens to “kill” MGK’s career
Some key lyrics from “Killshot” include:
“Knees weak of old age, the real Slim Shady can’t stand up”
“I’m 45 and I’m still outselling you”
“I’d rather be 80 year old me than 20 year old you”
“I’m sick of you bein’ wack and still using that mothafuckin’ Auto-Tune”
“I’ll have to give you a career to destroy it”
With “Killshot”, Eminem cemented his victory over MGK by brutally insulting him and reasserting himself as the rap king. He portrayed MGK as a mediocre hack while reminding everyone of his own legendary skills and status.
What Fueled The Beef?
Looking closely at the diss tracks, we can identify key factors that fueled the bad blood between these two rappers:
Age Differences
When MGK called out Eminem for being old, he struck a nerve. There is a big age gap between the two – MGK is 32 years younger. MGK positioned himself as the hot new thing coming to take Em’s spot. Eminem retaliated by embracing his age and experience, portraying MGK as an inexperienced youngster.
Career Success
Eminem is arguably one of the most successful rappers ever with over 220 million records sold. Meanwhile, MGK is successful but not nearly at Em’s level. MGK dissing Em was seen by some as disrespectful given the experience and popularity gap between them.
MGK’s 2012 Tweet About Hailie
Eminem was clearly very bothered by MGK sexualizing his young daughter. His reminder of this tweet on “Not Alike” made it one of the driving forces of the feud. It triggered Eminem’s fatherly protective instincts against MGK.
Claiming “Rap God” Status
By proclaiming himself the new “Rap Devil” and “greatest rapper alive since 25 years old Marshall Mathers,” MGK positioned himself as the heir to Eminem’s “Rap God” throne. Eminem’s aggressive response aimed to put MGK in his place and remind him there can only be one “Rap God”.
How Did Each Side Perform?
We can compare Eminem and MGK’s feud by looking at how their diss tracks performed commercially:
| Song | YouTube Views | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Rap Devil | 143 million | #3 Billboard Hot 100 |
| Killshot | 388 million | #3 Billboard Hot 100 |
Based on much higher YouTube views and matching MGK’s peak chart position, Eminem’s “Killshot” clearly came out on top commercially. While MGK held his own, Eminem essentially ended his career with “Killshot” which contributed to MGK pivoting his style more towards pop punk.
How Has MGK Responded Since?
In the aftermath of Eminem’s vicious “Killshot” diss, MGK seems to have backed off from escalating the feud further. Some key things he has said and done include:
- In late 2018, he said on Twitter “I’m standing down” and that Eminem is “the greatest rapper alive”
- He has not released another direct diss track targeting Eminem
- His 2020 album Tickets to My Downfall was pop punk, straying from rap feuds
- In 2022, he said it was “frivolous” and he regrets how he handled the feud
Based on this, MGK seems to have taken the loss and acknowledged Eminem bested him. The feud appears to have fizzled out from MGK’s end.
Has Eminem Responded Since Killshot?
On the flip side, Eminem does not seem to have fully let go of the feud yet. A few subtle jabs he has thrown at MGK include:
- In a 2019 track, he referred to MGK as a “mumble rapper”
- In 2020, he referenced MGK on a song with Juice WRLD
- On a 2022 track he boasted “I blew up and now I’m in MGK’s bowel movement”
While Eminem has not given MGK any huge public attention recently, these minor references show he still has some lingering animosity and wants to remind listeners he beat MGK.
Who Really Won The Feud?
Looking objectively at all the evidence, Eminem appears to be the clear victor in his rap feud with MGK:
- Eminem’s diss track got more views and matched MGK’s chart peak
- MGK declined to retaliate after “Killshot” and admitted Eminem won
- Eminem continues to throw subtle shade at MGK years later
- MGK has pivoted genres rather than face Eminem again
While MGK scored some blows critiquing Eminem’s age and calling himself the new “Rap God”, his own career was severely damaged. Eminem reasserted his rap dominance with vicious precision on “Killshot”. For an aging veteran rapper to handily win a feud against an up-and-comer is a powerful statement.
Conclusion
Eminem and MGK’s beef reinforces Eminem’s rap icon status. Even in his mid-40s, he displayed lethal lyricism in puting MGK fully in his place. MGK clearly bit off more than he could chew stepping to someone of Eminem’s legacy. Despite some quality disses, MGK was simply outmatched by Eminem’s skills, popularity, sales, and experience. Years later, Eminem remains a “Rap God” and MGK is on the losing end of one of rap’s biggest feuds this decade. Their beef highlights why few rappers dare target Eminem directly and how his rap supremacy remains untouchable.