Eminem is a notably explicit rapper with some of the most controversial lyrics in mainstream music history. In fact, his words (and the marketing practices of the entertainment industry more broadly) were once the topic of a congressional hearing in 2001, with one representative saying, “When you hear the words about raping your mother or killing your mother, I think that the industry should be embarrassed that that’s award-winning entertainment.”
Back then, it may have seemed unlikely that Em would ever top any Christian music charts, but here in 2022, that’s just what he’s done. On Billboard‘s latest Hot Christian Songs chart, DJ Khaled’s “Use This Gospel (Remix)” featuring Kanye West and Eminem debuts at No. 1. This gives Em and Khaled their first leaders on that chart and Ye his fifth.
The “Use This Gospel” remix has multiple lines in which Em expresses his love for God, including, “Bible at my side like a rifle with a God-given gift / Every single day I thank God for / That’s why I pay so much homage / Praises to Jesus,” and, “So my Savior, I call on / To rescue me from these depths of despair / So these demons better step like a stair / Because He is my shepherd / I’m armed with Jesus, my weapon is prayer.”
So, while a lot of Eminem’s past material may not have been gospel-chart-worthy, his latest is, despite how odd that may read as a headline.
The 2022 season of Hard Knocks with the Detroit Lions concluded last night. The five episode series showed head coach Dan Campbell’s team trying to find an identity and establish a winning culture after a disastrous 3-13-1 previous season. Campbell’s message to the team throughout the season was about having “Grit,” something that means a lot to the workhorse city of Detroit. And it’s hard to think of someone who embodies that grit, passion, and ability to rise up to the top, quite as much as arguably Detroit’s most famous export, Eminem.
So on the season finale, Eminem visited the Lions’ training camp facility and looked to be having a lot of fun in the process. He joked about throwing a football on the street as far as he can, but realizing that it only goes 10 yards. He told quarterback Jared Goff that he was much taller than he expected him to be.
He also volunteered his services to the team, saying, “Any position, I’m good. Actually, any position, I’m great.” He passed the ice baths and a running back Jamaal Williams told him all he needed was a 90-second dip to soothe achy muscles. To that, Em replied, “F*ck that. That’s 90 seconds too long!” He even treated the team to a lunch of his “Mom’s Spaghetti.”
Eminem had clearly been watching this season of Hard Knocks as he referenced rookie phenom Aidan Hutchinson’s rendition of “Billie Jean” in front of the entire team. But what really stood out was that Em was humble, present, and gracious enough to take photos and shake hands and chat with everyone he met. The mutual respect was most evident when he met the Lions head coach and Campbell (who is a massive human and dwarfed the rapper) gave him a hug and said, “Nobody represents this city more than you do. It’s a pleasure to have you out here.”
“Nobody represents this city more than you do.”
HC Dan Campbell has the ultimate respect for Detroit native, @Eminem. (via @NFLFilms)
Authorities reported that Pat Stay, a Canadian battle rapper, has been stabbed to death. Artists such as Drake, Eminem, and NLE Choppa took to social media to honor the rapper. Kings Never Die The authorities reported that Pat Stay, a Canadian battle rapper, was stabbed to death early Sunday morning. Halifax Regional Police shared a […]
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were handed out this weekend and it was a big moment for some notable folks in the music industry: Adele, Eminem, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr all won awards, which puts them each just a Tony Award victory away from attaining the coveted EGOT status — meaning they’ve won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar (Academy Award), and Tony.
The Adele: One Night Only concert special won a total of five awards, as did the The Beatles: Get Back documentary, getting Adele, McCartney, and Starr their first Emmys. This year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show also got three awards, giving Eminem his first Emmy.
Those four artists now join a list of musicians who are just one win away from the EGOT, as they all already had Grammy and Oscar wins under their belts. Aside from the aforementioned, performers just missing a Tony include Cher, Common, producer/composer Ludwig Göransson, Randy Newman, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Barbra Streisand, and composer John Williams. Meanwhile, Oscar Hammerstein II, Elton John, and Stephen Sondheim are an Emmy shy of their EGOT. As for artists who are an Oscar shy, that list includes Quincy Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The short list of those who have gotten their EGOT already includes Richard Rodgers (who secured his in 1962), Helen Hayes (1977), Rita Moreno (1977), John Gielgud (1991), Audrey Hepburn (1994), Marvin Hamlisch (1995), Jonathan Tunick (1997), Mel Brooks (2001), Mike Nichols (2001), Whoopi Goldberg (2002), Scott Rudin (2012), Robert Lopez (2014), Andrew Lloyd Webber (2018), Tim Rice (2018), John Legend (2018), Alan Menken (2020), and Jennifer Hudson (2022).
Find the full list of people (musician or otherwise) who are one win away from an EGOT below.
Pat Stay, a Canadian battle rapper (often hailed as one of the best) from Nova Scotia, died at 36 years old this weekend. TMZ reports he was the victim of a stabbing in downtown Halifax early Sunday (September 4) morning, and later died in a hospital from his injuries.
Stay was widely respected in the hip-hop community, so some of the biggest figures in it have taken a moment to pay tribute to the late rapper.
After hearing the news, Eminem took to Twitter to write, “hiphop lost one of the best battlers of all time … RIP @patstay .. KINGS NEVER DIE!!”
hiphop lost one of the best battlers of all time … RIP @patstay .. KINGS NEVER DIE
Drake also praised Stay on his Instagram Story, writing, “RIP to the Sucka Free Boss @patstay902 one of my fav rappers ever.”
The Alchemist also shared his thoughts, writing, ‘“I can moonwalk with steel toe boots on’ Rest in peace Pat Stay. Battle Rap icon and king. If u know me u know i always thought he was the best. I’m hurt.”
Immortal Technique also tweeted, “Rest in Power Pat Stay. I may not have known him as well as many other of my friends who are broken and in a lot of pain. But I met him in passing and he was a cool down to earth dude.”
Check out reactions above and below.
“I can moonwalk with steel toe boots on” Rest in peace Pat Stay. Battle Rap icon and king. If u know me u know i always thought he was the best. I’m hurt.
Rest in Power Pat Stay. I may not have known him as well as many other of my friends who are broken and in a lot of pain. But I met him in passing and he was a cool down to earth dude. pic.twitter.com/ZinH0PluBG
I just heard the shocking news about Pat Stay, Rest In Peace to a hilarious smart confident really great battle MC/monster also a very cool person and a family man. My condolences to his loved ones.
On social media, the Academy revealed that the performance won the awards for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special, and Outstanding Music Direction.
This year’s Super Bowl was an iconic moment for hip-hop, largely for West Coast hip-hop. In a July interview with Apple Music 1, Blige sat down to reflect on the monumental performance.
“I don’t even have the words to explain how full and how huge of an accomplishment that was,” Blige said. “I just felt so strong. And I felt like, first of all, grateful to have been asked, but I definitely felt like I earned that moment,” Blige remarked. “So when it was my turn, I just showed the world who I was. If you’d never seen me or you never met me or you never went to any of my shows, you know exactly who I am after the Super Bowl. I just couldn’t wait to hit the Mary bopping. I just couldn’t wait to just be myself and do what I do in front of that audience. That was the world, that was a big deal. I was so grateful.”
Mary J. Blige is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Eminem and Snoop Dogg delivered their VMAs performance of “From The D 2 The LBC” live from the metaverse, in character as their Bored Ape NFTs. The new song, which appears on Eminem’s greatest hits compilation Curtain Call 2, is the two veteran rappers’ first collaboration in over 20 years. Their last song together was on Eminem’s 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP.
Prior to their collaboration, though, the two rappers had a minor tiff in 2021 after Snoop admitted (correctly) that he didn’t think Eminem was one of the top ten rappers ever — something that got Eminem’s stans in an uproar even though Snoop showed him love just a day later on Instagram. The incident prompted Em to sneak in what some thought were jabs at Snoop on his album Music To Be Murdered By – Side B. In the song “Zeus,” Em says:
As far as squashin’ beef, I’m used to people knockin’ me
But just not in my camp, I’m diplomatic ’cause I’m tryna be
Last thing I need is Snoop doggin’ me
Man, dog, you was like a damn god to me
Nah, not really
I had “Dog” backwards
Later, he explained that he felt Snoop’s comments were disrespectful, and “threw [him] for a loop.” Snoop shot back that Eminem should “pray” he didn’t respond to the “Zeus” lyrics, but insisted that the two were “still friends,” and in an interview last October, issued a mea culpa, saying he was “out of pocket” with the way he phrased his praise of their mutual rhyme heroes. Earlier this year, they shared the stage for the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Dr. Dre, proving that it’s all good in the hood.