Eminem’s status in hip-hop continues to spark debate. The Detroit rapper is considered by many as one the “greatest rappers of all time” due to his success and rapid rhyme schemes. However, Pan Africanist, Dr. Umar Johnson, during a recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, believes Eminem cannot be considered the greatest rapper of all time because of his white skin.
According to Dr. Umar, since hip-hop was created by Black people, no White person can ever be better than the group of people who created the music and culture.
“No non-African can ever be the best of anything African,” Umar stated. “It’s an insult to the ancestors. It’s an insult to the race and it’s an insult to every Black person.”
“Do you think I can go to Palestine and be the best of anything of Palestinian culture? You never see that,” he continued. “You think I can go to Israel and be the best of anything in Israel whether it be a cook, an instrumentalist, a dancer? Hell no.”
“We have to stop naming non-African people as being the best of any aspect in our cultural product because it’s an insult,” he added.
Watch the clip below.
Dr. Umar’s statements appear to echo those of veteran rapper Melle Mel, whom previously alleged Eminem is only rated because of his white skin.
“Obviously he’s a capable rapper. If you was talking about sales he’s sold more than anybody, if you’re talking about rhyme style, okay he got a rhyme style. But he’s white,” Mel said on the The Art Of Dialogue while discussing Billboard’s 50 Greatest Rappers Of All Time list, which placed Eminem at No. 5.
“If Eminem was just another n-gga like all the rest of us, would he be top 5 on that list… Eminem gets a top spot because he’s white.
This promoted Eminem to respond and also diss Melle Mell on EZ Mil’s single “Realest.”
“Guess I’ve really no right to complain much (Nah)/Hip-hop has been good to me, huh? (Well)/But when they say that I’m only top five ‘Cause I’m white, why would I be stunned? / My skin color still workin’ against me / ‘Cause second I should be to none / Being white ain’t why they put me at five / It’s why they can’t put me at one.”
