While E-40 talked mostly about football in an interview with ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby on Friday (January 28), the “Choices” lyricist was asked at the end of the show to offer his thoughts on a Verzuz question posed by Dr. Dre on Sunday (January 23). Who, if anyone, could potentially compete against Eminem in a battle?
“With his style of rap, I really feel like the person that nobody wanna see in a Verzuz battle, imma keep it one-thou-wow and I love Eminem. I love this guy too to the fullest, and his talent speaks for himself. Busta Rhyme would eat Eminem in a Verzuz battle,” E-40 said.
“I really believe that. Busta Rhymes goes crazy, because now it’s turned into a performance type of situation. Busta Rhyme is animated, he got gas, he rap fast, all that. He do all that stuff Eminem do and Busta Rhyme got uptempo slaps that get the party going. Anytime you got uptempo slaps you’re gonna win.”
Host Jalen Rose later shared the exchange to his Instagram page, and the comments were flooded with conflicting opinions. “E-40 what you on my man,” one Instagram user wrote. “When you think about it…40 Water right,” wrote another.
Dr. Dre Disciple KNXG Crooked Casts Reasonable Doubt On Eminem + Busta Rhymes Verzuz
While it remains to be seen whether Busta Rhymes or Em even consider stepping into the ring, E-40 himself is no stranger to the Verzuz stage. The Bay Area rapper graced the stage himself in 2020 against longtime collaborator Too $hort for one of the series most memorable battles. In an interview with HipHopDX before the battle, E-40 spoke about his love of Too $hort, and about the pair’s latest album Ain’t Gone Do It / Terms and Conditions.
“Too $hort’s the big homie,” he said. “Just to be on the album with them two tycoons, man. You feel me? We’re tycoons, too, but you know they the young tycoons. You know? So that’s me and him. We’re going to make another album, as well, another classic, but like I say, it was beautiful to have me and $hort because that’s my big bro, man. He the Godfather. I’m the ambassador. You feel me?”
Busta one of the only guys that could beat Eminem in a Verzuz. I don’t think anyone wanna go at Busta. He’s arguably the best performer ever.
Yoooo, what the hell this guy smokin, Eminem,would destroy anybody on stage, how many top 10s does em have, hes played sold out arenas,his experience on stage his greater than anybodys, j
Thats where you lost us real hip hop fans. Back there! Hip hop isn’t about record sales or concerts. It’s about distance, most, also a way of life. Busta would destroy that kid
Emeinem would destroy anybody on verzus, jay z, nas anybody, know body has experience on stage,he has so many hits, its not even fair,
You tripping. He’s good, but not that good. He couldn’t beat anyone you named
Lay off the crack white boy
3 people Em cannot beat: Nas, Redman and Rass Kass. I truly believe those 3 lyricists would destroy EM.
Busta would dominate that verzus situation hands down,those who think otherwise are delusional Lol
Limit Em to his last 4 albums and he still bodies Bus. You’re on crack if you think Busta could beat the white hope. E-40 just needs to shut up and keep selling dope.
Nah you’re on crack if you think Em will outperform Bussa in a versuz. Im going off stage presence and energy,you are a fool if you think Em got that over Busta Rhymes. No matter what songs are picked! Be real with yourself bruh Lol,put some respect on Bussa Buss
If its just busta’s singles and not stuff hes featured on then fxck no hes not beatin em, fxxk outta here with that dumb shit
Em is never going to do Verzuz. Simply because he knows the playing field is skewed against him. The heart of rap wants to hear a certain kind of music. Eminem doesn’t make that kind of music. But it would be dope as fuck for Em to get up there and perform Kim, Get You Mad, Superman, all his fucked shit.
Only reasonable comment here. Also it is not really ‘the heart of rap’, it is what a spcific demogaphic wants to hear. They want street and club ish basically. That’s the verzuz audience. It isn’t really about hits or quality of music. It is about a specific type of crowd pleasing music
This one tough, I’m a big Em fan but idk if verzuz is built for his music. If he does do it, he has to leave out some of his biggest hits like monster, love the way you lie, not afraid, or any of those type of songs. No one wants to hear that in a verzuz
Both are elite emcees. I do think Busta has an edge with performance. He has an energy that Eminem doesnt have. Not to say he isnt a good performer but he doesnt have that type of energy. Go back and watch some 90s busta performances. I remember watching one on MTV back then and is had never seen anything like that before. It stood out
Busta wouldn’t beat Xzibit. Relax with the bullshit. Em would cook anyone but Nas. Yall got short memory like a crackhead turned preacher.
Can’t battle against a rap graveyard. Eminem done killed the game and every rapper in it.
Fiiiiyyyyaaaa facts bruh!
FACTS. BUSTA WOULD EAT EM.
I think that one of few artist who will match Busta is Redman. He might not rap fast, but he is animated with club bangers.
I agree Redman, Missy and Ludacris sound wise sound like a better match also DMX rip
This is so stupid. The only thing the 2 have in common is they both rap fast and used to drop animated singles in the day. Marshall is on a completely different stratosphere than Bus and I’ve been listening to Busta since I was a kid. No disrespect, obviously his Scenario verse is a W but there’s NOTHING else in his catalog Em can’t best. Not having club songs isn’t a weakness, Not Afraid and Lose Yourself will still kill any club anthem. And for those saying Busta is the better performer? Have y’all not seen Em put on a show??? His energy vocal performance set crowd control is all crazy. He’s the best to do it in all categories. Busta can’t fxck with Ems classics
fuck outta here with that busta shit put jay z in there against ’em’ and it’d be even. y’all talkin em em you forgot about shady. you bring shady out and busta will get hard fucked and creampied in his ashy ass
The verzus is 20 songs right? Em should go with 1. Till my bone collapse. 20. Lose yourself. Rest of the list cant be numbered because it depends on what the other rapper decides to play but he should pull out mostly underground bangers like Go to Sleep, S on You, Kill You, Dead Wrong, Just Dont Give A, Murder Murder, Bitch Please 2 with all features if the other artist brings out guests etc. He could pull out Superman or Shake That in case of a lady joint emergency. Come to think of it. Em might put up a solid enough 20 to beat Busta. Problem is if he can match the energy.
?????????? Who listen to him r those off brands. Busta hard for years ate mystikal on his own songs for years. Tec, moneybagg, kolyon, Vado, bars for bars never have I bought dude album hell even checked for his music it has no substance only for mentally challenged people kuz he hollers bout the same stuff flow neva changes he’s stagnant he hasn’t grown n dat otha dude u named only had his first album that was nice the rest sucked ass like ur comment
Yaaawwwn! All this rap shit is too serious and boring! Any boys wanna come pack my anus???? Toot toot!
Eminem is novelty rap that went too far. Busta is true creativity. A Busta Rhymes vs Q-Tip would be nice.
its funny how ppl dont want to give em the credit he deserves like real talk em bodies ppl and funny how he dont get the same respect cause why hes white lord dont let that be the reason like i bet em would body a lot of these new katz owww my bad he already did, em made mgk go kpop what is kpop i thought it was pop lmao like dont nobody wants to admit that he reall put this stuff oon his back and made ppl 50 would neva been around if it wasnt for him like 4 real give the man his flowers and call it a day cause the fact is em is rap/hiphop the kind of music i would listen too no nba gay boi or any otf or any of that bs music these so call ppl call music i would love to see a eminem vs busta just for the sake of hip hop i wouldnt care who wins or loses cause i been listen to both for years, i would enjoy both rappers ive been to both concerts and all that very entertaining. the funny thing is these 2 rappers been around for a long time it be amazing if these rappers now days make it to go as far as these 2 , so put some respec on em and lats do a busta vs em vz that be fire asf
Bruh you just wrote the world’s longest run on sentence.
I’m from that era with Tupac and E-40 and believe me E-40 know his music just like Eminem do he’s nice and he got killer flow but Busta Rhymes something different always being that OG Go Bananas super crazy twin Choppers bussing at the same time clip 4 clip let’s get it buster versus Eminem
Busta vs Mystikal
Lil Wayne, or Busta
I run rap, tell MCs to watch they back. I’m the man of the hour watching girls take a shower.
Why Em fans always going hard in the comments defending dude? His legacy is secure, fall back. I love Wu Tang but I’m not twisted up in knots every time RZA does some douchy shit.
Them white boys insecure about everything
Eminem makes everyone insecure.
Tell that to the ‘African Americans’ in the hood that never been to Africa but blame the whites for everything.
Really? Most of the comments I see are from ignorant contrarians claiming that Em doesn’t have any hits to take into a versus, which is possibly the stupidest stance ever. The most commercial rapper of all time is going to struggle in a glorified popularity contest? Don’t be silly.
em’s discography highly overrated. most of his old hits wouldn’t slap that hard in a versus…hi my name is smh real slim shady ehh…he’ll win a few with lose yourself and maybe soldier but then after that its curtains…busta, jay, Wayne, drake, would all mollywop him. stans keeping him alive though lol
If it goes to a battle rap setting like Jada made it with the lox em wins ….. rabbit run, till I collapse, 8 mile Rd, bitch please 2, Stan, the real slim shady, mosh, warrior remix, patiently waiting verse, renegade etc em aint even my top ten but don’t sleep on Marshall
The only VERZUZ to make is Hov vs Busta.
Same prominent years in the industry with hits, both lyrically competent, along with creativity…
Hit for hit, GLOBALLY, you won’t have a better showing.
No one else.
Not Wayne, Em, or anyone else.
And THIS would be the best VERZUZ we’ve ever had.
Versuz is a popularity battle, and this has been what I’ve noticed in all of them.
Lox vs dipset proved its way more than a popularity battle.
Em don’t want it!!
Busta could very well beat Eminem in a Verzuz. Anyone denying that truly doesn’t know Busta or his catalog.
Lol
Be glad to not know he’s catalog, it sucks!
Who cares what this washed up, talentless has been says
Strictly performing, only KRS is in Busta’s orbit but song wise? Y’all gotta relax
Another washed up rapper looking for attention
Woo Haa!!
Only problem is Busta only got 3 good songs, no classic albums, Eminem would destroy this guy even if he 0 hits!
Get a load of this idiot
Busta would most definitely NOT kill Eminem in a versus. People wouldn’t even wanna see such a versus to begin with. Sounds like they’re just trying to get Busta in position to market more than anything cause ain’t no way you telling me Busta even has anywhere close to the hits Em has. 3 bangers at best and it’s over from there!
Busta can’t win this. Popularity contest or straight freestyling. Period.
I love E-40, but that is a ridiculous comment. Busta is more animated… and that’s it. Not as good at rapping, songs not as big/popular (verzuz is a popularity contest at the end of the day), there is no universe where we go through their catalogs and Busta comes out on top. I like all artists involved, but this is a joke.
Eminem is a fuckin goofy ass cornball. Plus he is a known cuckold. I would smack the white off his ass. Also i would smack the kippah off of paul rosenberg head.
Weirdo white troll guy. Hates the chosen. Works at Arby’s. Is what you’re doing here cosplay fuck boy? Incel dork.
I keep it foul, My big Homies on the block reaching your pants to see if you holding that thing. And if you got it we dip you ain’t got it, we slapping
I swear this website is the home of the official i love Eminem but I don’t know anything about hip hop crowd, ?. If you put them in an arena and Busta Drops “Put your hands where my eyes can see”, what is em going to do? Play “My name is”? Lol. Em has 0 slaps. Yes Em can spit but is he really that much better than Busta? Only to Eminem non hip hop fans. Smh.
How do you define slap? Because if you go through the Em catalog you will find he has plenty of anthems that are still played today to get people hyped up. He doesnt have club songs, but he has lots of hype music and stadium songs. So how do you define slap? Why is it that every Em hater defaults to My Name Is but forgets about lose yourself, the way I am, till I collapse (the list goes on, every album has these kinds of songs so I will stop here). Verzuz is a popularity contest as well, and so even if you like Busta Rhymes more the commercial success isn’t even close, the chart numbers aren’t close. The general population prefers Eminem way more, which means this would not be a contest.i love Busta Rhymes btw, just saying this is ridiculous and comments like the dude above pisd md off because Em gets reduced to My Name Is every time. No respect on here for the legends. Smh.
40 upset the White Boys.
If we talking about tracks to hype up people and go crazy on the stage Busta really would have a good chance to win against EM. That is no hate against EM cause he has a lot of good tracks, too.
Just if I go back thinking about Bustas catalog, he may not have a total classic but every album has at least a few bangers that would go pretty hard in a battle.
So yeah, I don’t say Busta Rhymes will crush EM but the idea of him winning is not the most unrealistic thing ever.
Eminem couldn’t even beat MGK in a battle rap. For real, Rap Devil is a classic battle rap, Killshot is… bizarre. If you look at views, they’re about dead level, and MGK’s first week sales outdid Eminem’s last. Which is sad because MGK isn’t even a rapper. He’s an emo boy who talks passionately sometimes.
In rap, as in life, your opponent matters. Even if Eminem had WON in that MGK battle, he lost. But he didn’t. So I think that ended the debate about anything. Only thing Eminem is winning at is marketing and being in a country with 150 million pissed off white boys.
These men have full-time marketing teams and billion dollar record labels backing them. How they can be this un-self aware is baffling?
Asking “Who would win a battle rap” in 2022 is like asking “Who moonwalks better, Michael Jackson or Shalamar?” in 2002.