Throughout his career, Eminem has always had a habit of going after the political class. “White America” was a shot at censorship and hypocrisy, “Mosh” was a full-blown attack on the Bush administration and the Iraq War, and this time around, Em is taking aim at one single man: President Donald Trump.
The FULL verse that EVERYBODY is talking about! @eminem BODIED THIS! #HipHopAwardspic.twitter.com/zoS0wEwjQF
— BET (@BET) October 11, 2017
Em’s BET Hip Hop Awards cypher verse that was bound to get a reaction — not least because Slim gives his fans an ultimatum on choosing between whether they want to be a fan of his or a Trump supporter. Trump won Em’s home state of Michigan by a narrow margin in the 2016 election and can chalk most of his support up to the “white working class” — a demographic that Em would have fit into for much of his life.
So in an America that is perhaps the most divided it’s been since the Civil War, how did fans and political commentators react to Eminem’s four-minute character assassination of the president?
Veteran political commentator Keith Olbermann, an avid Trump dissenter (and apparent Hip Hop doubter since 1990), wrote on Twitter that he believed the a cappella verse to be the finest political writing of the year so far.
After 27 years of doubts about rap I am now a fan.
Best political writing of the year, period. ?????#Eminem2020https://t.co/JCcrYOIw4f
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 11, 2017
Colin Kaepernick, whose protest Em shows support for throughout the verse, also got in touch to show his appreciation.
I appreciate you @Eminem ✊? pic.twitter.com/nwavBwsOkQ
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) October 11, 2017
LeBron James, who has just recently called Trump a “bum,” and said that visiting the White House is no honor for as long as Trump lives there, quoted some of Em’s lyrics from the verse alongside fire emojis.
Racism is the only thing he's Fantastic 4(fantastic for), cause that's how he gets his rock off, he's orange. Sheesh @Eminem!! ??✊???#Unitedpic.twitter.com/wcL28BCWpy
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 11, 2017
Fellow rapper J. Cole, who recently advocated for a boycott of the NFL until substantive changes are seen within the organization, also tweeted his support for Eminem, calling him “Rap God.”
Whoa. Rap God. @Eminem thank you. Potentttt
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) October 11, 2017
But of course, Eminem’s own past of misogynistic, violent and homophobic lyrics come back to haunt him on issues like this one, and plenty of Trump’s defenders had ample ammunition to discredit Eminem as a valid critic.
#Eminem who made millions corrupting the minds of kids with garbage lyrics.. rapping about murder, rape & drugs.. Get out of here you clown.
— Riya sharma (@riyasharma266) October 11, 2017
Pretty sure Eminem still unabashedly uses anti-Gay slurs in his music
I really don't give a fuck what his wack ass has to say about 45, tbh
— Fleet Water Bearer ♒ (@_hoemo) October 11, 2017
Eminem beat his wife.
— kelsey mckinney (@mckinneykelsey) October 11, 2017
Apparently sexist rappers like #Eminem are the new face of the @DNC. Goes to show how vacant the party is. Good luck in 2018, you'll need it
— Democrats for Trump (@YoungDems4Trump) October 11, 2017
Of course, the one person who hasn’t responded to the verse on Twitter … is Donald Trump himself. Wonder how long that will last.
AD LOADING...
Check out some more reaction below.
Woke this morning to find that Eminem had already been woke. On ?.
— Jennifer Nettles (@JenniferNettles) October 11, 2017
Flow @Eminem flow. https://t.co/pzNhBLTn7z
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) October 11, 2017
eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem. eminem.
— matt nathanson (@mattnathanson) October 11, 2017
— JoJo. (@iamjojo) October 11, 2017
Eminem completely bodied Donald Trump…Marshall Mathers for President. #BETAwards
— Jackson Harris (@Jackson_Harris) October 11, 2017
Very cool to see that Eminem has been reading my tweets.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 11, 2017
.@Eminem killed this shit!!! Fuck that! This is for Collin ball up a fist!!! ✊? pic.twitter.com/RF4jQ4LN2z
— Sean Diddy Combs (@diddy) October 11, 2017
I ❤️ @Eminem.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 11, 2017
Protect Eminem at all cost
— T-Pain (@TPAIN) October 11, 2017
Make America Eminem Again
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) October 11, 2017
Life in the stupidest timeline. pic.twitter.com/FQQ2onev8K
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) October 11, 2017
Trump's fingers after hearing #Eminem's Cypher ? pic.twitter.com/GfO6jYLpRo
— Neff (@Neff213) October 11, 2017
Disappointed that it's nearly 9:30 am and Trump has yet to kick off today's Eminem feud
— Jason Silverstein (@jaysunsilver) October 11, 2017
The list of good 2016-2017 BLACK protest rap and soul you have to step over to lay the props on the 8 Mile guy is long and arduous.
— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) October 11, 2017
That time when Trump endorsed #Eminem for President back in 2004 pic.twitter.com/g8l8TGPLXe
— This Information (@ThisInformed) October 11, 2017
"Washed up" Eminem – who lost clearly to MarvWon at the shelter – has now grown a small beard and insulted our great country. Apologize!
— Donald J. Trump (@BattleRapDon) October 11, 2017