The “real Hip Hop” versus “fake Hip Hop” argument is a topic routinely discussed and dissected. There are those who discredit the current rap generation for not having respect for the pioneers who helped establish Hip Hop culture.

So, when Eminem sat down with French outlet Skyrock, naturally, the subject popped up. When asked whether the new rappers respect Hip Hop’s forefathers, Slim Shady explained why some of them could use “a Hip Hop lesson.”

“As far as the new generation, I think some of the artists do [pay homage] and some of them probably don’t really care,” he said. “Me in particular, I’ve always been such a fan of rap, too. My heroes will always stay my heroes. And the people who, especially like, paved the road for someone like me, you know, I always pay homage to the ones who came before me because they made Hip Hop what it is today. They are responsible.

“Our Hip Hop forefathers are responsible for rap even [being] here,” he continued. “What I would say to somebody coming up who is young in the game and doesn’t really respect that, [they] should go back and probably listen, and get a Hip Hop lesson. It’s one of the things that I’m able to do by feeding off that old energy and the new energy that’s out right now, and able to try to intertwine those. I would suggest, just for the fun of it if anything, going back and listening to … if you have maybe heard of Rakim but you don’t know his music, go listen to Rakim.”

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Mr. Mathers went on to list Masta Ace, Naughty By Nature’s Treach, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane as examples of dope MCs, and commended that era of Hip Hop.

Elsewhere in the interview, Shady talked about his approach to songwriting, getting Beyoncé on “Walk On Water,” and the differences between Marshal Mathers and Slim Shady.

Watch the entire interview above.