Despite receiving much praise, Eminem’s headline-making cypher at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards has also received some criticism since it aired earlier this month. The critiques have prompted a defense from some prominent MCs, including Royce Da 5’9.
A number of critics have questioned the technical side of Eminem’s performance. Others have taken issue with the image portrayed in the cypher’s video, which features Eminem standing in front of various members of his Shady Records roster.
Lord Jamar is one of those who criticized the optics of it. The outspoken member of Brand Nubian says he didn’t like the image of a white man standing in front of equally capable black men.
“My problem with the freestyle was the imagery,” he said during an interview with VladTV. “I didn’t like the image of a white man standing in the front of capable black men behind him – ‘cause I saw people like Conway back there. I’m assuming Westside Gunn was back there with him too … I saw Royce [Da 5’9] back there. So my thing as the psychological image of it is we have a white man, with capable black men behind him, but he’s gonna step into the forefront and speak for us when we’re capable of speaking for ourselves. Like real men speak for themselves.
“The psychological picture that that paints and what’s gonna stay with you longer than anything he said is the image that we saw. And the image I saw was another example of, ‘I got this black man. Let the white man come in and save the day. I have a little more fame and power than you. I’m a little more articulate than you.’ That whole Tarzan, Abraham Lincoln, the white man is gonna save the black man imagery, I didn’t like.”
Royce, a longtime friend of Eminem and fellow member of Bad Meets Evil, has responded to Jamar and those who hold a similar view.
“Why do y’all care who was in the background of the fucking cypher?” he said in an Instagram video. “Why do y’all care that it was black people in the background of the cypher? What do you think niggas, man, we was casted? You think it’s some type of imaging that got put together by some fucking white force?
“Eminem is my fucking friend man. He’s been my friend since 1997. I support everything that he does. Just like he supports everything that I do. And I hope you niggas support your friends and your friends support you and if they don’t that’s your fucking problem. But he got up there and used his own platform. What you think my black ass was supposed to do? Come out the background and grab the mic [and say], ‘Give me this mic, white boy. I’m the one supposed to be doing this. I’m the black one.’
“It don’t work like that. It’s a thing called protocol that keeps me from doing that. You wanna know how I feel about the state of things, go listen to my fucking albums. I’m proud to call Eminem my friend. If you got a problem with me supporting my friend, you can kiss my ass.”
Royce isn’t the only notable rapper to defend Slim Shady. In an interview with BET last week, Redman fired back at those who have criticized the technical side of Eminem’s cypher.
“We should not criticize him on, ‘Ugh, his flow was alright. Oh, he didn’t have his shoestring tied up. Oh shit, he had a napkin coming out his pocket when he was doing it. He ain’t look right.’ Nah, fuck all that bullshit! He stood up for injustice … Much respect to Eminem.”
Lord Jamar spend so much time on Vlad couch Vlad charges rent from him
Vlad is pimping Lord Jamar. You know White boys love that Black talk.
Jordan face comments on so many DX articles you would think they pay him a salary
I see Royce is on the C O O N Train too. Money and fame is a powerful tool.
It’s not like they were there for show either, they also had their turn to spit a cypher. The fact that Em’s part was the one who became viral isn’t really his problem, is it? Also, it’s not like he was addressing racial issues either, the issues he rapped about affect us all, so why is it so bad that he spoke about it? Jesus.
Right….did bet air their portion of the cypers?Nope*lmao*
I do not care what anyone says; Lord Jamar always has something interesting to say. I like him. I wish he did record an album nowadays
Lool. Why you so mad? It’s even funny how y’all hate your childhood hero all of a sudden. Guess is a for or against situation as Eminem said himself. He was the greatest to y’all before Trump. Loooool
brand Nubian reunion album needed.
more like “Eminem’s Whip Snaps on Royce da 5’9 Back”
Sadly, Lord J is right. A white rapper in front of black men, with a rap focused on injustices against black men. On BET. It’s a sad day in hip hop when a white rapper uses his platform to speak up for black men, and they freestyle about bullshit. E had an amazing freestyle, no question on that shit…but visually it reflects exactly what Lord J said, whether that was the intention or not.
BET was SOLD by its black owners to Viacom. Money talks! Excluding all other races from a BET cypher, aside from AA, would also be considered be racist, would it not? If they would have done a bit more research, they would’ve noticed that those were all artists on Shady Records who also participated in the cypher.
True, you are right. But we are talking about the visuals and the message in the cypher. What Lord J said is still accurate.
I didn’t even think of it like that. You gotta be having racist thoughts to picture it like that.
Damn royce and eminem must be lovers he stays defending him like he is his wife.
You are a phaggot…..why wouldn’t he defend his homie? Clown azz nikka!
You are a phaggooot…..why wouldn’t he defend his homie? Clown azz nikka!
But there friends. That’s what friends do they stand up for each other.
I didn’t love the Eminem freestyle, but Royce was right for this one. Fuck Lord Jamar’s race baiting.
Ppl love the black/white arguement. Its not even close to being about. All races are affected by injustice and em spoke on it. Who was supposed to be behind him. Tell me. I could understand if he had a white supremacist message with a bunch of black ppl behind him. But no it was a positive message. All this critique of the cypher is taking away from his message. Now let’s talk about his message. Instead of how a black man supporting a white man is somehow wrong.
Lord Jamar race baiting for relevance again, what’s new?
Let’s be real. BET asked Em to do the freestyle. He asked his dudes to be on set while he did it.
Lord Jamar would only be right if Royce had that but GAVE it to Eminem, but that didn’t happen.
Lord Jamar gets no play so he has to say ridiculous shit to start relevant.
Y’all are crazy if you think that having the white savior on a black Network talking shit about the president that hates minorities isn’t what it is. Besides that performance was trash Eminem has went harder on Bush, shit he went harder on Benzino.
Royce is nice but he stay with shady **** in his mouth*…hes ya friend right but shelves ur groups second album while the white boy yelawolf gets 3?…and I think yela is dope but he ain’t movin no units so don’t dare use tht as an excuse why em & Rosenberg won’t drop glass house*foh*elvis a bitch*
lol Royce caping for his white daddy,Lord jamal was on point with his criticism
Bet your a lil wellfare baby huh?
Its c..ns like you that make black people look bad little broke punk fake. I hate n*ggas like you and I wish that you die.
Yall complain about Eminem…but you dont complain about half breed Jesse Williams standing in a room full of successful black men and women to deliver a speech about “oppression”. A speech about oppression AT AN AWARD SHOW full of successful black people…Im sure someone in that room had enough self respect to feel insulted.
I suggest that all you fickle chirping simp fucking not fans listen to words on bar exam four for respect context on nickel nine.
Fuck eminem, fuck hhdx, today it was revealed in mainstream news that it was the democrats who colluded with russia during the election…For those of us who listen to libertarian/republican/conservative talk radio or news, we already knew this… We knew about the uranium deal over a year ago and trump himself even knew the $9 million phony dossier was purchased by the DNC. All the accusations made by the democrats and mainstream media have essentially been proven untrue of the President and have turned out to be true of Hillary Clinton and the democratic nation party. Emailgate, Benghazi, Uranium, Haiti, Bosnia, Vince Foster, all the speeches, Bill, the list of crimes goes on and on, yet people can’t seem to understand why Trump is president…
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HAHA, you a funny dumb ma’fukka. Talk about about “Fake Woke” I guess it’s only “fake news” if it’s about Trump right?
He could bring out a fukken CD with no beats and gurgel pepsi for 90 min and that shit would be dopper then most the shit out now. Fukk you haters. We be over here with Hopsin, Yela, Tech N9ne and Strange, Kendrick, Wu-Tang, Shady and X. You stay in the Mumble section with your Figit Spinner and Tight Lady Jeens…Drops Mic…
Lord Jamar is definitely “Woke” and very knowledgeable despite Royce’s claim of Jamar being “fake woke.” Lord Jamar clearly said he only has a problem with the imagery of the freestyle and those rappers in the back were more than capable of speaking up for themselves. I guess you have to be “woke” to fully understand why Lord Jamar has a problem with the image of Em’s freestyle.
Woke? Fuck that, you fool. Jamar has serious psychological problems and he’s a sensitive little bitch. Jamar is not knowledgeable whatsoever! And he ain’t “woke” either!! He’s just a racist.
lord jamar is just an ignorant racist idiot. Royce nailed it right on the head. this dude is just a clown that never had talent. hes jealous em is better than he ever dreamed of being.