50 Cent once named “the best rapper in the world”
(Credit: Alex Const)

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50 Cent once named "the best rapper in the world"

50 Cent is more than just a rapper. He’s a business mogul and one of the most important figures in shaping the entertainment landscape of the 21st-century, but even he doesn’t believe he’s “the best rapper in the world”.

Instead, he gives that accolade to Eminem, who Fiddy has been tight with for twenty years, and their friendship is still going strong today. Recently, Shady hit the headlines after he reportedly gave up one of his tracks in the half-time show at the Super Bowl, which allowed 50 Cent to join in on the action.

They have been through thick and thin together over the last two decades, collaborating on numerous occasions, but their relationship cuts much deeper than the work the pair have crafted.

Speaking about Em in 2014 with Music Choice, 50 said: “I have so much value for him, not just in my career, just in my life. He’s a guy that’s one of my best friends because I can trust that he’s gonna be honest in his constructive criticism.”

He continued: “Hip-hop is Black music, without question. And unfortunately for some people, it’s tough to accept that you got a white artist that does it better than a Black artist. You can get whoever you feel like is the best Black artist and stand them face to face in a room with Em and he will eat that shit alive.”

Famously, Eminem was the one who played a crucial part in 50 Cent signing with Aftermath Records, and it was only right that he was the one to award the rapper with his Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.

“I’m here today because this is not only a business partner to me, it’s one of the best friends I’ve ever known in the world,” he said during the induction. “And I would say it’s much more fun to be his friend than it is to be his enemy, ’cause this guy is fu**ing relentless. And he won’t stop.”

Later that year, the favour was re-paid by 50, who took to Instagram to celebrate their joint track ‘Patiently Waiting’ hitting 100 million streams on Spotify and gave Eminem the ultimate compliment.

He wrote: “This combination will always work. I think it has something to do with EM being the best rapper in the world but I’m not so bad. LOL.” He also ended the post with the hashtag #friendsforever.

While many will disagree with the Detroit rapper being the best in the world, few can deny that the combination of him and 50 Cent will “always work”.