Both Eminem and KRS-One are highly respected figures in hip-hop. However, they are undoubtedly from different generations. Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers) represents the best of the early-2000s, while KRS (real name Lawrence Parker) has his roots firmly planted in the 1980s. With Parker being significantly older than Mathers, in 2009, he attempted to impart some wisdom as to how the Detroit emcee could revive his somewhat dormant career.
In 2009, Eminem’s career was struggling. Following a relapse, the lyricist was working on music, but it was of low quality compared to his early projects. Mathers has always been open about his abuse of prescription drugs, including Valium, Vicodin and Xanax. However, he has previously noted that things were terrible for him between 2006 and 2009.
Even as his relevancy was declining and artists such as Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj were making gains, in 2008, readers of VIBE magazine crowned Eminem ‘Best Rapper Alive’. However, Parker insisted that VIBE doesn’t have enough respect as a publication in hip-hop to determine who the most prestigious emcee is. Moreover, knowing that Mathers was in a creative and lyrical lull, Parker challenged the idea.
In a conversation with KayvonTV.com about Eminem’s supposed greatness, Parker stated, If VIBE magazine feels that Eminem is the best thing since sliced bread, sliced white bread if they say he’s the greatest thing, that’s their opinion. Now the real question is, does Eminem think that!”
Parker asserted that, in 2009, if anyone asked Eminem about the title bestowed upon him by VIBE, he would reject it, revealing, “Now Eminem, if you ask him, he’ll be like ‘Man, that’s some bullshit they just put together.’ VIBE magazine isn’t the authority to say who’s anything in hip-hop. They barely making it in hip-hop.”
Speaking directly to Eminem, KRS told the 8 Mile musician, “Eminem, if you listening to me right now dog, don’t live up to none of that hype, just do you. Focus on your rhyme-writing. Focus on your lyric delivery. That’s it. Nothing else matters.” However, he even told him to resort to autotune, stating, Understand that gangstas don’t care about principles. Gangstas aren’t into art…So now grab the Auto-Tune and get it popping.”
