The curious connection between Eminem and Tupac
Many MCs came to prominence in the 1990s, including many of the artists we consider culturally significant to this day. Whether it’s Snoop Dogg, Biggie Smalls or Lil Kim, the decade produced some greats. However, two of the most impactful, arguably, were 2Pac and Eminem, the highest-selling emcee of all time.
Eminem and 2Pac have both achieved legend status in the world of hip-hop for various reasons. In an interview, 50 Cent explained how the two lyricists are incredibly similar in their approach to music but completely different in their delivery and image.
Using 2Pac’s ‘Dear Mama’ and Eminem’s ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’ as comparable reference tracks, during his conversation with Brian J. Roberts, 50 Cent broke down how race and family informed both rhymers’ music-making.
Detailing the song’s themes and their similarities, Fifty began, “I’ll pick two hip-hop artists that have been profound and really prolific artists within our culture that were very similar but tapped into different responses.”
Delving into the details, the Get Rich Ir Die Tryin’ creator explained, “So Eminem’s mom, the drug usage was part of it, and he would do: ‘Sorry, momma / I never meant to hurt you / I never meant to make you cry / But tonight, I’m cleaning out my closet.’ And then 2Pac’s mom also has some drug usage involved in her experience, and he said: ‘Even though you was a crack fiend, momma / You always was a Black Queen, mama.'”
The ‘In Da Club’ lyricist then expressed how although the subject matters were the same, the tone with which Em and ‘Pac addressed their issues was at odds, adding, “I think the tones of anger and the difference in the two of them are that Em’s anger is coming from things were supposed to be right, and 2Pac’s statement almost has terms of endearment in there because he’s like, ‘Well, we still all had.'”
He continued, “The expectations of things going right from a white American perspective versus accepting the idea of things not going right from an African American perspective are what make the difference in the tones of those records.”
Eminem and 50 Cent have been friends and collaborators for over two decades, and the pair have been close since the day Em signed 50 Cent to Shady Records. Over the years, they have become somewhat of a dynamic duo and always speak fondly of each other.
Asserting that Eminem deserves more respect than he gets from the hip-hop community, 50 Cent to Brian J Roberts, “I love Em, and I don’t think people credit him for everything. The growth of our culture should be also a trophy for Eminem. Me personally and my career is a reflection of my association to Em.”
He added, “Prior to my record coming out, the most I’ve seen a Black male solo hip-hop artist sell was five million copies on 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me. It was a double CD, it was the first I saw something go diamond. And to have my first album sell 13 million records, if you discredit or disassociate that fact that I’m in association to Eminem, who’s selling 23 million records on The Marshall Mathers LP, you just a f***ing idiot.”