Rapper Eminem unleashed a four-minute-long freestyle criticising US President Donald Trump at Tuesday’s BET Hip Hop Awards, and the South African responses have been split.
In the freestyle, the rapper says that, among other issues, “racism’s the only thing [Trump’s] fantastic for”. He also bashes his “distraction” tactics of focussing on the recent NFL protests rather than disaster-relief for Hurricane-hit Puerto Rico.
No ad to show here.
Eminem goes so far as to tell any of his Trump-supporting fans that he’s “drawing a line in the sand; you’re either for or against”.
The FULL verse that EVERYBODY is talking about! @eminem BODIED THIS! #HipHopAwardspic.twitter.com/zoS0wEwjQF
— BET (@BET) October 11, 2017
Former-NFL player Colin Kaepernick tweeted that he “appreciated” the rapper — and many South Africans were as impressed.
After hearing @Eminem cypher pic.twitter.com/gD81ZJhp29
— Khaya & no one else (@KhayaDakar) October 11, 2017
Just watched Eminem blasting Donald in Classic Freestyle bar-to-bar form. Shieeshhh!
— snowyandboujee
(@snowyandboujee) October 11, 2017
“Couldn’t care less about politics in America. I’m here for the execution of this delivery and his bravery to stand with black people,” one user wrote.
Couldn’t careless about the politics in America, I’m here for the execution of this delivery and his bravery to stand with black people
— Saint LuLo. (@IamRatedL) October 11, 2017
But others were a bit more critical.
Eminem has real, distinct lyrical genius but he’s still undeniably corny.
— Luke James Watson (@lookwatsin) October 11, 2017
Both Eminem and Trump came under fire, as several users pointed out that the rapper — whose work has consisted of lyrics that fantasise about raping his mother, assaulting underage girls, and killing his wife — is not exactly the bastion of morality.
You know Trump is a real problem because even Eminem is woke now.
— Balerion (@Lord_Maphz) October 11, 2017
Y’all and championing every white person (even the fucking eminem’s of the world) who do the fucking least pic.twitter.com/K3pFqQ4bF5
— tee. (@Tee_apparently) October 11, 2017
