Cassidy Defends Eminem Over Dr. Umar's Comments
In response to Dr. Umar Johnson's controversial remarks questioning Eminem's status in hip-hop, rapper Cassidy expressed disagreement. While Johnson argued that considering Eminem one of the greatest rappers perpetuates "white supremacy," Cassidy defended Em's greatness, emphasizing his numerous classic projects and collaborations across diverse backgrounds.
In an interview with The Art of Dialogue, Cassidy acknowledged hip-hop's roots in Black and Spanish culture but insisted Eminem's extensive knowledge of the genre surpassed that of the average Black person. Rejecting racial categorization, Cassidy highlighted Eminem's lifelong dedication to studying and contributing to hip-hop, supporting his claim that Em deserves recognition.
“He’s been making history over and over again and been doing records with all type of races, all type of different backgrounds. It’s hard to say that he ain’t great.”
“I don’t want to make it based on race. It did start as Black culture; Black and Spanish people started Hip Hop,” he added. “But I feel like Eminem been studying it since he was born. He knows a lot more about the culture than the average Black person so I feel he deserves to get a pass.”
Dr. Umar Johnson's critique emerged on The Joe Budden Podcast, labeling Eminem's reverence an insult to Black culture. He argued against acknowledging non-African individuals as the best in any aspect of Black cultural power, framing it as a form of white supremacy.
In response, Cassidy joined other hip-hop figures, including Ed Lover, who rejected Dr. Umar's stance. Ed Lover emphasized that hip-hop is a universal culture that transcends racial boundaries, asserting that artists like Eminem, Big Pun, and Fat Joe contribute significantly, regardless of their ethnic background.
The ongoing debate sheds light on the intersection between race, culture, and hip-hop's global impact, with differing perspectives on who deserves recognition in the evolving landscape of this influential musical genre.