Ed Lover blasts back at criticism of Eminem being named one of the greatest: 'Hip-Hop is for everybody'

'You weren’t there, Dr. Umar, respectively. You were not there'
By , Audacy

During the latest episode of his Cmon’ Son podcast, Hip-Hop icon Ed Lover has joined the choir in support of Detroit rapper Eminem, challenging firebrand activist Dr. Umar Johnson’s claim that Shady’s legacy is mired in "white supremacy."

LISTEN NOW: C'Mon Son! | Ep. #295: What Had Happen Was...

Photo credit C'Mon Son! The Podcast.

Discussing Dr. Umar -- known for his controversial takes on antisemitism, gay and interracial marriage, and more -- Ed Lover landed on his recent comments on The Joe Budden Podcast saying Eminem being discussed as one of the greatest rappers of all time amounted to “white supremacy," adding, "no non-African can ever be the best of anything African. It is an insult to the ancestors, it is an insult to the race and it is an insult to every Black person."

“Where did you get your doctorate?” Lover asked. “What makes you a doctor? And then, where did you come from and what makes you a[n] authority on Hip-Hop?” he continued. “Eminem don’t need Dr. Umar to tell him he’s one of the greatest of all time because we’ve already said it. Hip-Hop is for everybody. Hip-Hop might’ve been created by Black people, but the love of music, melodies, and rhymes have spread all over this world.”

Lover explains, "That’s like saying [Big] Pun can’t be one of the greatest of all time because he’s not African American, ’cause he’s Puerto Rican; Fat Joe don’t deserve to be in Hip-Hop because he’s not African American. You weren’t there, Dr. Umar, respectively. You were not there."

Listen to Ed Lover's full end-of-year discussion on C'Mon Son! The Podcast -- now streaming on Audacy -- the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame inductee and Yo! MTV Raps legend's take on pop culture -- a raw, rugged, and unfiltered, podcast giving listeners a break from "the expected."

Plus, listen to Eminem Radio and more on the free Audacy app

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