Rhymefest Claims Eminem Used N-Word During 1998 Rap Battle – And the Bar Was Too Good to Be Mad
Veteran Chicago rapper and activist Rhymefest has made a startling revelation about a 1998 rap battle against Eminem, alleging that the Detroit MC used the n-word—but did it with such lyrical skill that he couldn’t even be offended.
Appearing on the It’s Just My Opinion podcast this month, Rhymefest took a trip down memory lane, recalling his face-off with Eminem at the famed Scribble Jam festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event was considered one of the biggest hip-hop battles in the country during its peak.
“I battled Eminem in ’98 at this competition called Scribble Jam in Cincinnati,” Rhymefest shared. “It was the biggest battle in the Midwest and one of the biggest rap battles in the country. And a lot of famous rappers, DJs and breakdancers came out of Scribble Jam.”
He then dropped the jaw-dropping moment of the battle. “That was the first time a white guy ever called me a n-gga. He said, ‘I’ll let my razor split you ’til they have to staple stitch you/This n-gga took my facial tissue, turned it to a racial issue.’ You couldn’t even be mad!”
Rhymefest reflected on the experience with surprising candor, suggesting that the shock value of the moment was dulled by Eminem’s undeniable talent. “I realized something about racism that day—it’s why Family Guy works,” he added. “It’s only good when it’s funny. It only is non-offensive when it’s dope. Had you said that shit and it not been dope, it would’ve been a problem. But you so cold and courageous that you did it and got away with it. But when I say I won that battle… he won the war!”
While Eminem has never publicly acknowledged using the slur in his early battle days, his controversial beginnings have long been part of his mythos—earning both criticism and praise for walking the edge of shock value and lyrical genius.
In related news, fellow rapper Nelly recently extended an apology to Eminem for a past misunderstanding during the early 2000s, when tensions between them briefly flared. “I misinterpreted something when I was really, really new and I want to apologize to Em,” Nelly said in a recent interview with Bootleg Kev. He explained that the two later squashed the issue in Detroit, and praised Eminem as “the G.O.A.T.”
As hip-hop continues to evolve and reflect on its past, stories like Rhymefest’s add a layer of complexity to the culture’s ongoing conversation around race, respect, and lyrical legacy.
