Eminem has been oddly more interactive with the world in recent times. Perhaps it's the need for change or management demanding that he hop on TikTok but either way, he's giving fans a bit more insight into his otherwise private life.

At the wee hours of the morning, the rapper seemingly stumbled upon a video from No Life Shaq where the YouTuber DM'd several rappers requesting their pick for the greatest rapper of all time. Among the rappers that he DM'd is 6ix9ine, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, and more, as well as Eminem. No Life Shaq admitted that he didn't expect Eminem to respond, though he said that was the only rapper he was eager to hear a response from.

"I had to try with Em. I had to try with Em. Of course, Em not gonna respond," he said. "That one kinda hurt my heart a lil bit because I wanted Em to say himself."

Though he never got a response on Instagram, Eminem did issue a response on Twitter with a list of rappers he'd consider GOATs but suffice to say the inclusion of Redman twice probably confirms that his position on the Def Squad member hasn't changed. 

"For me, in no particular order... Toss up between wayne, pac, royce, jay, redman, treach, g. rap, biggie & king crook....," he wrote in one tweet. "Plus redman, LL, nas, joyner, kendrick, cole, andre, rakim, kane..."

Check out the tweets below. 

He’s a crossover artist who is hailed as hip hop royalty with a sound and a style all his own. Ludacris has enjoyed a successful career in both music and film that has spanned over two decades, and when it comes to lyricism, he knows the ins and outs of what makes a good flow. During his recent appearance on XXL’s Hip-Hop Moments of Clarity, the rapper was asked to give his top five rappers with the most “undeniable flows,” and Ludacris called it “one of the greatest questions” he’d “ever been asked.”

Rich Fury / Stringer / Getty Images

His first pick shouldn’t come as a surprise to many. “So, top five flows, man. Andre 3000 is going to be in there. I feel like he always challenges, always challenges. Imma put Kendrick Lamar in there as No. 2. Imma put J. Cole in there as being, like—right now, I’m thinking of people that are versatile and constantly trying to think of different flows that don’t pretty much have a set flow that they always do,” Ludacris said. Those are three. Imma go ’head and put Jay-Z in there, man. Jay-Z, you know, he does different things and he does experiment with different flows. And mostly, his different subject matter and how he’s able to weave through and be on a track with anybody. So that’s No. 4. Damn, man, No. 5.”

For the final position, Luda struggled with choosing between Lil Wayne and Eminem. “I was honestly gonna put Lil Wayne. Damn, this is hard because it’s like you got Lil Wayne… You got Eminem, but Imma have to go with Lil Wayne because the body of work and his consistency and he’s been in the game almost 30 years, bruh.” It seems that he was paying attention to living rappers, so Ludacris added Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. and honorable mentions. Do you agree with his list?

[]

“I watch this video and reminise on that krazy am hour of september 13, 2010. I got a visit from Lesane Parish Crooks. Reserch this name.”

There’s a question that often frequents certain rap circles: “what would the rap game be like if Tupac was alive today?” ‘Pac doesn’t necessarily stand at the top of hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore due to his technical prowess or even the charge of his wordplay. He’s the greatest to ever do it because he wasn’t afraid of speaking his mind, and through that, he challenged the listener with timeless gems that resonate even during the most unpredictable moments in life. A pen that undoubtedly influenced generations of rappers that followed, Tupac painted an image of a Black America ravaged by the Reagan administration’s policies and budget cuts. An America that was being silenced and even further marginalized through Reaganomics and tough-on-crime stances that continued to target Black and Brown Americans across the country. That’s a narrative in hip-hop that hasn’t changed mainly because things haven’t changed. In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed an uprising in America that has led to protests in other countries demanding justice. 

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image

The murder of George Floyd isn’t an uncommon story in America. We’ve seen it in the past, most notably with Eric Garner, who died from suffocation at the hands of police in 2014, over allegations of selling loose cigarettes. George Floyd, it was an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. Both deaths shouldn’t have happened, and anyone with a grain of humanity in their soul would agree. But the death of George Floyd has sparked protests across the country calling for imminent change. Change that’s beginning to seem somewhat tangible. Not just within the justice system but in society as a whole. Racism is still rampant and has been, even in the most subtle ways. Nearly 100 years after Black Wall Street was burned to the ground, America’s witnessing some of their “sacred values” that are rooted in racism get burned to the ground as well.

In the midst of a revolutionary uprising, a few people across social media began criticizing artists like Kendrick Lamar for not using his platform to issue a statement or show his solidarity publicly. His music has previously been anthemic for the Black Lives Matter movement. The hook for “Alright,” for example, became a chant during demonstrations against police brutality. This week, Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 opus To Pimp A Butterfly returned back to Billboard 200 chart after seeing 120% increase in sales. “Alright” has soundtracked peaceful protests but as these same peaceful protesters get hit with teargas and rubber bullets, the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s “HiiiPower” truly resonates.

“The sky is falling, the wind is calling/ Stand for something or die in the morning.”

“HiiiPoWer” was initially introduced by Ab-Soul before every other member of TDE at the time began to push the movement as a collective. References to HiiPoWer are scattered throughout the TDE discography but there was a stronger emphasis on the idea in Section.80. Kendrick explained it as a movement that should be treated like a religion of sorts, one that’s meant to bring a sense of enlightenment and elevation to the minds of Generation Y.

“HiiiPoWer is the way we think, the way we live. See it’s known as today that the human race is nothing. No morals. No standards. What we’re about to do is raise the level of expectations. No, you don’t have to have a lot of money. You don’t have to be rich. But you will be rich in mind and spirit. Some say it’s as big as a crew, some say it’s as big as a gang. HiiiPoWer, we stand for it as if it’s as big as a religion.”

“HiiiPoWer” was a key introduction to someone who would become one of the most important artists of our time. 2011 was a year that many considered essential to the rap renaissance. Artists like Drake, Wale, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar were on their come-up, but truthfully, no one’s vision was as vivid as Kendrick’s.

‘Pac once said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna rule the world or I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee you that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” Kendrick Lamar became that mind. “HiiiPoWer” was admittedly inspired by a dream Kendrick had, where ‘Pac visited him to tell him not to allow his message and his memory to die. He didn’t. 

Kendrick Lamar tackles conspiracy theories and oppressive systems, taking notes from prominent Black figures who dedicated, and ultimately lost, their lives for Black liberation. MLK Jr. and Malcolm X had visions that were bigger than themselves or even their immediate geographical community. Even references to Black Panther co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton emphasizes the message of imminent change on “HiiiPoWer”, though we’re witnessing it come into fruition nine years later. The reference to Seales, at this point in time, seems to reflect exactly what has gone on in the past two weeks. Bobby Seales was tried as part of the Chicago Eight accused of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 DNC Convention in Chicago. The riots that ensued in late August 1968 sparked due to police brutality against demonstrators. Police fired teargas into the crowd, beat down demonstrators, and arrested them. Then-mayor Richard J. Deley shut down a protest permit for anti-war demonstrators before deploying 12K police officers, the Illinois National Guard, and Army Forces. Sound familiar?

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy
Pull your guns and play me, let’s set it off
Cause a riot, throw a Molotov
Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
‘Cause we been off them slave ships
Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs.”

The theme of liberty, especially for the Black community under an oppressive system, runs deep throughout the track. But there are moments when Kendrick admits that his fate could be similar to ‘Pac’s. Or Malcolm’s. Or Martin’s. As a voice of rebellion for a generation, a community of marginalized groups, Kendrick acknowledges that his words carry weight. There’s a long list of activists, Black activists specifically, who have been targeted and have been under surveillance for speaking out against the system. Kendrick invites the world to view his autopsy if ever he’s assassinated for speaking his truth. But even now, in the age of social media, where performative activism is at an all-time high, these community leaders and activists who have been at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement organizing and leading protests are being heavily surveilled under the FBI’s concern for “Black extremism.” Just last week, The Verge published an article on protecting digital security ahead of protests, to block authority from receiving information that would tip off the police, or allow them to trace you. 

Roger Kisby/Getty Images

What emboldens this is J. Cole’s production on the song. Cole enhances the feeling of paranoia with synths that sound phone-tapped blended with dial-up Internet tones and morse code. The drums kick with a powerful punch and a Just Blaze touch. Distorted guitars clash through the beat like an interception on a radio signal, and Kendrick’s leading the takeover. 

2020 will mark 24 years since Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas. He was only 25-years-old at the time. He changed the world in his own way, though he never lived to witness it with his own eyes. Even as injustices continue to take place, the power system at large is beginning to dwindle at the hands of the people, slowly but surely. It’s long-deserved, and a battle that has been passed on from generation to generation. The level of expectation, as Kendrick Lamar explained on the “Cut You Off” outro, has been raised to a point where rebellion can be the only solution to change. 

“All of society is doing is leeching off the ghetto. They use the ghetto for their pain. For their sorrow. For their culture. For their music. For their happiness. For their movies to talk about Boyz In The Hood,” ‘Pac said in the same interview referenced earlier. “I don’t want to be 50-years-old at a BET ‘We Shall Overcome’ achievement awards, you know what I’m sayin’? I want when they see me, they know that everyday that I’m breathin’, it’s for us to go farther.”

“HiiiPoWer” has been overshadowed in Kendrick’s catalog by the more commercially appealing records, understandably. His core fans, though, will always hold the record in high regards. Some were introduced to Kendrick with this single while others recognized a moment as his official arrival to the realm of rap’s elite. That same summer Section.80 was released, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game officially passed the torch to Kendrick as the new reigning King of the West Coast. Surely, ‘Pac would’ve been alongside all three rappers if he had lived to see the day. 

“I watch this video and reminise on that krazy am hour of september 13, 2010. I got a visit from Lesane Parish Crooks. Reserch this name.”

There’s a question that often frequents certain rap circles: “what would the rap game be like if Tupac was alive today?” ‘Pac doesn’t necessarily stand at the top of hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore due to his technical prowess or even the charge of his wordplay. He’s the greatest to ever do it because he wasn’t afraid of speaking his mind, and through that, he challenged the listener with timeless gems that resonate even during the most unpredictable moments in life. A pen that undoubtedly influenced generations of rappers that followed, Tupac painted an image of a Black America ravaged by the Reagan administration’s policies and budget cuts. An America that was being silenced and even further marginalized through Reaganomics and tough-on-crime stances that continued to target Black and Brown Americans across the country. That’s a narrative in hip-hop that hasn’t changed mainly because things haven’t changed. In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed an uprising in America that has led to protests in other countries demanding justice. 

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image

The murder of George Floyd isn’t an uncommon story in America. We’ve seen it in the past, most notably with Eric Garner, who died from suffocation at the hands of police in 2014, over allegations of selling loose cigarettes. George Floyd, it was an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. Both deaths shouldn’t have happened, and anyone with a grain of humanity in their soul would agree. But the death of George Floyd has sparked protests across the country calling for imminent change. Change that’s beginning to seem somewhat tangible. Not just within the justice system but in society as a whole. Racism is still rampant and has been, even in the most subtle ways. Nearly 100 years after Black Wall Street was burned to the ground, America’s witnessing some of their “sacred values” that are rooted in racism get burned to the ground as well.

In the midst of a revolutionary uprising, a few people across social media began criticizing artists like Kendrick Lamar for not using his platform to issue a statement or show his solidarity publicly. His music has previously been anthemic for the Black Lives Matter movement. The hook for “Alright,” for example, became a chant during demonstrations against police brutality. This week, Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 opus To Pimp A Butterfly returned back to Billboard 200 chart after seeing 120% increase in sales. “Alright” has soundtracked peaceful protests but as these same peaceful protesters get hit with teargas and rubber bullets, the intro to Kendrick Lamar’s “HiiiPower” truly resonates.

“The sky is falling, the wind is calling/ Stand for something or die in the morning.”

“HiiiPoWer” was initially introduced by Ab-Soul before every other member of TDE at the time began to push the movement as a collective. References to HiiPoWer are scattered throughout the TDE discography but there was a stronger emphasis on the idea in Section.80. Kendrick explained it as a movement that should be treated like a religion of sorts, one that’s meant to bring a sense of enlightenment and elevation to the minds of Generation Y.

“HiiiPoWer is the way we think, the way we live. See it’s known as today that the human race is nothing. No morals. No standards. What we’re about to do is raise the level of expectations. No, you don’t have to have a lot of money. You don’t have to be rich. But you will be rich in mind and spirit. Some say it’s as big as a crew, some say it’s as big as a gang. HiiiPoWer, we stand for it as if it’s as big as a religion.”

“HiiiPoWer” was a key introduction to someone who would become one of the most important artists of our time. 2011 was a year that many considered essential to the rap renaissance. Artists like Drake, Wale, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar were on their come-up, but truthfully, no one’s vision was as vivid as Kendrick’s.

‘Pac once said, “I’m not saying I’m gonna rule the world or I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee you that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” Kendrick Lamar became that mind. “HiiiPoWer” was admittedly inspired by a dream Kendrick had, where ‘Pac visited him to tell him not to allow his message and his memory to die. He didn’t. 

Kendrick Lamar tackles conspiracy theories and oppressive systems, taking notes from prominent Black figures who dedicated, and ultimately lost, their lives for Black liberation. MLK Jr. and Malcolm X had visions that were bigger than themselves or even their immediate geographical community. Even references to Black Panther co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton emphasizes the message of imminent change on “HiiiPoWer”, though we’re witnessing it come into fruition nine years later. The reference to Seales, at this point in time, seems to reflect exactly what has gone on in the past two weeks. Bobby Seales was tried as part of the Chicago Eight accused of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 DNC Convention in Chicago. The riots that ensued in late August 1968 sparked due to police brutality against demonstrators. Police fired teargas into the crowd, beat down demonstrators, and arrested them. Then-mayor Richard J. Deley shut down a protest permit for anti-war demonstrators before deploying 12K police officers, the Illinois National Guard, and Army Forces. Sound familiar?

“Tryna stay above water, that’s why we shun the navy
Pull your guns and play me, let’s set it off
Cause a riot, throw a Molotov
Somebody told me them pirates had got lost
‘Cause we been off them slave ships
Got our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs.”

The theme of liberty, especially for the Black community under an oppressive system, runs deep throughout the track. But there are moments when Kendrick admits that his fate could be similar to ‘Pac’s. Or Malcolm’s. Or Martin’s. As a voice of rebellion for a generation, a community of marginalized groups, Kendrick acknowledges that his words carry weight. There’s a long list of activists, Black activists specifically, who have been targeted and have been under surveillance for speaking out against the system. Kendrick invites the world to view his autopsy if ever he’s assassinated for speaking his truth. But even now, in the age of social media, where performative activism is at an all-time high, these community leaders and activists who have been at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement organizing and leading protests are being heavily surveilled under the FBI’s concern for “Black extremism.” Just last week, The Verge published an article on protecting digital security ahead of protests, to block authority from receiving information that would tip off the police, or allow them to trace you. 

Roger Kisby/Getty Images

What emboldens this is J. Cole’s production on the song. Cole enhances the feeling of paranoia with synths that sound phone-tapped blended with dial-up Internet tones and morse code. The drums kick with a powerful punch and a Just Blaze touch. Distorted guitars clash through the beat like an interception on a radio signal, and Kendrick’s leading the takeover. 

2020 will mark 24 years since Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas. He was only 25-years-old at the time. He changed the world in his own way, though he never lived to witness it with his own eyes. Even as injustices continue to take place, the power system at large is beginning to dwindle at the hands of the people, slowly but surely. It’s long-deserved, and a battle that has been passed on from generation to generation. The level of expectation, as Kendrick Lamar explained on the “Cut You Off” outro, has been raised to a point where rebellion can be the only solution to change. 

“All of society is doing is leeching off the ghetto. They use the ghetto for their pain. For their sorrow. For their culture. For their music. For their happiness. For their movies to talk about Boyz In The Hood,” ‘Pac said in the same interview referenced earlier. “I don’t want to be 50-years-old at a BET ‘We Shall Overcome’ achievement awards, you know what I’m sayin’? I want when they see me, they know that everyday that I’m breathin’, it’s for us to go farther.”

“HiiiPoWer” has been overshadowed in Kendrick’s catalog by the more commercially appealing records, understandably. His core fans, though, will always hold the record in high regards. Some were introduced to Kendrick with this single while others recognized a moment as his official arrival to the realm of rap’s elite. That same summer Section.80 was released, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game officially passed the torch to Kendrick as the new reigning King of the West Coast. Surely, ‘Pac would’ve been alongside all three rappers if he had lived to see the day. 

Kendrick Lamar hasn't released a new album since 2017's DAMN, but there's something he has that many of his peers lack -- longevity. When K Dot drops an album, said album can sustain its presence for years on end; such is the benefit of writing songs packed with meaning, a testament to his Pulitizer Prize-winning pen-game. Now, with the world standing up against police brutality and systemic racism following the death of George Floyd, many have once again turned to the wisdom of Kendrick Lamar for inspiration.

While it goes without saying that To Pimp A Butterfly is an appropriate protest record, so much so that it recently re-entered the Apple Music Charts, Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, maad City and DAMN have also seen renewed signs of life. As of last week, both of those projects re-entered the Billboard Top 200, with Good Kid climbing to 97 and DAMN sitting pretty at 106. 

According to Chartdata, To Pimp A Butterfly has also experienced a massive boost in numbers, with Chartdata pointing to a one-hundred-and-twenty percent increase in sales -- look for that to appear in the updated Top 200, unsurprising given that songs like "Alright" and "The Blacker The Berry" have regained life as protest anthems. Clearly, the world is hungry for some new music from Kendrick Lamar, and given everything that has transpired in the world since his last release, we can only assume that he's about to come out swinging.

Have you been revisiting some K Dot classics?

Kendrick Lamar, Russell Westbrook, and DeMar DeRozan joined in protests in Compton, Sunday. From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, the crowd marched from Gateway Towne Center in Los Angeles to Compton City Hall, for the “Compton Peace Walk."

Mario Tama / Getty Images

Lamar, Westbrook, and DeRozan are all from the Los Angeles area. 

Westbrook spoke to the crowd during the protest. "Continue to stick together," he said. "Continue to fight for one another. Continue to lift each other up. … Continue to protect your own, protect your team, protect your family. In times like this, we need to stick together. Put a fist up."

"Let's get a moment of silence. For our lost ones. For their families. For their struggles," Westbrook added with his fist in the air.

"It’s impossible for you to understand what happens today if you don’t understand the past. Let’s continue to fight," Westbrook added on an  Instagram post.

Compton Mayor Aja Brown promoted the protest on Facebook: “Our kids are watching us and they deserve to live in a better world, a better city that ensures their peace and protection, full liberty and justice for all,” she said.

Check out photos of Lamar, Westbrook, and DeRozan from the "Compton Peace Walk" below.

Kendrick Lamar is the last person that people should be getting at for remaining silent during the recent protests for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and more. Throughout his career, he has released political statements in his music. His stance on such issues has been made abundantly clear and we all know he's the type of person to run plays behind the scenes without really announcing them. So, why are people coming for him on social media?

With all the social unrest happening, many expected Kendrick Lamar to have made a statement on social media, addressing where he stands on police violence and racial inequity. Some are surprised that he has not spoken up. However, his silence should not be taken as inactivity.

IDK used his own platform to stand up for the rap superstar, telling people to focus on bigger issues.

In 2015, Kendrick Lamar dropped off his third solo album, and second on a major label, To Pimp A Butterfly. Immediately hailed as a modern classic, the project was praised for its themes of racial identity and sociopolitical equality; songs like “Alright,” “Institutionalized,” “Complexion,” and the masterful “Blacker The Berry” continue to resonate to this day, perhaps now more than ever.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Clearly, there are many who feel like revisiting the project amidst the George Floyd protests — so much so that the five-year-old album has once again entered the Top 100 charts on Apple Music. As of this moment, the album has managed to climb to the 76th spot on the U.S. Top 100, clocking in at 44th in the overall hip-hop charts — just behind Joyner Lucas‘ ADHD. Pretty impressive considering the album has been 

The return to the charts is a testament to Kendrick’s impact as a songwriter, one capable of shifting an entire zeitgeist. Though fans have been eagerly awaiting his triumphant return, the recent protests have once again breathed new life into the album — and should the revolution continue, it’s likely that To Pimp A Butterfly is only going to continue thriving. Have you been putting To Pimp A Butterfly back into rotation? 

Bas has earned his position as one of the most talented emcees on J. Cole‘s roster, a fact made wholly evident by his effortless flows on Revenge Of The Dreamers 3. But before he was snapping on “Down Bad,” Bas was putting in work on his highly underrated Milky Way album, a project that featured singles like “Boca Raton,” “Tribe,” and the bar-heavy “Purge.” Today, Bas took a moment to reflect on the final stages of the album, which included a productive listening session with none other than J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar.

Sandra Dahdah/Getty Images

“That time Cole and Kendrick pulled up to my crib to hear Milky Way when I was still working on it,” writes Bas, alongside a throwback picture from his personal archives. “At the time me and Cole were at peace with leaving Purge off the album and leaning more into the melodic records. Dot said we were buggin so I put it back on the album. When the [goats] talk you gotta listen!”

Given that “Purge” has become somewhat of a fan favorite, clocking in an impressive six million views on YouTube, it’s clear that Kendrick made the right call. One has to wonder if Bas was able to convince his label boss to commit to that anticipated Kendrick Lamar collaboration album, or if it even came up at all. Either way, it’s cool to see Cole and Kendrick holding it down for Bas — check out the picture and anecdote below. 

Big Sean has been working hard on his new full-length musical release, Detroit 2. Announcing the new album several months ago, the rapper told fans that he was back in the right headspace, ready to finally unleash some fresh music on us. This weekend, he posted up on Instagram Live with DJ Khaled, who played the role of an investigative music journalist, trying to uncover all the secrets hiding out about the new album.

Asking Big Sean how many songs were on the tracklist, if the cover artwork was finished, and more important queries about Detroit 2, he got some telling answers from the man of the hour.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

When asked if the album would be longer than usual or if it will contain the "right amount of songs," Big Sean confirmed that the latter is more of the case this time around. DJ Khaled also asked him if the cover artwork was finished yet, to which Sean replied in the affirmative.

"Cover is done," he confirmed before noting that he sent the art to a few of rap's heavy hitters to get their thoughts on it. He says that he texted it to Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, teasing their possible involvement in the project in doing so. On the other hand though, he likely just respects their opinion so much that he wanted to see what they thought of the vibe.

Are you looking forward to Big Sean's new album Detroit 2?

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@bigsean bless up Did big Sean say he has the J Dilla beat on his album the legendary J Dilla ?? .......................................... I know I need a hair cut I know soon come relax everyone I’ll get a hair cut Im not going out right now so I’m just chillen #TeamNoHaircut

A post shared by DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) on May 24, 2020 at 8:43pm PDT