Rap Devil

> "*The internet thing trying to muddy it. That was a little annoying because it was kinda like, we can't be a generation that rides only because a person's a legend and strictly goes off that factor. When we do something for our generation, step up and acknowledge what happened, hold it down. That was not something I was expecting to ever happen. I said what I said, I don't give a fuck. That should be the narrative for anyone in our generation.*"
> ― Machine Gun Kelly addressing the feud
>
>

"**Rap Devil**" (stylized in all caps) is a diss track written and performed by Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on September 3, 2018, by Bad Boy and Interscope Records, as a single from the rapper's second extended play, *Binge*. The song's title is a play on Eminem's "Rap God," and is his response to Eminem dissing him on two songs of the album *Kamikaze*, notably on the single "Not Alike". It peaked at number 13 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 singles chart in the United States.

## Background and release

In 2012, Machine Gun Kelly tweeted about Eminem's daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers: "Ok, so I just saw a picture of Eminem's daughter... and I have to say, she is hot as fuck, in the most respectful way possible cuz Em is king". Mathers was 16 at the time while MGK was 22. MGK then claimed that Eminem banned him from going to Shade 45, a radio station owned by Eminem. Kelly also collaborated on a song with Tech N9ne and allegedly sent subliminal insults towards Eminem.

On August 31, 2018, Eminem released a surprise album, *Kamikaze*, in which he insulted several artists in multiple diss tracks, including the song "Not Alike" where he insulted MGK specifically. The following lyrics were directed: 'If you wanna come at me with a sub, Machine Gun / And I'm talkin' to you, but you already know who the fuck you are, Kelly / I don't use sublims and sure as fuck don't sneak-diss / But keep commenting on my daughter Hailie.'

This led to Machine Gun Kelly's diss track, where he revealed in a podcast, "I just did that on the spot, hours after ["Not Alike"] released. [...] I did three verses, I called Cordae, played him the first three verses. He was like, 'This Em, man, you gotta go off.' I was like, 'I just went off!' He was like, 'Nah, just finish him!' I put that fourth verse, and that fourth verse was the mean shit." MGK also stated over Twitter, "im standing up for not just myself, but my generation. im doing the same shit you did back in ur day. life is still real on my side, and i had to take time from the grind to defend myself from someone i called an idol. love, Rap Devil." He added in an interview, "Let's also say it like it is. You took two weeks, I took two days. You used a Ronny J track, I used a Ronny J track. You used a million dollar studio, I used a dressing room before soundcheck."

## Response

In an interview, Eminem commented about "Rap Devil," "I heard it, it's not bad for him. He had some good lines in it. But Diddy line was bullshit." Then he explained, "That's not why I dissed him. The reason I dissed him is actually a lot more petty than that. The reason that I dissed him is because he got on—first what he said 'I'm the greatest rapper alive since my favorite rapper banned me from Shade 45' or whatever he said, right? Like I'm trying to hinder his career. I don't give a f\*ck about your career. You think I actually fucking think about you? You know how many fucking rappers are better than you? You're not even in the fucking conversation. I don't care if you blow or you don't blow. That doesn't matter to me. But then you get on Tech N9ne's album and you start sending shots and people start hitting up 'Yo, Machine Gun Kelly just dissed you, he dissed you' and somebody sends me screenshot of his tweet: 'Something had to get off my chest: You just rap you're not God.' I was like 'shut the fuck up' and now I felt like I gotta answer this motherfucker. I'm like, 'I wanna destroy him but I don't wanna make him bigger. Because now, you're fucking enemy.'" He released the response diss track, "Killshot," on September 14, 2018.

MGK mentioned "Killshot" in his track "Floor 13" ('I just spent the winter livin' after someone tried to send a kill shot, missin' me'). While supporting Fall Out Boy on the North American leg of their Mania Tour, Machine Gun Kelly debuted "Rap Devil" in Eminem's home state of Michigan on September 6, 2018, at the Grand Rapids. During one of his shows for XXMAS on December 21, 2019, MGK announced the retirement of the song to the Wolstein Center crowd, "I'm so excited for all the things to come ahead and we're going to leave some shit behind in this decade. So the first time we ever performed this song was in his home state in Michigan. And the last time I'm going to perform this song is right here in Cleveland tonight in my home state. Let's go, this is the last time we're going to do this."

Followed by this was a surprise album drop from Eminem on January 17, 2020, *Music to Be Murdered By*, where he had two tracks that addressed MGK: "Unaccommodating" ('But when they ask me is the war finished with MGK? Of course it is / I cleansed him of his mortal sins, I'm God and the Lord forgives, even the devil worshippers / I'm moving on') and "Yah Yah" ('Had the prenup ready / F\*\*ked on her, shoulda seen her belly / She barely was three months pregnant / B\*\*ch had it, gave me her baby, we named it Machine Gun Kelly'). MGK stated over Twitter, "mad af I just stepped out a loud room to hear this bullshit 💩" and continued, "he's been rich and mad for 20 years straight. 🤣🚮."

## Credits and personnel

* Machine Gun Kelly – vocals, writer, recording engineer
* Nils – writer
* Ronny J – writer, producer
* Steve "Rock Star" Dickey – mixing
* Tony Dawsey – mastering

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

*Oh my god, Ronny*

[Verse 1]

Ayy somebody grab him some clippers (Zzz)

His fucking beard is weird

Tough talk from a rapper paying millions for security a year

"I think my dad's gone crazy," yeah Hailie you right

Dad's always mad cooped up in the studio yelling at the mic

You're sober and bored, huh (I know)

About to be 46 years old, dog

Talkin' bout "I'ma call up Trick Trick"

Man you sound like a bitch, bitch

Man up and handle your shit (Ugh)

Mad about something I said in 2012

Took you six years and a surprise album just to come with a diss

Homie we get it, we know that you're the greatest rapper alive

Fucking dweeb, all you do is read the dictionary and stay inside

Fuck Rap God, I'm the Rap Devil

Coming bear face with a black shovel

Like the Armageddon when the smoke settle

His body next to this instrumental

I'm saying

[Chorus]

I'm sick of them sweatsuits and them corny hats, let's talk about it

I'm sick of you being rich and you still mad, let's talk about it

Both of us single dads from the Midwest, we can talk about it

Or we could get gully I'll size up your body and put some white chalk around it

[Verse 2]

Let's talk about the fact you actually blackballed a rapper that's twice as young as you (Let's talk about it)

Let's call Sway, ask why I can't go on Shade 45 because of you (Brr)

Let's ask Interscope how you had Paul Rosenberg trying to shelf me (Huh?)

Still can't cover up the fact your last four albums is as bad as your selfie

Now tell me, what do you stand for? (What?)

I know you can't stand yourself (No)

Trying to be the old you so bad you Stan yourself (Ha)

Let's leave all the beefing to 50 (Please)

Em you're pushing 50

Why you claiming that I'ma call Puff?

When you the one that called Diddy (Facts)

Then you went and called Jimmy (Facts)

They conference called me in the morning (What?)

They told me you mad about a tweet

You wanted me to say sorry (What?)

I swear to God I ain't believed him (Nah)

Please say it ain't so (No)

The big bad bully of the rap game can't take a fucking joke

Oh you want some fucking smoke (What?)

But not literally, you'll choke

Yeah I'll acknowledge you're the GOAT

But I'm the Gunner bitch, I got you in the scope (Brra)

Don't have a heart attack now (No)

Somebody help your mans up (Help)

Knees weak of old age

The real Slim Shady can't stand up

[Chorus]

I'm sick of them sweatsuits and them corny hats, let's talk about it

I'm sick of you being rich and you still mad, let's talk about it

Both of us single dads from the Midwest, we can talk about it

Or we could get gully I'll size up your body and put some white chalk around it

[Verse 3]

Hello Marshall, my name's Colson

You should go back to Recovery

I know your ego is hurting just knowing that all of your fans discovered me (Hi)

He like "Damn, he a younger me

Except he dresses better and I'm ugly

Always making fun of me"

Stop all the thuggery Marshall, you living in luxury (Damn)

Look what you done to me, dropped an album just because of me

Damn, you in love with me

You got money but I'm hungry

I like the diss but you won't say those lyrics out in front of me

Shout out to every rapper that's up under me

Know that I'll never do you like this fuckery

Still bitter after everyone loves you

Pull that wedgie out your dungarees (Hey)

I gotta respect the OGs and I know most of 'em personally (Aye)

But you're just a bully acting like a baby so I gotta read you a nursery (Nursery)

I'm the ghost of the future and you're just Ebenezer Scrooge (Facts)

I said on Flex, anyone could get it

I ain't know it would be you

[Chorus]

I'm sick of them sweatsuits and them corny hats, let's talk about it

I'm sick of you being rich and you still mad, let's talk about it

Both of us single dads from the Midwest, we can talk about it

Or we could get gully I'll size up your body and put some white chalk around it

[Bridge]

Riding shotty cause I gotta roll this dope

It's a fast road when your idols become your rivals

Never hesitate to say it to your face, I'm an asshole

Bitch ass motherfucker

Oh my god, Ronny

[Verse 4]

We know you get nervous, Rabbit

I see momma's spaghetti all over your sweater

I wish you would lose yourself on the record that you made a decade ago, they were better

According to them you're a national treasure

To me you're as soft as a feather

The type to be scared to ask Rihanna for her number, just hold her umbrella-ella-ella

"I'm not afraid," okay Oscar the Grouch, chill on the couch (Fuck)

You got an Oscar, damn can anyone else get some food in their mouth? (For real)

They made a movie about you, you're in everybody's top ten

You're not getting better with time

It's fine Eminem, put down the pen

Or write an apology about the simple fact you had to write a diss to acknowledge me

I am the prodigy, how could I even look up to you

You ain't as tall as me

5'8" and I'm 6'4"

Seven punches hold your head still

Last time you saw 8 Mile was at home on a treadmill

You were named after a candy

I was named after a gangster (brr)

And don't be a sucker and take my verse off of Yelawolf's album, thank you (Thank you)

I just wanna feed my daughter

You tried to stop the money to support her

You the one always talk about the action

Text me the addy, I'm pulling up scrappy

And I'm by fucking myself, what's happenin'?

EST captain, salute me or shoot me

That's what he's gonna have to do to me when he realizes there ain't shit he could do to me

Everybody always hated me, this isn't anything new to me

Yeah there's a difference between us, I got all of my shit without Dre producing me (Aye)

I know you're not used to me

Usually one of your disses should ruin me

But bitch I'm from Cleveland, everybody quiet this evening, I'm reading the eulogy (Shh)

Dropped an album called Kamikaze, so that means it killed him

Already fucked one rapper's girl this week, don't make me call Kim

[Chorus]

I'm sick of them sweatsuits and them corny hats, let's talk about it

I'm sick of you being rich and you still mad, let's talk about it

Both of us single dads from the Midwest, we can talk about it

Or we could get gully I'll size up your body and put some white chalk around it

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shoemaker, Whitney (July 30, 2019). "Machine Gun Kelly opens up on Eminem feud and what it will take to end it". *Alternative Press*.
2. ↑ Mench, Chris (September 20, 2018). "Machine Gun Kelly Addresses "Killshot" & Internet Conspiracy Theories About "Rap Devil"". *Genius*.
3. ↑ Ruffini, Karen (September 13, 2018). "Eminem Just Responded To Machine Gun Kelly's "Rap Devil" Diss in the Most Epic Way".
4. ↑ "Eminem x Sway - The Kamikaze Interview (Part 2)". *YouTube*. September 12, 2018.
5. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly responds to Eminem's "bullsh\*t" diss on new album". *Capital Xtra*. January 20, 2020.
6. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly – Rap Devil". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
7. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
8. ↑ "Kanye West edges in on Calvin Harris & Sam Smith for Irish Number 1". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
9. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
10. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
11. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly – Rap Devil". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
13. ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2018
14. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
15. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
16. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
17. ↑ WORLDSTARHIPHOP (September 3, 2018). "Machine Gun Kelly "Rap Devil" (Eminem Diss) (WSHH Exclusive - Official Music Video)" – via YouTube.
18. ↑ "RAP DEVIL" – via open.spotify.com.