Dr. Umar Johnson believes that Eminem cannot achieve the title of greatest rapper of all time due to his white background

Dr. Umar Johnson posits that Eminem cannot claim the title of greatest rapper of all time due to his white heritage. According to Dr. Umar, Eminem benefits from the privileges associated with being a white male, which extend into the hip-hop community. During an appearance on Joe Budden’s podcast, Dr. Umar passionately expressed his concerns about non-Africans participating in Black culture, cautioning against allowing them into the community.

Joe Budden, who has had his own disagreements with Eminem, challenged Dr. Umar’s viewpoint, questioning whether Eminem’s status as one of the greatest rappers is acknowledged by rap fans. Dr. Umar remained steadfast, arguing that elevating Eminem to such a status perpetuates white supremacy and is disrespectful to African heritage.

Dr. Umar drew parallels with other cultures, asserting that he could never be considered the best in Palestinian or Israeli culture. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and honoring African heritage without attributing the highest accolades to non-African individuals.

While acknowledging Eminem’s talent, Dr. Umar and others, including rapper Melle Mel, contend that his success is partially attributed to his whiteness. Melle Mel questioned whether Eminem would rank as highly if he were Black, suggesting that his race has influenced his prominence in the industry.

Eminem himself has acknowledged his position as a guest within hip hop culture, stating that he does not claim to be the king of anything and recognizes his role as an outsider.