In a recent interview with journalist Brian J. Roberts, 50 Cent offered a thought-provoking take on the different emotional tones and cultural perspectives between 2Pac and Eminem—two of the most legendary rappers of all time. The topic? How each artist rapped about their mothers, and what it reveals about race, expectations, and upbringing.
50 compared 2Pac’s “Dear Mama” to Eminem’s “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” using them as examples of how racial background can influence expression.
“Eminem’s mom had drug usage in her experience, and he rapped: ‘Sorry, momma / I never meant to hurt you…’
2Pac’s mom also struggled with addiction, but he said: ‘Even though you was a crack fiend, momma / You always was a Black Queen, mama.’”
According to 50, the contrast lies in tone and expectations. Eminem’s anger reflects a sense of betrayal and broken expectations, while 2Pac’s message leans into forgiveness and resilience, despite hardship.
“The expectations of things going right from a white American perspective, versus accepting the idea of things not going right from an African-American perspective, are what make the difference,” 50 explained.
He didn’t stop there. 50 went on to praise Eminem for elevating hip-hop culture, crediting Em with helping him shatter commercial limits set by artists like 2Pac in the ‘90s.
“Before my album dropped, the most I saw a Black male solo rapper sell was five million copies—Pac’s All Eyez On Me,” 50 said. “Then I drop Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and it sells 13 million. That’s because of my association with Eminem. If you ignore that, you’re just a f***ing idiot.”
He also called Eminem one of the most important people in his life:
“He’s in a tight second spot behind my grandmother for people who’ve done things for me that they didn’t have to.”
Interestingly, Eminem has long credited 2Pac as a major influence, once calling him the “greatest songwriter of all time.” In a 2020 Shade45 radio broadcast, Em broke down Pac’s lyrical genius:
“You didn’t just listen to 2Pac—you felt 2Pac. That’s why he always asked, ‘Can you feel me?’ Because you really could.”
