Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) continues to maintain that he came out on top in his infamous feud with Eminem, a rivalry that made waves in the hip-hop community and beyond. The battle between the two artists began in 2018 when MGK released the diss track “Rap Devil,” a direct response to Eminem’s “Not Alike” from the Kamikaze album. MGK’s bold and provocative lyrics called out Eminem’s age, career relevance, and personal insecurities, igniting a heated lyrical back-and-forth that captivated fans.
However, the tide quickly shifted when Eminem fired back with “Killshot,” a scathing rebuttal that many critics and listeners viewed as a decisive win for the Detroit rapper. The track broke records on YouTube, becoming one of the most viewed hip-hop videos in 24 hours, and delivered punchline after punchline that dissected MGK’s career and persona. Lines like, “But I’m 45 and I’m still outselling you” and “Had to give you a career to destroy it” resonated strongly, reinforcing Eminem’s reputation as one of the sharpest lyricists in the game.
Despite widespread consensus that Eminem had the upper hand, MGK has stood firm in his belief that he triumphed in the feud. In interviews, MGK has often referred to “Rap Devil” as a career-defining moment and claimed that it forced Eminem to respond, thus validating his status as a legitimate challenger. MGK has also argued that the attention from the feud brought him new fans and solidified his presence in hip-hop, regardless of the perceived outcome.
His confidence in declaring victory may stem from the fact that the feud brought him unprecedented visibility, making him a trending topic and a focal point of discussion in the rap community. For MGK, engaging with a legend like Eminem was a risk that paid off by keeping his name in the spotlight and allowing him to transition into other genres, such as punk-rock, where he has found a new wave of success.
Eminem, on the other hand, has mostly moved past the beef, choosing not to engage further, which some see as confirmation that he said everything he needed to in “Killshot.” For diehard Eminem fans, this silence is seen as a sign of finality, a mic drop moment that rendered additional responses unnecessary.
The feud between MGK and Eminem remains one of the most debated rap battles of the modern era. Whether MGK’s confidence is genuine or a tactic to keep his narrative alive, his belief that he “beat” Eminem ensures the discussion continues. It highlights the subjective nature of rap feuds, where public perception, artist ego, and fan loyalty all play a role in determining a winner.
For now, MGK’s unwavering stance keeps the rivalry in the cultural conversation, while Eminem’s fans believe the record-breaking “Killshot” already delivered the final word.
