Few rap battles hit as hard as the clash between Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly in 2018. It all started when MGK threw down the gauntlet with “Rap Devil”—a scathing rebuttal to Em’s “Not Alike” from Kamikaze. It wasn’t subtle; it was nuclear.
MGK wasn’t holding back. He called out Eminem for being old news, mocked his daughter Hailie’s late-teens remark, and blasted him for banning him from Shade 45. Bold moves, but rap fans ate it up:
> “With Rap Devil, I Did That The Same Night—To Me, If You Wait, That’s Choking.”
> — MGK’s own words, shared by Reddit users reacting in real time
The reaction? Viral-level. With over 486 million views as of late 2024, “Rap Devil” became a chart success and cultural moment, hitting #13 on Billboard Hot 100.
Eminem didn’t take long to respond. Mere days later, he dropped “Killshot”—a verbal assault that racked up 38 million views in its first 24 hours and debuted at #3 on Billboard. Critics called it “the best he’s sounded in half a decade”.
This beef wasn’t just bars—it was a generational standoff: the legacy, ultra-lyrical king vs. the upstart from a new wave. Fans debated endlessly: Who won? Some said MGK was brave, others hailed Eminem’s response as definitive.
In the end, “Rap Devil” gave MGK mainstream buzz—but “Killshot” reminded everyone why Eminem still reigns supreme in hip-hop’s diss track hierarchy.