You most probably know Sir Robert Bryson Hall II under a different name – Logic. But he did not adopt this moniker from the very beginning of his rap career. The first choice was different, connected to Eminem, and not even his to make.
Origin Story
Logic revealed the story on the 5 Things with Jay Mewes episode. The premise of the show, filmed in a convenience store, is that a guest selects five items with a personal story behind each choice. Logic’s stories cover both his current obsessions and past financial struggles. However, at some point, the rapper got sidetracked, and a bag of M&M’s reminded him of another aspect of his humble beginnings.
Apparently, Logic’s first stage name was not his own choice. Moreover, people who gave it to Bruce did not even know him that well. “Skittles was my first rap name”, said the MC. And yes, we already know the straightforward and misguided reasoning his peers used. “Kids were like, ‘We are going to call you Skittles because Eminem is taken’. And I was like ‘I’m not fully white, so…’”
Success Story
Surely, the parallel with Eminem was not an offence for Logic, who grew up on Marshall’s bars. People’s ignorance, though, is another matter. Obviously, the name did not stick, and the young rapper found his first big success as Psychological when he was just 19.
Later, he shouted Em on his records many times, saying that he is one of the rap legends that Logic studied to get to where he is now. To the point that Logic has a song with Eminem – 2× Platinum “Homicide” that is closing on 600 million streams on Spotify now.
Logic talked about this progression in one of his past interviews:
“I look at cats like Em, and I’m like, man, he’s just doing him. And that’s what inspires me. I didn’t even know he knew who I was a couple of years ago. He shouted me out on a record. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is amazing!’ And then the next thing you know, we’re on a song together. He’s one of the illest dudes. He’s so nice, and when I met him, I was all nervous. I was like, ‘Yo, am I being weird?’ He was like, ‘Nah, man, you’re cool’”.
From the very beginning, Logic did not plan to be a second-hand Eminem. He carved his own path and his own place in the industry, where he commands respect for his skills and his heritage.
