Mike Tyson has long been more than a fighter; he commands attention as a cultural figure, even if not always for the right reasons. His take on Eminem’s personality might be controversial, but his respect for Marshall is undeniable.
In a recent conversation with DJ Whoo Kid, he spoke warmly about Eminem and defended him against those who refuse to acknowledge his impact on hip hop.
Tyson talked about what he would do for Em’s birthday, reflected on the burden of fame, named his favourite Eminem songs, and offered his own thoughts on the complicated relationship between Eminem and race.
DJ Whoo Kid: Speaking of Eminem, he’s also your brother. His birthday is coming up on Saturday. Is there anything you want to wish him for his birthday?
Mike Tyson: Wish him happiness, man. All we need is happiness. We could do anything after that. I respect him as much as possible. He’s a good man. He’s respectable.
DJ Whoo Kid: He seems to really go out of bounds to help you with anything you need. I saw him when he went to Saudi Arabia when you had that hosting thing going on over there. He linked up with you there?
Mike Tyson: I hate bothering him. I see how he lives his life – people are on him all the time, and that must be crazy. You know, I always look at people like that. I wonder, did they ever try to hurt themselves before ’cause they have no peace. Well, I’ve already tried to hurt myself a bunch of times. I’ve been to psych wards. I’ve been to prisons and everything. I’m learning.
DJ Whoo Kid: What’s your top three Eminem songs?
Mike Tyson: Oh gosh. Come on, man. The first one. What’s the one song I like? Jay-Z, “Renegade”. I like the 8 Mile song, “Lose Yourself”. He and Lil Wayne had a song, too.
DJ Whoo Kid: The song is called “No Love”.
Mike Tyson: Yeah.
DJ Whoo Kid: You knew this guy, Biggie. And you like the song with him and Biggie, “Dead Wrong”.
Mike Tyson: That’s the illest, though, right? That’s the illest. I wish Tupac and Biggie were alive when he was spitting.
DJ Whoo Kid: What are you going to do for Eminem’s birthday this Saturday, man? What are you sending him?
Mike Tyson: If he’s smoking some weed, I got some weed for his ass.
DJ Whoo Kid: I don’t know if Eminem is smoking right now.
Mike Tyson: Maybe he got some private stuff. You know, everybody got their private stock, you know.
DJ Whoo Kid: He’s one of the goats. I was with Redman at Comic-Con, and he was like, Eminem saying your name in the song is just like you’re part of some shit. I’m sure he said your name.
Mike Tyson: Eminem doesn’t have to say nobody’s name. He knows when he says somebody’s name, they’re gonna get love. He does that because he knows he’s great. You know, some people can’t handle greatness. When you’re great like Eminem, and he gives his greatness to people by putting them in songs, talking about them. They probably don’t even rap no more. And he’s still talking about them. They would hate to say that Eminem’s the best, one of the best things ever happened to rap music. They would never want to say that. But that’s the truth, though. And he’s white; he’s a white motherfucker. I say it’s the truth. The truth. He’s changed the game. That’s why motherfuckers that don’t like him just don’t like the fact he’s changed the game. They listen to his shit, but they just don’t like the fact he changed the game. He can’t help that he’s a white motherfucker. He thinks he’s black. He’s black, and they can’t help that he’s white. He doesn’t like it that he’s white either. So, stop. Leave him the fuck alone.
The respect Tyson expresses here is mutual. When Eminem appeared on Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, he was clearly excited to be talking to the former heavyweight champion as any fan would do. From Whoo Kid’s comments about the support Eminem gives the veteran fighter, it is clear that their connection continued afterwards.
So, Mike Tyson calls Eminem his brother and recognises some of the pressures that come with Marshall’s level of fame. It might be too presumptuous to assume what Eminem thinks about his race, as though race were a matter of opinion, but Tyson got some things right. Eminem has changed the hip hop game, but his race is something he has no control over. So, he just carries on, doing what he does best – making music and living his life.