Jelly Roll Hopes to Mend Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly Beef
Nashville-based rapper and singer-songwriter Jelly Roll finally broke his silence over the highly publicized beef between Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). He recently shared his candid thoughts on the issue in an interview with the Flagrant podcast, stating he's the man who could finally help put the white flag between them. Drawing from friendships with both musicians, he felt that he was a firm believer the two would eventually meet on common grounds.
"I think they're gonna come together one day," he said. "I want to be the one to help make that happen."
A Different Approach
Knowing the two men personally, Jelly Roll added an underline of how similar they are to one another. "There's so much they share that they might not even realize," he said. He has yet to reach out to Eminem, who was born Marshall Mathers, on the matter but shared he's spoken with MGK about bringing a close to the beef.
“I’ve given MGK some perspective,” Jelly Roll said, reflecting on the influence Eminem has had on the industry. “Growing up, getting mentioned by Eminem was like being on fire. It was a career milestone.”
Jelly Roll concluded with optimism, stating, “I believe they’ll eventually see each other’s heart. Even if they don’t, this feud has probably benefited both of them more than it’s hurt them.”
The Origins of the Feud
The conflict between Eminem and MGK dates back to 2012, as detailed by Billboard. The feud began when a 22-year-old MGK made a controversial tweet about Eminem’s then-16-year-old daughter, calling her “hot as f***.”
Years later, Eminem addressed the comment in his 2018 track ‘Not Alike,’ with pointed lyrics aimed at MGK. This led to a fiery response from MGK in the form of the diss track ‘Rap Devil,’ where he criticized Eminem’s character and career moves.
“Tough talk from a rapper payin’ millions for security a year,” MGK rapped. “Mad about something I said in 2012 / Took you six years and a surprise album just to come with a diss.”
Continued Tensions
Eminem continued referencing MGK in later works, including the tracks ‘Unaccommodating’ (2020) and ‘Bad One’ from his album ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).’ On the latter, Eminem rapped: “I gotta keep going Tyson on Kelly / I bodied him twice and already / That little motherf*****’s back throwing subs like a food fight at the deli.”
The album received mixed reviews, with NME describing some tracks as powerful but critiquing Eminem for relying on old material. “Now that Slim Shady is dead, how about getting some new material?” the review suggested.
Recent Updates from the Artists
Outside of the feud, both artists have shared personal developments. Eminem recently praised Kendrick Lamar and predicted his success at the upcoming 2025 Grammy Awards. Meanwhile, MGK credited his 15-year-old daughter for inspiring his journey to sobriety. Jelly Roll, for his part, discussed his meeting with Donald Trump and addressed rumors surrounding his career.
While the animosity between Eminem and MGK may continue for now, Jelly Roll’s aspirations to mend their relationship offer a glimpse of hope for reconciliation in the future.
