Memphis Bleek was asked to share his thoughts on a years-old debate that consumed hip-hop in 2001 and the years to follow: did Eminem wash Jay-Z on his own song, “Renegade?”
“Alright Bleek, you’re an honest man, you’re a loyal man,” Justin Credible said on his new self-titled podcast, ultimately asking Bleek for his “opinion on who had a better verse on ‘Renegade.’”
“Man, you really trying to spark some drama,” Bleek answered. Rap fans and even Nas said at the time that Em lyrically bested Hov on the Blueprint track, but Bleek said he believes Jay’s bars have aged better than Em’s.
“Everybody, of course, I feel like certain songs Jay record be over people head, like it’s not at that time,” Bleek said. “To me, the streets and everybody, the public opinion of course says Eminem, right? At that time. Go back and listen to that record today, I bet you you’re gonna agree it’s Jay. Because, you know, Jay was talking something that was so far [ahead] of what you even understood or comprehend that you didn’t know what he was talking about.”
He continued, “So to me of course, and it’s non-biased, at that present moment I believed, too, Eminem had the better verse. But going back and listening to music as they age, you could see it was equal. It’s no better verse, it’s just a marvelous song.”
“Renegade” served as the 12th track on Jay-Z’s legendary sixth album The Blueprint and was certified gold by the RIAA. The song was produced by Eminem and earned a spot on his own bestselling Curtain Call: The Hits compilation in 2005.
Em, 49, is currently gearing up to drop Curtain Call 2, which he announced on July 11 will include work from 2009’s Relapse onward, including guest appearances, soundtrack contributions, and more. The project is set to arrive on Aug. 5.
Hov, 52, recently said that he’s not retired—but also doesn’t have a follow-up to 2017’s excellent 4:44on deck. “I’m not actively making music or making an album or have plans to make an album, but I never want to say that I’m retired,” Jigga told Kevin Hart. “It’s a gift, so who am I to shut it off? And it may have a different form or interpretation. Maybe it’s not an album, maybe it is. I have no idea, but I’m just going to leave it open.”
Watch the full interview with Memphis Bleek above, where he also speaks about his upcoming Verzuz battle against Juelz Santana, or stream it below with Spotify. The “Renegade” talk start just after the 1:12:00 mark.
