During a spirited exchange on their sports talk show It Is What It Is, Cam’ron and Ma$e weighed in on the evolving place of white artists in hip-hop, offering up their personal picks for the top three white MCs—a response to the broader debate over who deserves a spot on rap’s Mount Rushmore.
When co-host Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson prompted them to name their top picks, Ma$e began with an acknowledgment of Eminem, stating, “First and foremost, you have to mention the guy from Philly signed to Jadakiss [Millyz]. Eminem is a given. Then there’s MGK or Yelawolf. Who do you think stands out more, Killa?”
Cam’ron responded thoughtfully, “I’m leaning towards MGK since he’s my guy. No offense to Yelawolf; I just haven’t explored much of his music.” In a candid moment, Ma$e also noted the Beastie Boys as deserving of recognition but felt the need to revise his selections after realizing he had overlooked one significant artist. “Wait, I forgot Jack Harlow! I need to update my list. He’s definitely in the conversation,” he remarked.
Cam’ron elaborated further, saying, “Eminem is undoubtedly my number one. You also have to consider individuals who broke down barriers for white rappers during a time when acceptance in the hip-hop community was scarce.” He expressed admiration for 3rd Bass, stating, “They didn’t have the lyrical prowess of Eminem, but they earned respect during an era when it was challenging for white artists to gain traction in predominantly Black spaces. Remember how Vanilla Ice was received?”
Cam’ron Ranks Top White Rappers, Reflects on Eminem, and Addresses MGK Snub
The iconic Dipset member continued, acknowledging the late Mac Miller as his third choice. “Rest in peace to him. Jack Harlow deserves recognition too, but I wouldn’t place him above the three I mentioned. He’s definitely in the top four, though, and he’s extremely talented.” Cam’ron candidly revealed his personal taste, admitting, “To be honest, I was never a huge Beastie Boys fan. They seemed to lean more towards rock than rap for me.”
Interestingly, while both Cam’ron and Ma$e endorsed Machine Gun Kelly, MGK was notably absent from a viral social media post showcasing an AI-generated Mount Rushmore of white rappers, which featured Eminem, Mac Miller, Paul Wall, and Russ. MGK expressed his disappointment on X, saying, “Me not being included on the white rapper Mount Rushmore is blasphemy.” Meanwhile, the conversation surrounding the Mount Rushmore continues to trend on social media as fans weigh in with their opinions.
In a reflective moment, Cam’ron also shared his regret about not collaborating with Eminem during the peak of their respective careers. On his YouTube show Talk with Flee, he expressed, “Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, I really wanted to work with Eminem when both of our careers were on the rise. He’s incredibly lyrical, and I can be too. I’ve toned down my lyrics for my audience, but I always thought that collaboration would have been something special.” He also mentioned Nas as another artist he wished to have worked with at that time.
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