Suga of BTS Names Eminem as Top MC of All Time in New Rolling Stone Interview

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, BTS member Suga reaffirmed his deep-rooted respect for the legends of hip-hop, specifically naming Eminem as a primary influence on his musical journey. When asked by the interviewer to name his top MCs of all time, Suga highlighted the Detroit rapper and Kendrick Lamar, noting that Eminem was an essential part of his upbringing. The full exchange from the interview captures Suga’s thoughtful perspective on the genre’s terminology and his personal favorites:

Interviewer: I know you have long been a serious student of hip-hop. If you had to quickly pick your top MCs of all time and why, who would be your pick?
Suga: [Laughs.] First of all, that word “MC.” I was just talking with my friends about how we don’t use “MC” as much anymore. But anyway … it’s difficult to choose. I grew up listening to Eminem, so Eminem. Then Kendrick Lamar.

This recent praise is far from the first time Suga has expressed his admiration for Slim Shady. In a 2021 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Suga revealed that the very first album he ever bought with his own money was an Eminem CD. He humorously recalled that his parents allowed him to listen to it primarily because there were no Korean translations for the explicit lyrics at the time, meaning they were unaware of the content while he was busy absorbing the complex flows and production styles that would later inform his own work as a producer and rapper.

The connection between the BTS “rap line” and Eminem actually dates back to their pre-debut days. In 2012, a year before BTS officially hit the scene, Suga, RM, and J-Hope attended Eminem’s “Recovery” tour stop in Seoul. J-Hope recently shared a nostalgic look back at this moment by posting a photo of his original concert ticket on Instagram, sparking a viral wave of “pre-debut” photos showing the trio excitedly holding fan banners at the venue. For the members, seeing the “Rap God” live was a formative experience that occurred just as they were beginning to shape their own identities as artists.

Beyond Suga, other members have frequently cited Eminem as a catalyst for their interest in global hip-hop. RM has often mentioned Eminem alongside icons like Nas and Drake when discussing the rappers who influenced his lyrical depth and wordplay. Over the years, the group’s “rap line” has consistently used their platform to express a desire for a potential collaboration, viewing Eminem not just as a global superstar, but as a technical master of the craft they have spent over a decade perfecting.

For the full interview of Suga ,visit Rolling Stone here.

BTS Eminem