Once upon a time, long ago, Nick Cannon, Eminem, and Mariah Carey were entangled in a notorious love-triangle that inspired Mariah’s critically acclaimed and pop-culture classic, Obsessed. The relationship between the trio wasn’t always tumultuous, in fact Mariah and Eminem originally linked up in 2001, for collaboration on her album, Charmbracelet. But instead of a hit song, what resulted from the meeting became one of the most speculated upon claims of the century: Were Mariah Carey and Eminem romantically involved?
Eminem adamantly claims so. Expressing on Superman from his 2002 album, The Eminem Show: “What you tryin’ to be, my new wife? What you Mariah? Fly through twice.” On a different track (When the Music Stops) he also says: “I done came way too far in this game to turn and walk away, and not say what I got to say. What the f*ck you take me for a joke? You smokin crack? Before I do that, I’d beg Mariah to take me back.” In 2005, during his Anger Management Tour, Eminem played suggestive audio that he claims to be a voicemail from the bombshell singer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lppVn7WAoVQ
The following year, Eminem released Jimmy Crack Corn, with the following lyrics: “Your mind’s on us like mine’s on Mariah / And y’all are just like her, you’re all f*cking liars / But I’ll just keep f*cking you like I f*cked her / Right in the ass with KY yes sir.” A year after Mariah’s marriage to fellow MC Nick Cannon in 2008, Eminem said in Bagpipes from Baghdad: “Nick Cannon, I wish you luck with the f*cking whore.” Although Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey separated in 2016, the couple remain on good terms and share custody of their fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
Nick Cannon has responded to Eminem’s claims of romantic ties to Mariah Carey many times in the past. In interviews, diss tracks, podcasts, blog posts, etc. The most well-known attempt at disputing Eminem’s claims by Cannon is documented on his song, I’m A Slick Rick.
I’m A Slick Rick is a direct response to Eminem’s track The Warning released in 2009, and after that, the beef between the two rappers seemed to simmer down, with occasional jabs here and there, but nothing major. Until the unprecedented 2019 track The Invitation released not even 24 hours ago by Nick Cannon.
The track consists of more than just Nick Cannon, with a roster of hip-hop veteran Suge Knight, Wild n Out regular Hitman Holla, Charlie Clips and Prince Eazy. Lyrics aimed at Eminem include: “Eminem the perfect name, ’cause this nigga a nut.” More personal insults target Eminem’s troubled past with drugs and his relationship with his ex-wife Kimberly Anne Scott. “I fuck with Crack, but the white boy he fuck with crack (Crack) Pills and smack, shit, and he ’bout to relapse Call Kim, somebody get Hailie And that other kid you raisin’, that ain’t even your baby (Daddy)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-rnu32LIA
Eminem has responded, with just two snarky tweets, demanding an apology from Cannon, but no sign of a possible diss-back track yet.
Twitter certainly made clear whose side it’s on, the hashtag #ripnickcannon is now trending with more than 52 thousand tweets. Eminem definitely still has die-hard fans who will defend his name to the death. As for Nick Cannon, it’s certainly puzzling what inspired him to reignite this almost two-decade long, dormant feud. But I will say, The Invitation is his best attempt yet.