Eminem drew the ire of the web over the weekend after releasing a brand new single that refers to rapper Tory Lanez’ taking pictures of Megan Thee Stallion within the foot in 2020. “If I used to be to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me/Would I actually have a shot at a feat?” Eminem raps within the first minute of “Houdini.” (“Feat” is brief for “characteristic.”)Eminem, whose actual identify is Marshall Mathers, appears to be poking enjoyable on the July 2020 taking pictures that left Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete) with a foot damage and Tory Lanez with a 10-year jail sentence. The road didn’t go over nicely with social media customers, who criticized him for making mild of gender violence and concentrating on a Black girl in his lyrics. “Being 51 years previous and taking pictures at Megan Thee Stallion? Out of contact,” one person posted on X. One other person condemned the road, noting that June is Black Music Month: “Is it an excessive amount of to ask that as we enter Black music month in a number of days that folk not permit Eminem to make mild of Megan, a BW who was a sufferer of gun violence, to be focused in a tune by a white rapper? Of us are too comfy disrespecting Black girls.”“Houdini” is the primary single off of Eminem’s upcoming album, “The Loss of life of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).” The star-studded superhero-themed video for the tune seems to be an homage to his 2002 video for “With out Me,” and contains superstar cameos from Snoop Dogg, Pete Davidson, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Shane Gillis. Together with mentioning Megan Thee Stallion, Eminem name-drops R. Kelly, Ru Paul and Sherri Papini, a California girl who faked her personal kidnapping in 2016. Some social media customers got here to Eminem’s protection, noting that the Detroit rapper has lengthy been identified for provocative lyrics. “In case you’re offended by the Megan thee Stallion line in Eminem’s #Houdini, you clearly don’t perceive/know who Slim Shady is — the entire goal is that he makes enjoyable of all people. It ain’t that deep and it’s a very good line. This isn’t a diss,” one individual wrote in a submit on X. RecommendedAnother X person chalked the taking pictures reference as much as Enimen’s playful use of phrases, writing, “why do individuals suppose Eminem was making an attempt to begin beef with Megan Thee Stallion … it was just a few s—– wordplay lmao.”Megan Thee Stallion and Eminem didn’t reply to a request for remark from NBC Information. Neither have publicly addressed the web chatter. The Megan Thee Stallion taking pictures has additionally been the topic of rap lyrics from musicians like Drake and Nicki Minaj through the years. It additionally spurred nationwide conversations about gender violence towards Black girls. Lanez, whose actual identify is Daystar Peterson, was convicted of three felony prices and sentenced to 10 years in jail in December 2022.Megan Thee Stallion lately introduced that her third album, “MEGAN,” is about for launch on June 28.For extra from NBC BLK, join our weekly e-newsletter. Char Adams is a reporter for NBC BLK who writes about race.