Time Article: The History of Eminem VS Moby
TMC_13
Some background. At last year's Grammy awards, Moby said that Eminem
was a talented rapper, but that his infamous homophobia set a poor
example for young fans. Eminem, was outraged and struck back at Moby,
calling him a "36-year-old bald headed fag" on the song Without Me.
Now: at last night's VMAs, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (a hand-puppet
operated by comedy writer Robert Smigel) approached Moby to make light
of the situation ("First of all, everyone knows you're 35!") Eminem,
sitting a few rows in front of Moby, got out of his chair and tried to
end the segment. He was very, very angry and had two members of his
posse with him. MTV, which likes its spontaneity rehearsed, cut away
from the segment. Moments later, Eminem won an award, stumbled during
his acceptance speech, and blamed "that girl Moby" for distracting
him. When the audience booed, Eminem added "I will hit someone with
glasses." Presumably he meant Moby.
Rap has had plenty of feuds over the years, and they've all been
idiotic. But at least past instigators had the guts to pick on other
rappers who were physically imposing. Tupac ridiculed the 6'4
300-pound Notorious B.I.G. Nas went after the much-larger Jay-Z.
Eminem picked on a scrawny vegan pacifist DJ — and a handpuppet.
Very bold.
Smigel was heartbroken that MTV cut him off. "I had a great line," he
told TIME. Then, in the voice of Triumph, he performed what would have
been his closing joke, aimed at Eminem. "My mom's a bitch, too, but
you don't hear me rapping about it! Thank you, Goodnight!"***