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Eminem has answered the call of Source founder’s Dave Mays and Raymond “Benzino” Scott to further explain racist comments he made, on a tape that was recorded at least ten years ago.The tape features the rapper using the word n*gger, when referring to African-American women.In a statement released today (December 4)Eminem attributed the comments to his age and refuted the magazine’s claim that he was 18-years-old when the tape was made.Eminem said that the magazine was actually hurting hip-hop, making it easier for the hip-hop community to be divided.Below is the statement in it’s entirety:”I did and said a lot of stupid sh*t when I was a kid, but that’s part of growing up. The tape of me rapping 15 years ago as a teenager that was recently put out by The Source in no way represents who I was then or who I am today.In becoming an adult, I’ve seen what hip-hop and rap music can do to touch millions of people. The music can be truly powerful, and it has helped improve race relations in a very real way. I want to use this negative attack on me as a positive opportunity to show that.Dave Mays and Benzino are spitting in the face of what hip-hop and rap music have done to promote racial unity. Their attempt to use this old, foolish recording to damage me and, in turn, the positivity that hip-hop promotes is really nothing more than blatant self-promotion for a failing magazine and one man’s lifeless music career. They’re scared of what can happen if the hip-hop community shows it can live without them.The methods being used and the poison being spread by The Source make it easier for the enemies of hip-hop and rap culture to divide us. Hip-hop has helped a generation deal with the poverty and prejudice that affect all of us — whether you come from the projects or from a trailer park.So while I think common sense tells you not to judge a man by what he may have said when he was a boy, I will say it straight up: I am sorry I said those things when I was 16. And I don’t want to let anybody turn this into an opportunity to promote their own bullsh*t agenda.”