Eminem returns to his roots, hosts a freestyle rap battle competition in Detroit

Detroit rapper wins Eminem-hosted freestyle battle

DETROIT — The winner of a national freestyle rap battle competition held in Detroit and hosted by Eminem is from — where else — Detroit.

Eighteen-year-old Saffal “FowL” Tall won the Red Bull EmSee title Thursday night at St. Andrew’s Hall, beating out rappers from New York; Philadelphia; San Francisco; Orlando, Fla.; Greensboro, N.C.; Houston and Atlanta.

Eminem says “a rap battle in Detroit is no laughing matter, and it seems that FowL took it the most seriously tonight.”

The superstar rapper hosted and also served as a judge at the event that was designed to resemble the head-to-head verbal assaults featured in his hit 2002 movie, “8 Mile.”