After dropping two brand new songs we’re all going to hear on the radio every day for the next four years, Ed Sheeran (of all people) has shared a seriously cool story about rap gods Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.
During one of the many, many interviews he’s giving to promote his new music, the popular singer songwriter shared a brilliant story he heard from producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with both Em and Ed.
The story dates back to the first time Slim Shady teamed up with Kendrick for the song “Love Game” on The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
Sheeran told The Zach Sang Show:
I heard a very cool story about Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Eminem heard that Kendrick Lamar was the best rapper and he invited him to the studio to get him on a song.
He arrived and Kendrick came with all his mates and Eminem said, ‘I just want you in the studio, just you on your own. And then my engineer is gonna come in and then record you doing it. But your mates aren’t allowed in.’
The reason Eminem wanted the studio session to be private was because he was convinced Kendrick, like many other rappers, had a ghostwriter with him. He didn’t, and amazed Eminem with the verse he came out with.
Sheeran explained:
Eminem said that he did it to test Kendrick because he thought he had a ghostwriter. He then realised that he didn’t after Kendrick proceeded to write a sick verse.
Skip to the 7:50 mark in the video to hear Sheeran tell the story himself.
Kendrick was a rising star at the time, and Eminem was apparently so impressed by the rapper that he described him as ‘the best’.
Pretty high praise.
I wonder what would happen if he did the same thing to Drake.
