Lil Wayne reminisced about the tense moment when collaborating with Eminem, surprising fans!
Even seasoned artists like Lil Wayne can’t escape the jitters when reaching out to a superstar like Eminem. In a recent interview with The New York Times, where he was featured in celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Weezy admitted to feeling “scаred” at the thought of proposing a collaboration with the rap icon.
Opening up about the experience, the 40-year-old rapper shared, “I was scаred, actually, when I called Eminem for a song. That is a monster.” Wayne, known for his hits like “A Milli,” drew parallels between himself and Eminem, emphasizing a shared obsession with words, their meanings, and the intricate art of rhyme. “He must have the same thing I have with words. Like, we can’t get them out of our heads. Every meaning, every aspect of them. Things that rhyme, we hear it,” he explained.
At that point in his career, Lil Wayne had already collaborated with notable artists such as Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. However, approaching Eminem, whom he admired as a fan, brought a different kind of excitement and trepidation.
Their initial collaboration came in the form of Drake’s 2009 track “Forever,” which also featured Kanye West. This marked the beginning of a successful partnership, leading to subsequent hits like “Drop the World” from Wayne’s 2010 Rebirth album and “No Love” from Eminem’s Recovery album that same year.
Despite the intimidating nature of the call, Wayne’s decision to reach out to Eminem proved fruitful, as their collaborations consistently climbed the charts. “Forever” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hоt 100, “Drop the World” reached No. 18, and “No Love” landed at No. 24 — all eventually achieving multi-platinum status.
In the interview, Lil Wayne also expressed his admiration for JAY-Z, referring to him as the “god of words.” Recalling his introduction to Jay Z through Biggie’s “Lucky Me,” Wayne emphasized the profound impact Jay Z had on his lyrical inspiration. He even shared a snippet of Jay Z’s lyrics, highlighting the deep connection he feels with the words that continue to resonate with him and his audience.
