In a rare, wide-ranging interview with MTV News' Sway Calloway, Eminem sat down at his Sirius satellite radio station, Shade 45, on Tuesday (November 5) to take questions from the town hall audience about his personal life, the just-dropped The Marshall Mathers LP 2 , his career and his reaction to Kendrick Lamar's "Control" verse.
We learned so much during the hour-plus sit down, including the fact that Em often goes back to his old songs to make sure he's not repeating himself. MTV News breaks down the top nine takeaways from Slim Shady's sit-down:
Don't Look For Marshall On Twitter
When Sway asked if Eminem pays attention to all the social media outlets that didn't exist when he first got in the game 14 years ago, the rapper joked that he's constantly online checking his feeds and retweeting everything. He was, of course, kidding. "I really try not to pay attention," he said, noting that he tries to keep his finger on the pulse of what's going on, but can't go down the rabbit hole of reading everything everyone is saying online. "I would never be able to make music if I got caught up in that ... It would consume a lot of my time and be very counterproductive."
How Kendrick Ended Up On MMLP2
Lamar is the only featured rapper on MMLP2 and Em revealed that their hook-up, "Love Game," almost didn't happen. "I was writing so much and I made so many songs for this record ... I went in the zone probably for, man, a year, year and a half," he said about the intense writing sessions. After hearing fellow Aftermath artist Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city and being impressed, as well as realizing he didn't have any other hip-hop voices to break up his "rappity rap" on the album, Marshall said it made sense to rope Kendrick into the mix.
"The fact of what Kendrick is doing, even before the 'Control' verse ... just about what he did on his album and the way he put it together ... I admire that s---," he said.
My Lyrics Not Safe For School
A special ed teacher from Rhode Island said he references Eminem's work in his classroom, but wondered how the rapper felt about his explicit lyrics and controversial topics being used in education. "I'm in this game to press buttons and spark conversation and to get a reaction out of people," Em explained about verses that often offend. Though he didn't mention any songs or lyrics specifically, in an upcoming cover story in Rolling Stone magazine, the MC defends himself against charges of homophobia linked to his use of anti-gay slurs in "Rap God," saying he does not mean the terms in a derogatory fashion, but that they are a link back to his days as a battle rapper.
Openly bisexual singer/songwriter and MMLP2 collaborator Sia also stood up for Marshall, saying, "I know personally that he is no homophobic, but a performance artist."
"I want to say the lines that are going to get people's attention," Eminem told Sway. "And I would rather have ... even if it's bad attention than no attention at all. I think it's cool if my records spark conversation and debate."
What Would Have Happened If Kendrick Had Called Shady Out?
If, instead of praising Em, Lamar had called him out on "Control," how would Doctor Detroit have reacted? "One of the things that's so great about that verse was he did it in a way that you really can't get mad at him because that's what every MC should be thinking," said Eminem. "At least every MC that competitively raps and he does competitive rap. As an MC you should already be thinking that. So he only said what every other rapper's already thinking. The fact that he had the balls to say it is what's incredible to me."
'Headlights' Is The Last Word
"What I said on that record is what I have to say about it and I put it out there and that's pretty much all I'm gonna probably say about that," Eminem said about "Headlights," on which he tries to make amends with his mother, Debbie, who has long been a target of his venomous verses. "Everything I needed to say and get off my chest I said it. So there's no need for me to even elaborate on it." Trying not to sound callous, Shady shut down further discussion, saying "Headlights" is a "really personal" record for him that he doesn't want to elaborate on. Also, don't ask about his daughter, Hailie, because he'd rather not discuss her either.
His Top MCs Of All Time
While Marshall is honored when anyone mentions him as one of the greatest rappers of all time, when Sway asked his station boss to name his top three, things got quiet. Who made the list? LL Cool J, Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Naughty By Nature's Treach.
Dr. Dre Is No Picnic
Asked by an audience member who his favorite, or craziest collaborator has been over the years, not surprisingly, Em said his mentor and musical godfather, Dr. Dre. "The most fun, craziest and challenging would have to be Dre," he said. "Definitely challenging sticks in my craw when I think about Dre. Especially early on ... even still to this day when Dre and I get in the studio it's fun. There's no stress."
Making Magic With Rihanna Rick Rubin
Calling in frequent collaborator Rih to work on "Monster" was kind of a no-brainer. "It felt like the kind of record I definitely could hear her on," said Em. "She's great, incredible f---ing vocalist." Like the Kendrick song, though, Shady said "Monster" came together at the last minute so he wasn't able to share studio space with Rihanna during recording sessions.
Sway wondered if Marshall geeked out at all working with producing legend Rubin and if he asked him any questions about the old Def Jam days with Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. "I was like a kid in there and I was asking him so much s---," Eminem said, unable, however, to remember any of the specific things he was curious about. "I know I was asking him about certain guitar sounds he use ... I was fascinated with that."
What he did divulge, though, was that he calls Rubin "Yoda," because of the Def Jam co-founder's amazing ability to work across, and master, so many musical genres. "Genres of music, he has ... mastered," Shady said in a silly Yoda voice.
Still Going Strong In 2024?
"I f---ing hope not," Eminem said about his career 10-15 years from now. If anything, he hopes he's behind the scene producing or at least involved in the music game.