Kit Roberts
Dr Dre has opened up about just how much he admires Eminem.
The rapper and record producer, 59, was in an interview with James Corden on SiriusXM’s This Life of Mine.
Obviously, it's no secret that Eminem is one of the most successful and widely known rappers in the world, if not the most.
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But any artist will understand the delicate balance between commercial success and succeeding as an artist, whatever form that might take for each individual.
In the case of Eminem, he's certainly got the respect of his fellow artists if Dr Dre's interview is anything to go by.
Speaking to James Corden, Dr Dre said: "I think he's the best MC ever. Point blank, period."
That's some very high praise indeed!
Sitting down with Corden, Dr Dre recalled the first time that he had met Eminem.
He said: "I was just starting this new thing, this new campaign with Aftermath Records, and I was working on my second solo album at the time, and it was just OK."
The rapper explained that he would frequently go down to record executive Jimmy Iovine's office.
He recalled: "We would go down to his garage, which he turned into a listening room, and he would just play demos.
"He just said one day, 'What do you think about this?' And he played this artist — which was Eminem — and I had no idea he was a white guy at the time."
Of course, things were not done yet, with Dre taking home the record to take a listen.
Dre recalled: "I took it home with me, and I could stop playing this s---. Couldn’t stop playing it, and Jimmy called me the next day and he’s like, 'You know it’s a white guy, right?'"
He continued: "I’m like, 'Oh, OK,' so long story short, I met Eminem at Jimmy Iovine’s office. We slapped hands, went to the studio and started recording."
The rapper and producer also revealed something about the first four albums released by Eminem.
He said: "I’m not sure if anybody knows this, but I think [Eminem's] first four albums was just me and him and his writing and his delivery."
Needless to say, his opinion of Eminem is one of complete admiration.
Describing just how much he respects Eminem, Dre said: "His imagination is off the charts, and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. I think he’s the best MC ever. Point blank, period.
"Of course, there are going to be arguments about that because he’s a white guy. I don’t think anyone that’s rapping can touch Eminem on that microphone."