In a recent interview, Eminem referred to Tupac Shakur as the "greatest songwriter of all time."
In his latest Shade45 radio special "Music To Be Quarantined By," Em heaped praises on the "California Love" rapper before playing "If I Die 2Nite," Tupac's single from his 1995 studio album "Me Against The World."
Introducing the song, Eminem said, "OK, this next song is from an artist who I feel like might be the greatest songwriter of all time."
He even challenged fans to debate about MC-ing skills and assured that 2Pac had that too. Em added that the song he was about to play was "one of them songs by 2Pac that, to me, he was showing you, 'I can write heartfelt shit, and I can write lyrical, crazy shit too.'"
Em then quoted the first two lines of "If I Die 2Nite" and noted 2Pac's alliteration with "They say pu**y and paper is poetry, power and pistols/Plotting on murdering muthaf**kas 'fore they get you."
"How he was doing it was so crazy, mixed with the feel that 2Pac could give you," the Detroit-based rapper said, adding he felt like the late rapper was telling him, "Can you feel me?' He emphasized, "you can't just listen" to Tupac, that you "feel" him."
Eminem has been a lifelong Tupac fan and has worked with Tupac's estate a couple of times before, starting with his production work on three tracks included on the official soundtrack for the 2003 documentary, "Tupac: Ressurection." Also, he requested the permission of Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, to produce the fifth posthumous album "Loyal to the Game."
Eminem Quarantined By Fame
Eminem said during his interview with Shade45 host Sway Calloway that he felt "quarantine by fame." His statement comes as a response to his thoughts about the coronavirus lockdown.
The rapper, however, pointed out that "it's the fact of knowing that you can't really go out and we can't move like how we normally move" and added that it's not the same thing for him. Eminem also shared that since he can't go out, he has been writing, saying that "going to the studio is like my outlet."
No Knees Weak, No Arms Heavy With Mom's Spaghetti
Eminem served up "mom's spaghetti" to frontline workers serving around the clock in his native Detroit.
Local news outlet The Detroit News was among the first to break the news, April 22, noting the Shady Records spaghetti cups labeled "Mom's Spaghetti," from Eminem's hit song "Lose Yourself." The container also expressed gratitude with a thank you note.
One of the beneficiaries of Eminem's pasta drive, Henry Ford Hospital, posted about the gift on its Instagram page. The hospital shared how their healthcare heroes "lost themselves" in the meal donated by the Detroit native.
Aside from Henry Ford Hospital, Em also donated the signature spaghetti to Detroit Receiving Hospitals, making about 400 meals between the two hospitals. "Mom's Spaghetti" was prepared by Union Joints, a Michigan chain of restaurants, which has also served the signature pasta on previous events.
The name of the meal comes from the opening line of his award-winning song "Lose Yourself," which goes "His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy / There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti."
