Apple Music launched yesterday and one of the new features was the brand new Beats 1 radio station helmed and curated by former BBC Radio One presenter Zane Lowe. The new station has already signed deals with celebrity artists like Elton John, Drake and Pharrell to present their own radio shows, with an Essential Mix-styled set coming from Eric Prydz on July 4. There have already been a few premieres on the radio station, but the first big event was today when Zane Lowe interviewed Eminem on the air. The pair discussed a variety of topics, but stayed on topic with the new boxing movie Southpaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which Eminem is deeply involved with, executive producing the whole thing and recording the theme song "Phenomenal."
Discussing the soundtrack, Eminem says he wanted to capture the essence of each scene and reveals he has music from Action Bronson, 50 Cent, Royce Da 5'9 and Slaughterhouse for the film. Eminem has three or four songs on the soundtrack.
Eminem tells the story of how he got involved with the film nearly five years ago when it was first presented to him. Mathers was originally cast in it, but he didn't have the time recording after The Marshall Mathers LP2, but he circled back around after seeing Gyllenhall "smash it" and do a soundtrack.
The producers wanted to recapture the energy of The Eminem Show's track "Till I Collapse" with the new single.
"Phenomenal" was created at a time when Em was making beats for Slaughterhouse. He wrote a hook for one of the beats and it just fit with the film.
Yesterday, the Detroit rapper announced that the video for "Southpaw" would arrive at sometime later this week.
The pair discuss Eminem as an actor and when he might return to the big screen after the success of 8 Mile.
Southpaw hits theaters on July 24.
Listen to interview below via Complex.
