Big Sean Calls Working With Eminem on ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ a ‘Full-Circle Moment’
Written by djfrosty on September 12, 2024
Growing up in Detroit, Eminem has long been one of Big Sean’s idols. Sean Don has worked with Em in the past, but this time on The Death of Slim Shady was extra special for the 36-year-old.
Billboard caught up with Big Sean on the red carpet prior to the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday (Sept. 11) at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., where Sean reflected on teaming up with Eminem for “Tobey.”
“I’m happy to be a part of that album as well. For sure, for sure. [The Slim Shady LP] was the first album I bought from Costco with my birthday money,” he explained. “That was way back. To be on The Death of Slim Shady was a full-circle moment.”
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“Tobey” happened to be an all-Detroit affair, as Eminem recruited the emerging BabyTron to complete the trio. The single ended up peaking at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked the fourth Big Sean x Eminem team-up, following in the footsteps of “Detroit Vs. Everybody,” “No Favors” and Detroit 2‘s “Friday Night Cypher.”
Eminem opened the 2024 VMAs with a dynamic performance, which saw him rock a blond wig alongside a crew of Slim Shady clones during “Houdini.” He ditched the wig and things got more serious when Jelly Roll appeared on screen for their poignant “Somebody Save Me” collaboration.
It’s a busy week for Eminem fans. The Detroit icon is gearing up to make Friday the 13th a spooky one, when he’ll drop off more music packaged as part of The Death of Slim Shady: Expanded Mourner’s Edition. As for Big Sean, his Better Me Than You album arrived on Aug. 30, and the LP debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard 200.
Watch the interview below.