DX: Speaking of Eminem, he has repeatedly mentioned you as a major influence, and even called you his favorite emcee on his song “Till I Collapse.” What do you make of that?
Redman: First of all, I heard of Eminem when he used to be in Brick City.
DX: With The Outsidaz, right?
Redman: Yeah. Hard to believe, Eminem used to be in Brick City. And from him hangin’ with my dudes and showing Outsidaz love, I immediately connected. Like, I ain’t even really hear him. But just by my boy sayin’, "Yo, he’s dope man, show that nigga love," I was like, fuck it, hell yeah! White boy rappin’? And then I hear him and he’s extremely dope? I was just like, "Wow. He’s talented." And he came to the hood. So he’ll always get my hat off. Eminem…that’s my dude. Besides me going to his house, and we connected in the studio, I’ve run into him on many occasions. My hat’s off to the dude.
And as he said – me as his favorite artist – I appreciate that. I appreciate that I can influence some of these artists, and that I can actually say that the artists I influenced, they actually blew up. They actually did something with themselves. Like Ludacris. Ludacris said the same shit. My hat’s off to Ludacris, too. And for them to even mention me, and I know they new cats…to say I had influence on them, and that they blew up, that’s a big thing. I’m cool. I’m blessed, that’s good for me. I don’t need no money, I don’t need no recognition.
DX: Is there a possibility of collaborations with Eminem in the future? “Off the Wall” was nine years ago!
Redman: It’s like whatever, man. I guess when the time is right. Eminem know I’m around, I ain’t hard to find. Me and his peoples are always in touch. [Paul] Rosenberg and my manager…if I need Em, or really need to get in touch with him, I could do it. Whenever he reach out, "Yeah. Let’s do a song." So it’s nothin’. Paul, what’s good, baby?
^ heres part of the interview about Em..
there was a similar interview when Blackout! 2 came out but this one is new..
Em & Royce's fav rapper early on was Redman tho.. cant remember where i read that