A man on a mission to place a bid for power must be a master of his emotions. Careful, cautious, and above all else, aware. When in the presence of giants, you must learn how to make your voice heard, while keeping your ascension understated. Perhaps no artist has flourished greater in the shadow of a giant than Marshall Bruce Mathers III. We’ll just call him Eminem.
While Eminem was making TV promo runs for his comeback album, Relapse, he also seized the opportunity to tout the Dr. Dre’s prowess as a producer. Em bragged about Dre’s mixing wizardry and recalled how he (Eminem) would sometimes try to emulate his mentor. As sincere as these comments seemed, Dre doesn’t need anyone to toot his horn on his behalf. His body of work speaks for itself. But Eminem understands that this sort of genuine patronage appeals directly to the vanity of anyone powerful enough to be considered a living legend. The ability to seem humble even in great success pleases your master and places you in good light before the masses.
Eminem is a master of his domain. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. No easy feat for a scrawny white MC in a predominantly black field. But how did he get here?
Eminem (Featuring Dr. Dre) – “Guilty Conscience”
Cynics may argue that it was Interscope’s financial backing that catapulted Eminem to the lofty heights he currently occupies, but hip-hop fans will tell you that Jimmy Iovine also had a powerhouse known as Dr. Dre to package Em’s album and unveil it to the streets. Dre and Eminem quickly became more than just business partners, as each success helped solidify Dre as a legendary producer and Em as a premier lyricist. As time progressed and the platinum plaques piled up, one would find it hard to gauge who’s benefited more from the partnership. One thing is for sure: Eminem has never stopped giving credit to the Doc. Despite his monumental success, Em jumps on every opportunity to stress his Batman-and-Robin-esque relationship with Dr. Dre.
Dr. Dre (Featuring Eminem) – “Forget About Dre”
Who’s to say that Dr. Dre never harbored insecure thoughts about possibly being eclipsed by the same monster that he was heavily responsible for creating? By handing over the production reins to Dr. Dre even while at the apex of his career, Eminem is able to crush a two-headed dragon in one swoop: 1) Silence any silly comparisons or doubts that may lead to a strained relationship; and 2) Make better music in the process.
When playing the game of power in hip-hop, avoid stepping on the toes of someone you owe your success to. That should go without saying, but you’d be surprised at how many artists that make this mistake all the time simply because they desire more. It is important to carefully control your emotions and pay your dues at every corner. Eminem exhibits this behavior often enough to have made himself a mega star worldwide, while maintaining a relationship that is both on a social and commercial level completely necessary.
For when the master is asleep, there is still work to be done.
words by: rizoh & joe andriulli
artwork by: ivan rott
