12/08/2025
Kendrick Lamar has never shied away from expressing the deep admiration he holds for Eminem, especially when reflecting on his early years in hip-hop. In interviews and tributes, Kendrick has spoken about how pivotal Eminem’s music was in shaping his own lyrical style. One moment that stands out for him is the first time he heard The Marshall Mathers LP—an album that, in his words, changed everything. Kendrick said he studied Eminem’s flow like a textbook, paying close attention to how he manipulated his voice, crafted rhyme schemes, and told stories that felt raw, painful, and electrifying. It wasn’t just the aggression in Em’s delivery—it was the intelligence behind it that made Kendrick take notice and want to grow as a lyricist.
During his early teenage years, Kendrick started mimicking Eminem’s technical approach, learning how to ride beats with clarity and precision. He would break down verses line by line, analyzing how Eminem built tension, used humor, and still managed to inject vulnerability. That process became a kind of self-education for Kendrick, who saw Eminem as a master of the craft—someone who could stretch the boundaries of rap both thematically and rhythmically. This wasn’t just fandom; it was mentorship from afar. Kendrick has said that Eminem’s influence helped push him toward a higher standard in his own writing, laying the groundwork for the complex storytelling and intricate bars that would later define his own career.
Today, Kendrick Lamar regards Eminem as one of the greatest to ever touch a mic. Their mutual respect has even led to collaboration, with Kendrick featured on Eminem’s 2013 album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. For Kendrick, that moment was more than just a career milestone—it was a full-circle moment with one of his earliest idols. Despite their different styles and generational gaps, Kendrick sees Eminem as a pioneer, someone who carved out space for raw truth-telling in hip-hop. His words about Eminem go beyond tribute—they’re a reflection of how inspiration can cross time and space, shaping the future of music through the passion it ignites in the next generation.
