Eminem Makes Rare Public Appearance to Honor 50 Cent at Walk of Fame Ceremony
Eminem discovered the "Power" star and signed him to his record label Shady Records in 2002
By Corinne Heller ••
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Eminem (R) speaks during the 50 Cent (L) Walk Of Fame Ceremony on January 30, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for STARZ)
Slim Shady himself (real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III) took the podium to pay tribute to his friend, fellow rapper and "Power" star (real name Curtis Jackson III), who he had discovered and signed to his record label Shady Records in 2002. This marked the first time Eminem, who is notoriously private, hasn't been photographed in public in over a year.
"Out of all the things that I don't remember about 2002, I have a very clear memory of the first time I met Fifty," Eminem said. "I think one of the things I noticed when he first walked into the room was his presence, right, because it just kinda felt like he's gonna be a star, like just the way he carried himself, swagger, everything. It just seemed like he was the whole package. What's crazy about it to me is the charisma and the personality matched the intensity of his music and that first album is so classic."
"The first time time I met Fifty, I was so excited to meet him, so I started rapping all his songs to him and I didn't really let him talk," he continued. "I kinda was trying to show him how into him I was. But I think I might have probably overdid it."
Eminem recalled how his friend and producer Dr. Dre was also impressed by Fifty.
"I knew that the dude sitting in front of me sitting across from me was just different. It just seemed like, I don't know man, something, just something about him just drew you in and I think Dre and me knew that...if it worked on us, that it was gonna work on the rest of the world," Eminem said. "I'm glad we trusted our instincts."
(L-R) Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Eminem, and Legendary Global Managing Director Chris Albrecht pose during the 50 Cent Walk Of Fame Ceremony on January 30, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for STARZ)
Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP
The newly unveiled star of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is pictured during the ceremony honoring him with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on January 30, 2020.
50 Cent poses with his star during the 50 Cent Walk Of Fame Ceremony on January 30, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for STARZ)
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Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge (C) poses at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star during the unveiling ceremony, on January 23, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge (C) reacts as his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star is unveiled, alongside musician Lionel Ritchie (Top C) and Shawn Mendes (Top 2nd L) on January 23, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
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(L-R) Tori Kelly, Justin Bieber and Sir Lucian Grainge pose as Grainge is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Music Artist Andy Madadian reacts at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony on January 17, 2019 in Hollywood, California where the popular Armenian-Iranian-American musician received the 2,684th Star in the category of Recording and was joined by LaToya Jackson and Miles Copeland.
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International recording artist Andy Madadian poses by his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Los Angeles.
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La Toya Jackson, Andy Madadian, and Miles Copeland celebrate Madadian’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Los Angeles.
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(L-R) Nancy O’Dell, Burt Ward, Kevin Smith and Maria Menounos attend the ceremony honoring Burt Ward with A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame held on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
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Burt Ward attends the ceremony honoring him with A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame held on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic
A general view of atmosphere during the ceremony honoring Burt Ward with A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame held on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Eminem said 50 Cent was not only a business partner but "one of the best friends I've ever known in the world."
He also addressed the rapper's past feuds; 50 Cent had had beef with the likes of Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent, actress Vivica A. Fox, rappers Ja Rule and Rick Ross, and Nick Cannon, who recently feuded with Eminem.
"I would say that it's much more fun to be his friend than it is to be his enemy, 'cause this guy is f-----g relentless and he won't stop," Eminem said. "And the same way that he's relentless in his battles, he's also relentless in his business. He's an artist, an entrepreneur, an actor, a director, a producer, he can juggle, he's great at Scrabble. He pretty much does it all, and he's also helped me through a lot of hard times in my own life and he's always been there when I need him."
