Eminem will be a special guest judge on season 2 of the popular Netflix competition series Rhythm + Flow — according to the show’s producer, Jesse Collins.
On March 27, Collins, a legendary TV producer whose resume includes the NFL Super Bowl, revealed details about Eminem’s role in season 2 during a new interview with Sway Calloway on Sway’s Universe. An episode of the series’ battle rap segment will feature Marshall Mathers as a surprise guest judge. Because Sway was one of the first pioneers to co-sign the rapper’s skill in the 90s, Collins shared details about the rapper’s involvement.
“We had your guy,” Collins said to Sway at 39:00. “The rapper that you may have had something to do with, Eminem. When he did the show, this incredible episode, and he’s talking about being in LA for the battle that he lost. And he was saying that he was getting evicted from an apartment, and he really needed that money. So he went out and did that battle. And lost to someone, I can’t remember the name, to somebody that had a lot of local affiliations. So, it didn’t matter how he did, he was going to win.”
Collins continued: “So, Em lost and was not going to get that money. He fucked this whole thing. And gave that tape. And that mixtape got through and got to Dre and the whole thing, and the rest is history.”
A major part of Eminem’s success has been his battle rap career. An Interscope intern introduced him to Dr. Dre when the legendary producer searched for new acts for his Aftermath label in the 90s due to his impressive battles at the Rap Olympics. Eminem’s meeting led to classic albums and an award-winning film about his battle rap days, called 8 Mile.
In 2014, Eminem hosted Total Slaughter, a battle rap show that supported Slaughterhouse, the newly signed Shady Records group of Joe Budden, Joel Ortiz, Royce Da 5’9”, and Crooked I. Eminem and Royce Da 5’9” formed the duo Bad Meets Evil after Slaughterhouse.
Rhythm + Flow returns this November with a new set of judges: Latto, Ludacris, and DJ Khaled, replacing Chance The Rapper, Cardi B, and T.I. The show allows an unknown artist to make their dreams come true while competing for a grand prize of $250,000 and becoming hip-hop’s next big star.
The series debut season was a huge success at Netflix and spawned international versions of the show. D-Smoke, the show’s original winner, has released three albums and stars in the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown.
Eminem is working on a new album, including a new collaboration with mentor Dr. Dre.