What Eminem Thinks of Drake, Big Sean, TDE, Lil Wayne & Hip Hop

Can you believe Eminem is 42? Where has the time gone?

Eminem is currently in promotion mode for the soundtrack for Southpaw movie that’s being released this Friday. In an interview with The New York Times, while talking about the movie, Em also took some time to talk about his relationship with 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and shared his opinion on the current state of Hip Hop, as well as what he thinks of some of the top rappers on the scene today.

Below are some excerpts from the NYT interview be.

Are you plugged in with current rap music?
I try to stay up on everything that’s out. I love [Lil] Wayne, Drake, Big Sean, Schoolboy Q. I love Kendrick [Lamar]. I just try to pay attention to what’s out. Wayne puts out a new song, and my ears perk up. There are certain artists that make me do that just because of the caliber that they rhyme at — it’s like candy to me. Kendrick, the way he puts albums together — front to back, they’re like pieces of art. But hip-hop needs Drake, too. Hip-hop needs Big Sean. I feel like hip-hop is in a good place right now. There’s this balance of things going on, and it feels like some of the best rappers are the most successful. Sometimes that’s not the case.

Do you feel competitive with the Kanyes and Drakes and Kendricks of the world? You seem a little removed from that.
Kanye, as well — I forgot to mention Kanye. I’ll always be lyrically competitive.

Are you working on a solo album?
Not as of yet. But I’m just trying to figure out what to do next musically. There’ll be a certain page that I get on, and I’m like, “O.K., I’ve done it this way.” Sometimes I think that if I get comfortable or set in my ways of doing something, maybe I should step back for a minute and figure out how to mix it up a little bit.