After taking on the persona of Slim Shady for his rap performances, Eminem gained notoriety in the Detroit hip-hop scene, and in 1998, he met Dr. Dre who helped him channel his career in rapping. Eminem signed onto Aftermath Records and his albums became one of the fastest-selling rap albums in history. The rapper has sold over 220 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling artists of all time.While building his music career in 2002, Eminem stumbled upon a mixtape from an artist named 50 Cent which landed him in a recording studio. He received a $1 million check as an advance for his signing with Eminem and Dr. Dre which changed everything. Along with being a mentor-mentee, Eminem and 50 Cent are also best friends who have supported each other through thick and thin, from feuds to award ceremonies. Let’s take a look at the timeline of their two-decade-long friendship.
10 2002: Eminem Discovered 50 Cent Via A Mixtape
Eminem’s career was at an all-time high in 2002 when he listened to 50 Cent’s mixtape Guess Who's Back. During that time, 50 Cent was struggling in his professional career. Eminem revealed that his instincts told him that Cent would make it big and became an instant fan. His Slim Shady Record label made a partnership with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records to launch him.
9 2003: Their Music Collaborations
50 Cent had begun working on his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. While In Da Club became a massive success and topped the Billboard charts, another song was also making waves. Em and 50 collaborated on Patiently Waiting wherein Eminem introduces his protege to the world, marking it as their first song together.
8 2003: Celebrate Award Wins Together
With the release of The Eminem Show and 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin', they were the top contenders at the 2003 MTV Awards. Eminem won Best Video For A Film for Lose Yourself while 50 took home Best New Artist. The pair collectively went on stage after winning Best Rap Video for the smash hit In Da Club.
7 2005: They Became Batman And Robin
The duo has also dealt with feuds together over the years and they made a diss track in 2005 to prove the same. Eminem who is a fan of Batman and Robin used tunes from the 60s television show for their collaboration called Gatman And Robbin wherein they warn everyone to not cross their way.
6 2009: 50 Cent Helped Eminem During His Addiction Years
Things got difficult for Eminem after the release of his second album when he was addicted to alcohol and pills. His addiction worsened in 2006 when 50 Cent would cover for him during interviews. He went to rehab and returned with a chart-topping album Relapse in 2009 and collaborated with 50 on the lead single Crack A Bottle.
5 2014: 50 Cent Calls Eminem His Best Friend
There have been many occasions when 50 Cent has proclaimed his admiration and love for Eminem. During an interview with Music Choice, he called Eminem his mentor and best friend who often struggles to find his place in the hip-hop industry but can be the best rapper in the room.
4 2017: Eminem Wishes 50 Cent A Happy Birthday
50 Cent and Eminem have always dedicated birthday tributes on social media, much to the delight of everyone. In 2017, Eminem decided to go a step further and uploaded a video. Eminem wished 50 a happy birthday and rapped his verse from the 8 Mile film. 50 Cent reposted it and thanked the rapper for showing love.
3 2018: 50 Cent Defended Eminem Against His Feud With MGK
The feud between Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly dates back to 2012 when MGK called Em’s 16-year-old daughter Hailie ‘hot’, infuriating the father. After barring MGK from Shade 45 Radio Station, Eminem blasted him in 2018 on his album. 50 Cent celebrated the success of the track Killshot on his Instagram as it garnered 36 million views in 24 hours.
2 2020: Eminem Honored 50 Cent For The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony
While Eminem shies away from the public eye and maintains his privacy, he made a rare appearance to induct 50 Cent into the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside Dr. Dre. Eminem shared stories of the first time he met 50 and how they have helped each other grow their businesses. He also called the rapper his best friend before letting Dr. Dre take over.
1 2022: They Perform At The 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show
The 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show was one of the most-watched performances and it featured a series of rap legends with Dr. Dre including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and 50 Cent. Eminem put a condition that he would only rap if 50 Cent would also perform. It was also reported that Eminem gave a portion of his time to 50’s performance.
Two decades after meeting each other, 50 Cent and Eminem have continued to maintain a strong bond as they support performances and ceremonies while maintaining teamwork. Their admiration for each other is just as strong as their bond with Dr. Dre who has also mentored the duo. They last collaborated on Ed Sheeran’s 2019 track Remember The Name.
Sources: Entertainment Tonight, Cheat Sheet, Page Six, HypeBeast