Eminem tested Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical authenticity, and Lamar passed so impressively that even Slim Shady had to bow down.

Eminem and Kendrick Lamar collaborated on ‘Love Game’ in 2013, but Lamar had to pass a secret test first.
Eminem tested Lamar to see if he could write his own lyrics by kicking everyone out of the studio, leaving only the two rappers.
According to Ed Sheeran, Lamar impressed Eminem by writing a “sick verse” on the spot, proving his talent.

Eminem practically changed the rap game from the moment he stepped foot in the industry. Credited with popularizing the hip-hop genre, the rapper has paved the way for many artists to make a name for themselves. From Lose Yourself to the most recent Houdini, Eminem has proven time and again why he is the ultimate Rap God, no matter how many rappers may be on the list.

Another rapper whose songs make us want to jump straight to the dance floor is Kendrick Lamar. He and Eminem collaborated back in 2013 and while the song is a total and absolute banger, it wasn’t easy for Kendrick Lamar to seal the deal. Why? Well, he had to go through a sneaky little test Eminem had for him when he showed up at the recording studio.

Eminem’s Test for Kendrick Lamar Before Their Collab

Kendrick Lamar in Not Like Us music video | Credits: Kendrick Lamar / YouTube

Released in 2013, Love Game is one of those songs that just keep getting better and better with each verse. The story Eminem and Kendrick Lamar tell through the lyrics will have you grabbing your head and popping your eyeballs out of their sockets. Honestly, what else should people have expected from a collab between the two?

However, before Eminem could feature Lamar on his album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, he had to make sure that the rapper was worthy of it. He did so by making him go through a secret test.

During a radio interview in 2014, Lamar stated that Eminem flew him out to Detroit to do the hook for the song. When the rapper was done with his responsibility, he was about to take the other’s leave when he was stopped. Eminem asked him if he could write a verse for him and he did.

He brought me out to Detroit, I had a show, and he brought me to the studio to do a hook… I go in, do the hook, and he’s like ‘I like the hook.’ Then I’m like, ‘Alright, cool, I’m finna dip,’ then he says ‘Think you could do a verse?’

As it turns out, Eminem was simply trying to see if Lamar actually wrote his songs or if he used a ghostwriter for them. He ended up kicking everybody out of the studio till it was just him and Lamar. It didn’t take long for the Not Like Us rapper to realize what was actually going on.

The thing with Em which was crazy to me is he kicks everybody out of the studio… I took it as him kicking everybody out to see if it’s really you writing those raps that you’re writing.

Clearly, Lamar was able to pass Eminem’s test and the collaboration went as smoothly as it could, giving birth to one of the most underrated songs of Slim Shady’s career.

Eminem Had to Bow Down to Kendrick Lamar’s Talent

Ed Sheeran – Celestial | Credits: Ed Sheeran / YouTube

The story of Eminem making Lamar go through the test was recalled by Ed Sheeran himself when he showed up on the Zach Sang Show a few years ago. There, he shared the anecdote stating how the Detroit rapper thought his soon-to-be collaborator was “the best rapper.”

When Lamar showed up to the studio with his friends, Eminem told him blatantly that they weren’t allowed in. Soon after, the test took place and Lamar obviously passed with flying colors.

Sheeran stated that Lamar’s “Sick verse” impressed Eminem to the point that he ended up claiming that he was the “best.”

Kendrick did it, wrote a sick verse, and then everyone came in to listen to it. Eminem said that he did it to test Kendrick because he thought he had a ghostwriter. He then realized that he didn’t then claimed [Kendrick] was the best.

This story was shared to Sheeran by Rick Rubin himself, the executive producer of MMLP2. Rubin also produced Sheeran’s second album, X.