As the 2025 Grammy Awards approach, the competition is fierce, but Eminem isn’t betting against Kendrick Lamar. During a special Shade 45 interview on December 24, celebrating the Sirius XM station’s 20th anniversary, Slim Shady and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, chatted with DJ Whoo Kid about the upcoming awards season.
When asked about the Grammys, Eminem didn’t shy away from praising Kendrick, who leads the pack with seven nominations. “It’s very stiff competition,” Em said with a grin. “Kendrick’s gonna sweep that sh*t. He’s going to, and he should.”
The two rap icons will go head-to-head in two categories: Best Music Video and Best Rap Performance. However, Eminem made it clear there’s no bad blood—only admiration.
Over the years, Eminem has been vocal about his respect for Kendrick’s craft. In 2022, before their unforgettable Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show performance, Eminem called K.Dot “the most electrifying vocalist of this generation” in an interview with Sway Calloway.
“Kendrick is at the very top, top tier of lyricists—not just of this generation, but of all time,” Em stated.
Even back in 2015, Eminem was already singing Kendrick’s praises. Speaking to the New York Times, he reflected on hearing Kendrick’s debut album on Aftermath:
“I couldn’t believe it. The fact that it was his first real album and he was able to make it into a story which intertwines with the skits like that was genius. The level of wordplay, deliveries, the beats—it’s just a masterpiece.”
The Grammys, set to air on February 2, will feature Kendrick as a frontrunner with nominations in major categories like Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Song (for both “Like That” and “Not Like Us”).
With Eminem’s stamp of approval and Kendrick’s undeniable talent, this year’s Grammys could mark another historic night for K.Dot—and the rap game as a whole.
