Eminem, the rap legend who has sold over 200 million records worldwide, has recently opened up about his collaboration with Beyoncé, the pop icon who has won 28 Grammy Awards. The two superstars teamed up for the song “Walk on Water”, which was released in 2017 as the lead single from Eminem’s ninth studio album Revival.
The song, which was produced by Rick Rubin, features Eminem rapping about his struggles with fame, expectations, and self-doubt, while Beyoncé sings the chorus that expresses humility and vulnerability. Eminem said that he wanted to work with Beyoncé because he admired her talent and perfectionism.
“First of all, Beyoncé is amazing! It’s been on my wish list for a long time, but I never really had a song that I felt like would be right to present to her,” Eminem said in an interview for Shade 45, his own SiriusXM channel. “So I was kinda waiting and then me and Paul [Rosenberg] kicked the idea around after I finished it, you know. And based off what it was about, I felt like she probably could relate to this too.”
Eminem also revealed that he was nervous about how Beyoncé would react to the song, and that he was blown away by her vocals. “Every singer that I’ve ever worked with, no matter how powerful their voice is, they always want to do a couple of takes and warm up. She was just perfect in one take,” he said. “She sounded incredible.”
The song received mixed reviews from critics and fans, some of whom praised its honesty and emotion, while others criticized its lack of energy and excitement. However, the song was a commercial success, reaching the top 10 in several countries and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance.
Eminem and Beyoncé have not performed the song live together yet, but they have both expressed their mutual respect and admiration for each other. Eminem said that he was honored to work with Beyoncé, who he called “one of the best friends I’ve ever known”. Beyoncé said that she was a fan of Eminem’s music and that she appreciated his courage and authenticity.
Eminem has recently released his second greatest hits album, Curtain Call 2, which features “Walk on Water” along with other collaborations with Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, and Ed Sheeran. Beyoncé is reportedly working on her seventh solo album, which is expected to drop in 2024.
