Eminem nearly dissed Lil Wayne and Kanye West

Eminem Admits Jealousy of Lil Wayne and Kanye West

In a surprising admission that’s sending shockwaves through hip-hop circles, Eminem reveals he nearly dissed Lil Wayne and Kanye West at the height of their dominance. The Detroit legend opens up on his track “Talkin’ 2 Myself” from his upcoming Recovery album, confessing that jealousy and insecurity nearly drove him to start rap beefs with the two artists who had taken over the charts during his absence.

“Hatred was flowing through my veins,” Eminem raps on the leaked track. “I almost made a song dissing Lil Wayne… almost went at Kanye too.”

Rather than dropping a diss track out of spite, Eminem reflects on that dark period of his life—one fueled by addiction, creative frustration, and industry pressure—and admits he’s grateful he didn’t follow through. Now, with Recovery set to release on June 18, 2010, he’s coming clean and giving credit where it’s due. In his own words, not dissing them might have saved his career.

The Confession: Eminem Almost Took Shots at the Top

“Hatred was flowing through my veins, on the verge of going insane, I almost made a song dissing Lil Wayne,” Eminem raps with unsettling honesty on “Talkin’ 2 Myself.”

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of where Em’s mind was during his long hiatus from the rap game. With artists like Lil Wayne and Kanye West dominating the charts, Em admits he felt left behind—and nearly lashed out.

“It’s like I was jealous of him because of the attention he was getting. I felt horrible about myself. He was spittin’ and I wasn’t,” the verse continues.

He even name-drops Kanye West, adding, “Almost went at Kanye too. God it feels like I’m going psychotic.”

These bars are more than lyrical drama—they’re a rare glimpse into Eminem’s internal war. Rather than launching a diss campaign, he credits his self-awareness—and perhaps divine intervention—for stopping him.

“Thank God that I didn’t do it, I would’ve had my a** handed to me. And I knew it,” he raps, ending the segment with a reference to the late Proof, his best friend and former D12 bandmate: “But Proof isn’t here to see me through it…”

Recovery Mode: Em’s Road Back to the Mic

Recovery, Eminem’s forthcoming studio album, drops next Monday via Shady Records and Interscope. It marks not only a musical comeback but a personal one, built on vulnerability, honesty, and artistic growth.

Tracks like “Not Afraid,” which serves as the album’s lead single, already hint at a more emotionally transparent Eminem. But “Talkin’ 2 Myself” takes that a step further, showcasing Em not just as a lyrical giant, but a human being confronting the demons of envy, fear, and irrelevance.

To many fans, the rawness in this track is vintage Eminem—but with newfound maturity.

The Rise of Wayne and Kanye: Pressure from the Top

During Eminem’s five-year hiatus, the hip hop landscape changed dramatically. Lil Wayne rose to unprecedented heights, particularly with the release of Tha Carter III, while Kanye West redefined genre boundaries with albums like Graduation and 808s & Heartbreak.

Their dominance weighed on Eminem’s mind.

In interviews, Em has acknowledged the level of craftsmanship they brought to the game. Speaking about Wayne, he says:

“I’ve always respected what Wayne does. Wayne to me is definitely one of the greatest in the game right now.”

He also cited Wayne and T.I. as key motivators in his decision to return to music:

“You can appreciate Lil Wayne using different words to rhyme and actually rhyming words that you know,” Em said in a previous XXL interview.

That admiration makes his almost-diss even more compelling—a battle between ego and respect, between the need to prove himself and the wisdom to step back.

Lil Wayne Almost Struck First

Interestingly, Eminem wasn’t the only one contemplating a battle. Lil Wayne previously admitted that he thought about recording a diss track aimed at Eminem, simply to get his attention.

While recording Tha Carter III, Wayne revealed he had reached out to Em multiple times, hoping to collaborate. When Em failed to respond, Wayne considered going the battle route—but not out of hate.

“He would defeat me in a rap war,” Wayne said, “but it would be great for hip hop.”

Ultimately, the diss never happened. And in a full-circle moment, the two would go on to collaborate on multiple tracks, including the fiery “Drop The World” from Wayne’s Rebirth and “No Love,” featured on Recovery.

Talkin’ 2 Myself: A Deeper Dive Into the Track

Beyond the shocking confession, “Talkin’ 2 Myself” is a masterpiece in self-reflection. Featuring vocalist Kobe, the track is soaked in darkness, doubt, and self-loathing. But rather than turning the negativity outward, Em uses the moment to show growth.

It’s this evolution that sets the tone for Recovery as a whole. The project is laced with introspection, courage, and a desire to connect rather than provoke.

Other standout tracks include:

• “Not Afraid” – an anthem of triumph over addiction and self-doubt.
• “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna – a haunting tale of toxic love.
• “Won’t Back Down” with Pink – a defiant, no-holds-barred banger.

The production lineup is just as stellar, featuring Just Blaze, DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter, Boi-1da, Jim Jonsin, Alex Da Kid, and Dr. Dre.

From Rivalry to Brotherhood: The “Forever” Effect

Instead of spiraling into a destructive rap beef, Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West found a way to coexist—and even collaborate. Their joint appearance on Drake’s smash single “Forever” is a testament to that.

The track featured all three lyrical titans, along with Drake himself, and proved they could share the spotlight without stepping on each other’s toes.

That spirit of unity carried over to their solo work. Eminem appears on Wayne’s “Drop the World,” and Wayne returns the favor on Em’s “No Love.” Meanwhile, Kanye continues to redefine his artistic range, while keeping a respectful distance from unnecessary feuds.

Final Thoughts: A Path Not Taken

Eminem revealed he almost dissed Lil Wayne and Kanye West, but in choosing not to, he may have saved more than just his own career. He helped preserve hip hop’s creative integrity and proved that even the most competitive artists can grow, reflect, and evolve.

In Recovery, Eminem offers not only bars but healing—of himself, and perhaps the genre as a whole. And with tracks like “Talkin’ 2 Myself,” he’s reminding the world that the best battles are often the ones never fought.