Conway The Machine may be building a powerful catalogue on his own terms now, but he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
While promoting his new album You Can’t Kill God With Bullets on the WHOO’S House podcast, the former Shady Records signee looked back on one of the most surreal moments in his career – recording with Eminem.
The Buffalo rapper joined DJ Whoo Kid to discuss his creative process, future ambitions, and longtime respect for those who shaped him. Naturally, the conversation turned to Eminem, and Conway didn’t hold back on what it meant to work with his rap idol.
“My Heart Was Beating Fast”
Conway got signed because Eminem respected him as a lyricist first. And for Conway, a survivor who had been through a shooting, imprisonment, and a brutal street hustle, that meant a lot.
“I ain’t gonna lie, my heart was beating fast. It’s fucking Eminem. My idol. My son’s favourite rapper. He’s my favourite rapper”, he said.
The two collaborated during Conway’s time on Shady Records on the “Bang”. This run included both his solo work and projects with Griselda. For Conway, that time together wasn’t just about making music. It was a moment of validation. But of course, it was music that brought those two together in the first place.
“It was dope, I was just a sponge”, recalls Conway. “I was soaking, was asking him that rap stuff. ‘How did you do this? How did you do that? How was your thinking going into that?’”
Praising the Pen
In fact, Eminem did not play coy or keep some secrets of craft from the Buffalo rapper. Marshall saw Conway’s strength, and he knew how to make him even a stronger artist.
“He helped me a lot”, Conway revealed. “He explained, gave me some real gems, like how to do my hooks, how to be more melodic with”.
But above all, Eminem praised the technical skills Conway is known for.
“Being the multi-syllabic rapper, he really appreciates when you’re fucking with syllables. That was right up his alley. He told me, ‘You’re one of them ones’”, Conway recalled, referencing Em’s appreciation for complex rhyme patterns and syllable work.
Gratitude That Lasts
Even after parting ways with Shady and signing to Roc Nation, Conway continues to credit Eminem for helping shape his approach. He’s spoken before about the support he received during that chapter, and this latest interview shows nothing has changed.
As Conway levels up with each release, he still honours the mentors who pushed him early on, not just with opportunities, but with guidance rooted in craft.
