Competing on “Rhythm and Flow” was already a high-stakes moment for Detroit Diamond. But a legendary hometown voice made it even more intense just before her battle.
As she prepared for the competition, Diamond had no idea where the next round would take place. “They literally just put us on a bus and a flight that same day”, she recalled during her appearance on the Sway In The Morning show. The destination? Detroit. And just before stepping into the battle, Eminem himself appeared — an almost unreal moment for the rapper who had grown up watching him.
When he walked in, I was like this man floating towards me. He looked like a ghost. I’m like, he’s real! I’ve been watching Eminem since I was a little kid. So, to see him in real time!..
But what happened next hit even harder:
Right before the battle, he literally walked up and whispered in my ear and said, “You’re the only one here from Detroit. Don’t let me down”.
The weight of those words sank in immediately:
Pressure. Because that’s what I felt like. I already have pressure ’cause I AM the only one here from Detroit.
There was no room for hesitation — she had to deliver.
After the battle, things moved fast. Diamond did not get a chance to talk to Eminem again as the contestants were quickly sent back to the hotel to prepare for the next challenge. Looking back, she admits she once thought the gruelling pace of the show had to be scripted:
I thought watching Season 1 that it was fake. Ain’t no way they’re writing a song in one day and performing it like that. That’s impossible! But no, we were really doing it.
For Detroit Diamond, the experience was more than just a competition — it was a test of skill, resilience, and composure under pressure. And with Eminem’s words still ringing in her ears, she made sure to rise to the occasion.
Her opponent, Dono, was sent home in that episode, and Eminem found some words for her as well, encouraging her to keep pushing and praising her talent.
