Fat Joe’s journey to creating the “Lean Back” is packed with unexpected moves, a bit of bluffing, and a masterclass in lyrical perfection.
The Terror Squad rapper knew exactly how to hook Eminem for the “Lean Back” remix, even if it meant bluffing a little. In his recent GQ interview, Joe shared how he played up Eminem’s admiration for Mase:
Mase is one of Eminem’s favourite rappers ever. So, I told Eminem I had Mase. But I didn’t have Mase.
Once Em was intrigued and asked to hear Mase’s verse, Joe scrambled to track Mase down, knowing the feature depended on it. Luckily, Mase came through, and the plan worked perfectly.
Eminem delivered his verse with unmatched precision, re-recording it multiple times because, as Joe put it:
Eminem was a perfectionist, so he sent the same verse, like, 40 times.
The result was a remix that brought together hip hop heavyweights, leaving a lasting mark on the genre and proving that sometimes, a little hustle goes a long way.
Listen to Lean Back (feat. Lil Jon, Eminem, Mase & Remy Martin) (Remix) below:
