Australian hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods toured as the support for international the Eminem Rapture tour in 2019. They still remember connecting to Marshall as a person, not just a star.
But first of all, they are still grateful for the opportunity that Shady gave them, the musicians told the Australian Rolling Stone:
It was an honour to perform next to Eminem. Not just in Australia, but to be able to go to New Zealand with him as well was an amazing experience. It put us in front of so many hip hop heads in New Zealand who hadn’t heard our music before, which was amazing for us, and just to get the co-sign of one of the greatest rappers to ever do it was fantastic as well – a feather in the cap.
However, to open for the artist and to see the artist open up to you when you can see their true self — are two very different things. The Australian hip hop trio treasures the memory of interacting with Marshall backstage and seeing him as a human being. It didn’t happen straight away, but by the time the tour rolled into Wellington, Hilltop Hoods had a chance to see Em with all his warts:
We went backstage in Wellington and hung out with Eminem for a while as he made fart jokes and acted exactly as we do on a tour bus, which was nice to know. I think one of the reasons he probably connects with so many people is because he doesn’t have a filter. And that sort of level of honesty that can offend you, but make you know that you’re listening to something real is very appealing.
You can read more about the group on the Australian Rolling Stone website.
