Benny Blanco gives more details about writing “Diamonds” before giving it to Eminem to record a song.
In a recent interview on Howard Stern’s show, Benny Blanco spoke again about one of the most successful songs he ever worked on and stated that there might be an Eminem version of “Diamonds” hidden somewhere in the depths of the rap god’s vault.
It all started with a crazy songwriting session between Benny Blanco, Sia, and Stargate. Apparently, Sia wrote the entire song (“melody, lyrics, harmonies – everything”) in under 15 minutes while waiting for a cab.
Benny originally envisioned the song for Kanye West or Eminem. He even passed it via Paul Rosenberg over to Eminem, who recorded his own version. But according to Benny, Em held onto it for a year before anyone knew:
We wanted to give the song at the time to Kanye or Eminem. Actually, Eminem recorded a song to it but he didn’t say anything ‘till a year later, until it was about to come out. It was crazy. I just remember in that moment being like, “Oh this is cool”. But then once Rihanna sang it I was like, “Oh my God, this is something”.
While Em’s version remains shrouded in mystery, Benny ultimately felt Rihanna’s voice was a perfect fit. And let’s be honest: Rihanna’s “Diamonds” became a global phenomenon.
But what became of Eminem’s “Diamonds” version? Did it fail to resonate with him? Did it not align with the tone of his other projects? The answers to these questions are shrouded in mystery, fueling endless speculation. Would his rendition have offered a brooding and introspective interpretation of the song’s themes? Or would it have surprised us with an entirely different approach? The possibilities are as intriguing as they are endless.
One thing is certain: Eminem’s vault likely holds a treasure trove of unreleased gems. Maybe this “Diamonds” record will see the light of day at one point. Until then, we can only imagine what it might have sounded like.
Watch the video below:
