Wendy Day, a founder of Rap Coalition, who has discovered many rap talents and whom Eminem fondly mentioned in his recent interview with Mike Tyson, shared her memories of working with young Marshall.
She shared a long text on Instagram where she talks about how labels ignored Em for being white, how he was loyal and generous. He captioned her post with:
rapcoalition
I’m so humbled by the love Em showed in the podcast with @MikeTyson. I used to argue top 5 rappers with Em. Now he is one. Amazing.
Here is her letter to Eminem:
In 1996, I took your demo to every label. I tried like crazy to get you a deal for months. Because you were white, in that time and era, I couldn’t get any label to even consider signing you. I had JUST done Twista’s joint venture at Atlantic and was extremely well connected then, and I v=never expected it to be soooo difficult to get someone so talented (you) a deal. I created RapOlympics to showcase YOU, and to ring national attention back to lyricists in a climate of gangsta rap (reality rap… I hate term gangsta rap). Anyway, I remember the story a little differently than you do. While Jimmy Iovine’s nephew, DJ, most likely did receive your demo from Paul as an attendee at RapOlympics, Interscope had actually passed on signing you. Twice. I believe it was Dr Dre hearing you on the Wake Up Show, which was part of the prize for winning (RapOlympics, not the preliminary battle for RapSheet where Otherwise won and you came 2nd). Perhaps my memory is skewed after all these years, but I remember you calling me when Dre put you in a hotel room to write right after RapOlympics, and I even stayed in LA an extra 2 days in case you needed anything. I remember the deal points of your deal precisely as it was yesterday. I even recall telling you I thought I found a way to end the production deal with Bass Brothers so you could sign directly (Paul didn’t agree). Either way, you said you didn’t want to cut them out because they had done a lot for you and I was EXTREMELY impressed with you for that. Once your album dropped, you had Paul send me a Platinum Plaque. He told me it was the 1st one and I was so touched by that. Rappers whom I’ve done more for have forgotten me in 15 minutes, while you remember me 24 years fucking years later. How cool is that?! By the way, after RapOlympics, you sent me a thank you card. You’re a class act, Em. #iMissProof #WendyDay #RapOlympics #Eminem #ThankYou. I’m humbled by your kindness.
