In a new interview, Tony Yayo praised Eminem’s ear for detail, revealed that 50 Cent didn’t like “Many Men”, and explained why he’ll never turn his back on those who helped him.
Tony Yayo joined Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay for a candid look back at his life, his career, and the bond that fuelled G-Unit. He called Eminem his “favourite white boy in the world”, noting how Em’s woven such details as the ghostly footsteps into “Many Men”. A hit that 50 Cent did not recognise as such initially. 50 Cent wasn’t sure about “Many Men”, but Tony’s instinct told him otherwise:
You never know it’s going to be a hit record. Fifty didn’t like “Many Men”. “Yo, this record’s too slow, man”. I had to talk him into that. One thing about me is that I have always had the ear. When we were in the studio with Dre and Em, I just knew that “Get Rich and Die Tryin’” was gonna be some shit. That’s one of my best experiences in my life, being in the studio with Dr. Dre and Eminem. Dr. Dre was different. He smoke hella weed. The cognac’s in there. I’m in LA for the first time. He’s playing the “In da Club” beat. He’s playing “P.I.M.P.” beat. He got all this shit in the vault. I’m like, damn, Dr. Dre’s got to be one of the best producers in the world! That’s one of my best experiences. Then Eminem. Eminem is more serious. He got playing pianos and guitars, and shit like that. Eminem will tell you, “Many Men”, those footsteps are from Poltergeist. You know, a producer that’s like that? He’s listening to the little things.
Tony notes that Em’s contribution is often underestimated: “They take away from Eminem, let’s keep it real, ’cause he’s a white boy. Yeah. Let’s keep it real. ‘i dON’t LiStEn To EMiNeM. i dOn’T LiSteN tO hIM iN tHe cAR. yOu cAn’T nAmE FivE sOnGs’. Yo, listen. It doesn’t matter. He still does billions. He still does billions of streams. Give him credit. And then, look at what he did groupwise”.
For Yayo, Eminem’s support went far beyond G-Unit: “You’ve got D12. You got G-Unit. Fifty cosign. Let’s not forget about Joe Budden. Let’s go back to Slaughterhouse ’cause you can’t forget Joe Budden and them. And then Griselda. All them cosigns help bring success to these artists. Worldwide. ’Cause of Eminem”.
But just as easily as bringing success to an artist, Eminem could bring down the media empire. Yayo pointed to Benzino’s feud with Eminem, saying it ultimately ended The Source: “He can’t get over it. Em destroyed The Source magazine when you really think about it. ‘Nail in the coffin’. It was over”.
Continuing his reflections, Yayo mentioned the bond he still feels with The Game and his breakout success thanks to Dre, Fofty, and Eminem’s backing: “I would never hate on Game. I was on his first album. But come on. Dr. Dre cosign. Fifty cosign at the same time. Eminem, G-Unit. Come on, bro. Anybody who signed on G-Unit at that time was going platinum without a problem”.
In the same breath, Tony is stressing an important lesson: “Never bite the hand that feeds you. Never shit on the person that turned the lights on you. Yeah, Fifty could diss me tomorrow. I’m good. Fif, no disrespect, ’cause you turned the lights on for me”.
Through highs and lows, Tony Yayo has remained loyal. He hasn’t forgotten when Eminem stood up for him at an awards show while he was behind bars: proof of a friendship he still treasures today.
