Eminem and Dr Dre's friendship timeline explored as rapper's new song Houdini drops 

Eminem, the iconic rapper known by fans for his intricate lyrics and explosive performances, has just released his latest single, Houdini which features Dr. Dre.

With the release in mind, the deep friendship and professional partnership between Eminem and Dr. Dre, considered instrumental by many to modern hip-hop, will be explored in this article.

It has been 25 years since the inception of their friendship and partnership. In a 2017 interview with HBO, Dr. Dre reminisced about his first meeting with the acclaimed rapper, recalling Slim Shady's memorable attire, "a bright yellow sweat suit" —

"So, Eminem comes in this bright, yellow f*cking sweatsuit. Hoodie, pants, everything. It's bright f*cking yellow."

Marshall Bruce Mathers III is a known American rapper, record producer, and actor. Professionally known as Eminem, he is one of the best-selling artists of the 21st century.

Andre Romell Young is an American record producer and rapper. Known professionally as Dr. Dre, he is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He also co-founded and was the president of Death Row Records.

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Exploring Eminem and Dr. Dre's friendship as Houdini is released

Slim Shady released a new track, Houdini. (Image via Getty)

Eminem and Dr. Dre's partnership dates back to the late '90s when Dre recognized Slim Shady's raw talent and potential and signed him up for Aftermath Entertainment. This began one of the most successful collaborations in music history.

On March 14, 2024, during an appearance on SiriusXM's The Life of Mine with James Corden, Dr. Dre recalled that he and Slim Shady first met in the office of American entrepreneur and former record executive Jimmy Iovine. The two instantly "slapped hands" and began recording together —

"I met Eminem at Jimmy Iovine's office. We slapped hands, went to the studio, and started recording."

Dr. Dre further highlighted the lesser-known fact that the first four albums were primarily a collaboration between him and Brain Damage singer —

"I'm not sure if anybody knows this, but I think the first four albums was just me and him and his writing and his delivery and his imagination is off the charts and I don't think anyone would disagree with that."

Dr. Dre, the record producer (Image via Getty)

Reflecting on how swiftly and naturally their relationship began, Dr. Dre said,

"I was playing with the MPC, and I hit play on it, and he just went, 'Hi, my name is.' It happened that fast. No bullsh*t, and then we went from there, and that was the beginning of this relationship."

My Name Is was released in 1999 on The Slim Shady LP album. The single earned Eminem the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, propelling him into stardom.

Dr. Dre revealed to Vibe Magazine that he initially did not know that Eminem was white, and many team members were not enthusiastic about signing a white newcomer in the hip-hop industry. Despite this, Dr. Dre recalled that upon first hearing Eminem, he was eager to work with him because his style was so unique —

"When I heard Em for the first time, I didn't even know he was white. I just knew I wanted to work with him. And that kind of actually made it better for me because it was so different."

Speaking during the Rock & Hall of Fame induction, Dr. Dre suggested he was very pleased with his decision to sign the Grammy Award-winning rapper. He co-produced the rapper's all-studio albums, including The Slim Shady LP 1999, The Marshall Mathers LP 2000, and The Eminem Show 2002.

According to SiriusXM, Eminem has even ghostwritten music for Dr. Dre. The pair delivered an iconic performance at the 2022 Super Bowl LVI halftime show, showcasing the strength of their enduring collaboration.

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Eminem dropped Houdini on May 31, 2024, his first track since 2020. The official video features a cameo of hip-hop moguls, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cents, and more.