As he recounted how nearly everyone in his circle tried to discourage him from working with the then-unknown rapper, long-time friend, mentor, and collaborator Dr. Dre inducted his protege, Eminem, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dre recalled the naysayers during his introductory speech saying, “Look at him, Dre. This guy has blue eyes. We can’t sign him.” There was a massive amount of resistance from my whole team and people around me that didn’t want me to work with him simply because he was white. Didn’t want me to sign him or anything like that. I knew that his gifts were undeniable. Each of us was what the other one needed — and I was willing to bet my entire career on it.”
Eminem was inducted into the 2022 class alongside Dolly Parton, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon.
Check out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony below: