Tyler, The Creator recently opened up about a long-held regret concerning his public criticism of Eminem’s 2010 album Recovery. During an insightful conversation on Mav Carter’s Mavericks podcast, released on August 14, the Odd Future founder expressed a deep desire to personally apologize to the Detroit rap icon.
Reflecting on his initial reaction to Recovery, Tyler admitted he was vocal about his disdain for the project when it first dropped. At the time, he took to social media to express his disappointment, not realizing the significance of the album in Eminem’s life, especially as it marked a turning point in his battle against addiction.
However, Tyler’s perspective shifted earlier this year after watching the Netflix series Painkiller, which delves into the complexities of addiction. The show offered Tyler a newfound understanding of what Eminem may have been experiencing during the creation of Recovery.
“Watching Painkiller really hit me. It made me realize how my comments might have affected him,” Tyler confessed. “To think someone who was overcoming addiction, getting clean, and putting that struggle behind him, and then seeing someone like me trashing his work… he must have felt attacked. And that wasn’t my intention. I just didn’t like the music back then, but now I see it from a completely different angle.”
Tyler went on to express his admiration for Eminem, acknowledging the profound influence the rapper had on his own career. “Eminem taught me how to rap, how to craft stories, how to play with rhythm and words. So when I think back to how dismissive I was, it really bothers me. If I ever get the chance, I want to tell him face-to-face how sorry I am for what I said.”
Tyler’s candid reflection serves as a reminder that growth and understanding often come with time, and that sometimes, the best way to make amends is with a heartfelt, in-person apology.
