HipHopDX: Last time we talked, you kind of said that Jimmy Iovine was behind a lot of the reasons why you left Interscope. I’ve also seen, in other interviews you’ve done recently, that Eminem kind of screwed you over and not even directly. But you know he missed the BET Awards for a few years, which left you off their playlist for a while. I don’t want to start any beef 'cause I know you and Em are cool, but do you maybe feel that he’s been a hinder as well as help at some points during your career?
Obie Trice: Well yeah, in those cases. I mean you know he’s an artist as well but he has his own individual issues and does his own thing. So back then, when Em didn’t move, we did suffer some consequences from that. That’s just how it was. When I asked for a beat from Pharrell from the N*E*R*D, in order for him to give me a beat, Eminem had to get on one of his songs and one of his beats as well. It was like a “We give you this and then you can get this.” Then with a major situation with a major artist it’s always situations. So the BET situation was, he didn’t go to the awards for three years in a row and so I guess BET got fed up with that so they snatched everything that was Shady that was going on. So it happened that at the time it was my turn. [Laughs] So what he had to do was make it up by going out there with Busta [Rhymes] when he did that freestyle with that sweatshirt that was lighting up and he had to shake hands with those people and that’s just a part of the business. You be with a mega star like that and people want things from you and in return to just keep your business moving forward and you have to do these things so that’s all I was saying. A lot of things tendered to being that he was Eminem, he needed his time as well so it was all a growing process for all of us.
Em's probably happy to put all the business stuff on Paul. It would drive me crazy everybody wanting something from me even in relation to promoting an artist on my label. The whole BET thing is stupid. MTV did the same thing with Prince. Back in the day they refused to show his videos because he didn't do one of the award shows. Nevermind if they artist just can't make the show.
I'd lose my mind in show business.
