Mike Tyson Hotboxin’ with Eminem

3.20.20

Mike Tyson's Hot Boxin’ Podcast

Podcasts are becoming quite the popular form of news and communications. I’m slow to the game, because I’d rather just listen to music. If a podcast has visuals, I’m a bit more intrigued, but, Mike Tyson has a podcast? Can he even talk? Well, let me find out from the most recent Eminem interview.

Overall, this was quite the interesting interview, on many different levels. On one end, I enjoyed it, because Eminem told a lot of stories I had never heard before. There were a few things I knew and I’d be like “oh I remember this!” but I think having the conversation with Mike Tyson, just took them to very different places. I’m used to Eminem talking about how he mastered his craft, how he’s always studying music, and always tries to come up with something crazier then the guy on his feature, or the guy that’s putting out music when he’s not ready to drop. Em got into that a bit here, but he also told us a lot of personal stories. How Proof got him to where he is today because of all open mics he took Em to. IQ introduced him to Denaun and they started hustling everyday out of the same apartments to get to where they were. They talked about movie soundtracks that got them into hip-hop in the first place. He got emotional while talking about his uncle and his daughters - something he typically stays away from. Finally, I think most people knew he liked boxing. He was almost Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Southpaw’, but settled for creating the soundtrack. Eminem could not stop saying how much he idolized Mike Tyson, for being the World Champion. We got a lot of fun stories of how Eminem tried boxing when he was younger, but gave up because he just couldn’t figure it out. He’d been in plenty of street fights and won, but fundamental boxing, he couldn’t whip it.

On the other hand, this was the most painful interview I’ve ever seen. I could understand Mike Tyson when he talked, maybe fifty percent of the time. When he would go off on a tangent, I would just stop listening and see what Eminem had to say. I’m sure Eminem and Denaun were thinking the exact same thing. While Denaun was quiet in the back of the van, every time Mike finished a sentence, Eminem would be staring and just respond with, “Yup.” He was super professional about it, he’d take whatever he thought Mike Tyson just said and come up with something else to talk about. Then Mike would cut him off, and Eminem would just be staring again. Like what the hell, is this guy saying? I could tell Em was a bit uncomfortable with some of the content of the interview. Mike straight up asked if Hailey had a boyfriend and babies. Eminem got really quiet, and said “Just a boyfriend. But she is making me proud and graduated with a 3.9 GPA.” Basically to say, let’s move on. Then, Mike Tyson brought up a night in Vegas where he was on all kind of drugs. He said something about the Olsen Twins being there, and you could tell Em did not want to hear whatever was going to come out of this story. I wonder if Mike could tell, because he changed the subject. I don’t think Eminem wants to laugh about stories being coked up on drugs and pulling several women at a time. He is sober now and trying to find peace in his life. Mike also told Eminem he was the only white kid that knows what it is like to be black. Obviously Em knew not to answer that, and what kind of backlash he would get if he did respond. Just a lot of uncomfortable remarks on Mike’s end.

Though there were awkward moments, Mike Tyson was definitely someone Eminem looked up to growing up. When they were supposed to wrap the first time, they kept going for another ten minutes. I believe they could’ve gone a lot longer if Eben Britton, Mike’s co-host, hadn’t stopped them. Eben’s huge mistake, when ending the show. “Thank you to Eminem * shakes hand * and my brother * shakes Denaun’s hand * for coming through on the show.” Not only did Eminem say Denaun’s name several times throughout the interview, but don’t you think you’d know the guy you’re sitting next to for this long? Woof. What a cringeworthy ending.

Interesting interview. Even more interesting music video for Eminem’s ‘Godzilla’, featuring Mike Tyson.