Do you ever wonder what other people thought the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of the culture? That’s what ‘The First Time I Heard…’ is all about. We will connect with other rap artists, industry executives, DJs and other voices from the culture and ask them to reminisce about the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of our culture.

Photo Credit: Photo Rob

Statik Selektah is one of the most respected producers and DJs in contemporary Hip Hop, known for his soulful, sample-rich beats and unwavering commitment to boom-bap tradition. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Statik emerged in the early 2000s with a deep appreciation for golden-era rap and quickly carved out a lane producing timeless tracks that blend gritty east coast rhythms with modern sensibilities. As the founder of Showoff Records, he’s cultivated a roster of sharp lyricists and helped introduce new voices to the culture.

His acclaimed Showoff Radio show on Shade 45, along with his high-profile live sets and mixtapes, have made him a go-to tastemaker and cultural mainstay. Statik will soon release his latest album ‘Expensive Taste’ on Mass Appeal Records later this year. The album’s first single, “The Louvre“, features Joey Bada$$, Westside Gunn, Stove God Cooks & Rome Streetz.

We caught up with Statik Selektah to talk about the first time he heard Eminem.

Adam Aziz: What was your reaction the first time you heard Eminem? Do you remember what song it was?

Statik Selektah: The first time I heard Eminem was “97 Bonnie and Clyde.” I heard it on WUNH and I went and tried to find the 12 inch and it was sold out everywhere but then I heard “Just Don’t Give a Fuck” too, which was on the same 12 inch. I was blown away by the shit he was saying, the tone of his voice, the way he was rapping. I knew from the rip he was going to be special and go on a legendary run.

AA: What was it about Eminem that you think made her stand out.

SS: The thing that made him stand out to me was that he was white, and we weren’t used to that. We only really had Beastie Boys and 3rd Bass before that. To have someone come out rapping the way he did, it reminded me of like a Big Pun or a Black Thought in that he was so ill at rapping and he had his own style. I had never heard anyone rap that way.

Photo Credit: Aftermath/Interscope/Web

AA: Do you have a favorite Eminem song?

SS: My favourite Eminem song is probably “My Dad’s Gone Crazy” because my daughter and I have a similar relationship, and we always used to play that song. I love that album too. Shout out to Eminem. I’ve been on his radio station, Shade 45,  for 20 years. And he’s the goat.

Follow Statik Selektah on Instagram. Follow Eminem on Instagram.