Eminem’s Most Important Interview

Apparently, the Troy, Mich., resident’s original plan was to write something about her favorite rapper for her newspaper academic extension class. However, the eighth-grader’s teacher said she should try to snag an interview with the Real Slim Shady, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Reed’s adventure hunting the elusive rapper began with the record label. A week later she had information on Eminem’s management as well as the e-mail address for his press rep, Dennis Dennehy.

“I just thought, ‘Wow, here’s a middle school girl from Detroit who has some guts,’” Dennehy said, according to the Free Press. “She said this would be the coolest thing to ever happen for her school. We thought Em would really enjoy doing it, too.”

Reed got about 10 minutes with Eminem in which the rapper talked about listening to the Beastie Boys, Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J when he was growing up.

But the interview was hardly the fluff piece one might expect. Eminem talked with Reed about his mistakes including dropping out of school and his past drug use.

“He said he didn’t want to make the interview too dark for middle school kids, but that his doctor told him that if he didn’t stop taking drugs he was going to die,” Reed told the Free Press. “I learned he’s been clean for over 18 months, which is cool.”

With the interview in the can, Reed is now waiting for it to be published in the East Hills middle school newspaper, the Cavalier Corner. According to the Free Press, 500 copies will be printed and distributed to students for free.

Click here to read the complete article in the Detroit Free Press.