The first episode of Broken Record finds Gladwell picking apart a discussion between Rubin and Eminem, who turned in "Walk On Water" this morning, a Beyonce collaboration that signaled the commencement of a new album campaign from the Detroit rapper following weeks of teasing.
Rubin and Em, longtime collaborators with a familiar tone between them, candidly diving into the various creative stresses and anxieties that plague a seasoned writer. The Def Jam pioneer notes that Em is one of the best-studied and overly analytical rappers he'd ever come across and reveals that it was Jay-Z who suggested Beyonce sing the hook to the new single upon first hearing it. Later on, Em can be heard listing the artists that inspired him early in his career, giving an astute breakdown of Tupac's singular talents for word choice and beat selection.