- Nas says Eminem turned down a feature on his song “Daughters,” telling him he had “spent so much time speaking on daughters.”
- The story was shared on The Joe Budden Podcast, where Nas appeared with DJ Premier.
- Nas originally wanted Em on a remix of the track from his Life Is Good album but respected Eminem’s decision.
- The exchange highlights Eminem’s history of personal songs about his daughter, including “Mockingbird.”
H2: Nas shares the exchange with Eminem
Nas recounted the moment during a recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, where he was joined by producer DJ Premier. Speaking around the 52-minute mark, Nas said he had sent the song “Daughters” to Eminem and hoped for a collaboration. According to Nas, Eminem politely declined.
“At the time he had spent so much time speaking on daughters,” Nas said. “He was like, ‘Thank you, but I’m not going to.'”
Nas added that Eminem’s response also came with appreciation. Em told him it was refreshing to receive a song where the artist wasn’t looking to battle him, but rather telling a personal story.
H3: Why Eminem passed — a sensitive subject
Nas said Eminem explained he didn’t want to record more songs directly about daughters at that time because it was a sensitive subject in his music. Eminem has often mined his family life for material, making the topic a recurring theme across his catalog.
H3: Context — “Daughters” and Life Is Good
“Daughters” appears on Nas’ tenth studio album, Life Is Good, and reflects on his relationship with his then-teenage daughter, Destiny Jones. Nas has long said he values honest, personal storytelling on his records, and he sought collaborators who could match that tone.
In a 2012 interview with Vibe, Nas said he had wanted Eminem on a remix for “Daughters” and also missed a chance to work with Jay‑Z on the same album because of conflicting schedules. The new recollection on Joe Budden’s show fills in more of that backstory.
H3: Eminem’s songs about his daughter
Eminem is no stranger to deeply personal songs about his family. His 2004 single “Mockingbird” remains one of his most emotional tracks targeting his daughter Hailie Jade. More recently, he released “Temporary” featuring Skylar Grey and “Somebody Save Me” featuring Jelly Roll on The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), continuing the theme of family and vulnerability in his music.
H3: Watch the clip
Embedded — Nas tells the story on The Joe Budden Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9bCLPwzSC0
This short exchange underscores how artists weigh subject matter and public perception when choosing collaborations. Nas respected Eminem’s decision and pushed forward with a personal record that stands on its own.
Image Referance: https://www.complex.com/music/a/jaelaniturnerwilliams/nas-recalls-eminem-turning-down-daughters
