Karol G Says Eminem Was One of Her First Musical Loves
Colombian singer Karol G has named Eminem as one of her first loves in music, even though she did not speak English as a child and could not follow his lyrics.
She made the comments in a conversation with actress Salma Hayek, published by Interview Magazine on Tuesday, 20 October. Karol G said she first fell for Eminem's music as a child growing up in Medellín, Colombia. She said she loved how unapologetic he sounds on "Lose Yourself", and that at first it was all about the feel of the music. She understood the words later, after she learned English, and that, she said, is when she understood why she liked him so much.
The two artists have not worked together. Billboard reported that Karol G has not yet collaborated with Eminem.
Eminem is also in the news for other reasons. Rapper 50 Cent, speaking at the premiere of his Street Fighter movie, said that Eminem's next album is on the horizon. He said Eminem stepped back from the film's soundtrack to prepare for it. No date for the album has been given.
Eminem's last album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Gräce), came out in July 2024. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the US chart that ranks albums each week, with 281,000 album-equivalent units. That measure converts streams and track sales into their album equivalent, so it can be compared with album sales.
Karol G's own chart run is also strong. Her single "BbY WOW", with Judeline and rusowsky, spent a sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, which ranks songs worldwide. It also sat at No. 9 on the Hot 100, the main US singles chart. Her 2019 single "Tusa", with Nicki Minaj, peaked at No. 42 on the Hot 100.
Her latest album, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, was released in August. Drake appears on "Ahí", a track sung entirely in Spanish, and the song peaked at No. 44 on the Hot 100. Karol G has also worked with the late rapper Pop Smoke, on "Enjoy Yourself" in 2020, which came out after his death.
For listeners who grew up with music in one language and found another one later, the interview offers a simple point. Karol G said the sound came first, and the meaning followed.
