While some fans hoped for a long-awaited Eminem collab, Lil Wayne’s new album includes two lyrical nods to Slim Shady instead.

Fans had speculated that this could be the moment Wayne and Em would finally reunite on a track, but a Slim Shady feature never materialised. Instead, the album includes appearances from artists like 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Kodak Black, Jelly Roll, and even Machine Gun Kelly. For some listeners, the MGK feature, in particular, raised eyebrows and fed criticism that MGK’s inclusion spoke volumes about the project’s direction, not in a good way.

Lil Wayne Says He Was Scared the First Time He Worked with Eminem

But even without a feature, Eminem’s shadow can still be felt on the album. On “Cotton Candy” featuring 2 Chainz, Wayne raps:

Nosedive, then swim, baby
More white, girl, than Slim Shady.

Later, on “Written History,” he drops another reference:

They know I’m the greatest of all time
I’m like what MJ is to LeBron,
Brady, in his prime,
I’m like Tom Brady at forty-five,
I ain’t even debatin’ on retirin’,
You could get the Shady 45.

 

The last line nods to Eminem’s Shade 45 radio station on SiriusXM.

So, while fans did not get the Em-Wayne linkup they hoped for, the respect remains — subtle, sharp, and shady enough.