Watch Ed Sheeran Rap Eminem’s “Criminal” talks about The Marshall Mathers LP album

Ed Sheeran recently opened up in a new interview with Arte TRACKS, where he shared how Eminem’s iconic album “The Marshall Mathers LP” changed his life — and helped him overcome his childhood stutter.

“The Marshall Mathers LP is one of my favorite records, if not my favorite record of all time,” Sheeran said.
“This album actually helped cure my stutter. I’ll never forget the exact verse that did it.”

Ed then rapped a few lines from Eminem’s track that helped him improve his speech:

“Windows tinted on my ride when I drive in it / So when I rob a bank, run out and just dive in it…”

He explained that memorizing and practicing Eminem’s complex lyrics played a key role in improving his fluency.

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The Cassette That Started It All

Ed credits his Uncle Jim — who he playfully calls ‘Jim Shady’ — for introducing him to Eminem. He says his uncle gave him the cassette tape of The Marshall Mathers LP and told his father, “This guy is the new Bob Dylan.”

“I don’t think my dad actually listened to what was on the record,” Sheeran laughed.

Years later, Ed performed “Stan” live on stage with Eminem at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony — a full-circle moment he’ll never forget.

His Dad’s Shocked Reaction

Sheeran also shared a funny story about how his dad finally listened to the album years later and was shocked by the lyrics.

“One of the first lines is: ‘Now he’s raping his own mother, abusing a wh—, snorting coke…’ And my dad was like, ‘You were listening to this when you were nine?!’”

Despite the controversial content, Ed says the album holds a deep personal meaning, as it helped him build confidence and overcome a major speech challenge — all through rap music.