‘We Spoke Marvel and Avengers for Hours,’ Ed Sheeran says of his first studio session with Eminem

Ed Sheeran and Eminem have collaborated on a few projects, but one of the most crucial moments in their professional relationship occurred when they bonded through their shared passion for video games and superheroes.

Sheeran reflected on his first visit to Em’s studio in Detroit, when the two talked for hours about their common love of Marvel and the Avengers, in an interview with Apple Music 1’s Rebecca Judd. They only began making music during their second meeting.

“It was in Detroit and I was playing a gig in Detroit,” Sheeran said. “And yeah, I arrived at his studio. He has got loads of games consoles there. He loves games. I actually bought him a Nintendo 64 with GoldenEye on it as a gift. Yeah. I just stepped in there.”

“Actually, the first time we met, we did not make music. I hung out there for about four hours, and we just spoke Marvel and Avengers for about four hours and then the next time I went back, we made a tune. The first tune we made, I was in Mexico and his producer flew to Mexico, and I did the hook there and stuff,” the singer added.

Sheeran also talked about how he and his now-wife Cherry Seaborn met Beyoncé and Jay-Z for dinner when they first started dating.

“Jay-Z and Beyonce came to a gig that I did in Brooklyn. And they were like, ‘Come out to this restaurant with us afterwards,’” Sheeran recalled. “So I went out to this restaurant and then my mates were in town. Actually my now-wife. It was like the day after we’d had our first date. And she was there with my friend Martha and this guy, Foy Vance. So we went to dinner and then we went to this bar and I remember a guitar was getting passed around between me and Foy. And I remember playing that [Empire State of Mind’]. Five of us in a room with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. I gave Beyoncé a Jägerbomb.”

Sheeran and Eminem previously collaborated on the rapper’s songs “River” and “Those Kinda Nights,” as well as Sheeran’s collaboration with 50 Cent on “Remember the Name.”