Eminem Pays Loving Tribute to Late Shade 45 DJ Lord Sear

Eminem is paying tribute to one of his favorite Shade 45 voices. Following the death of popular DJ Lord Sear (born Steve Watson) on Wednesday (March 11) at age 53 of as-yet-undisclosed causes, Marshall hopped on X and shared some kind words and fond memories of the radio veteran who was a beloved presence on the rapper’s Shade 45 SiriusXM channel.

“Sear was one of the greatest people to be around, I will never forget how he made me laugh on our tour together,” Eminem wrote. “Our time on @Shade45 together was always some of my favorite interviews. He made the world a better place and I’m gonna seriously miss that. Rest in peace Lil Trey aka @LordSear!!!”

The post included an undated chat between the two men in which Marshall discussed people not necessarily realizing that he cooks up beats in the studio himself sometimes, interspersed with Sear’s playful ribbing. “Based off how we’re talking now, I would never just come out and say, ‘Yo, I did the beat for this, I did the beat for this,’” Eminem says, giving career-long mentor Dr. Dre props for always giving him the freedom to make some of his own beats from day one.

It sounds like Sear then has a bit of fun with Eminem’s revelation and the MC hits back in similarly jokey fashion, castigating Sear by saying, “You know, this is the mature thing to do when you’re doing a f–king serious interview,” before someone else quips, “about a heavy drama?”

“Pun intended,” Shady shot back. “And no pun intended.”

“A serious interview?” comes the response, playing up the double meaning. “I get it. OK. I’m a little slower right now,” Sear says before another Shade 45 legend, Sway Calloway, gets in on the action. “I thought because Sear’s breathing is overpowering your answers right now that maybe he could pant out a question too,” Sway jokes, with Sear slapping right back with, “yeah I could, but I’m allergic to your hat, I don’t know what’s in it,” he teases in reference to Sway’s ubiquitous head coverings, getting the whole room laughing.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Lord Sear. He was more than a voice on the radio — he was a force, a friend, and family to so many of us,” read a statement from SiriusXM on New York native Sear’s passing. “Lord Sear’s legacy in hip hop runs deep. A proud member of the CM family, he first made his mark along side hip-hop artist Kurious, before going on to the legendary Stretch and Bobbito show, touring the world on Eminem’s Anger Management Tour, and spending over 20 years as a cornerstone of the Shade 45 family — he helped shape the culture at every level.”

Shade 45 is hosting a tribute to Sear on Thursday from noon until 4 p.m. ET, where “friends will come together during his slot to share memories and celebrate the incredible life he lived.” Sear co-hosted the All Out Show with Rude Jude on Shade 45 for many years and until his death he hosted the Lord Sear Special on the channel, where he did interviews and played a mix of classic rap and R&B.

Many fans and peers of Sear paid homage on social media on Wednesday, including E-40, Hit-Boy, Fat Joe, Mickey Factz, Rapsody, Tony Yayo, 9th Wonder and Skyzoo, among many others. “God bless i know him my whole career love you sear,” Fat Joe commented on Instagram in the comments to the announcement, with Lloyd Banks adding, “Rest In Peace to my brother LORD SEAR thank you .”

Check out Eminem’s tribute below.