Long before streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, tech-savvy music lovers downloaded their favorite songs from the internet. Kazaa, LimeWire, FrostWire, and more peer-to-peer streaming sites offered massive libraries of dubiously labeled songs for free. Napster was the original peer-to-peer platform and drew heat from the recording industry. Artists like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Metallica, and plenty more spoke out against the platform. Limp Bizkit was one of the few bands that publicly went to bat for the platform.

In this recent Off the Record episode, Johnny Van Zant sits down with American Songwriter to share compelling stories and insights—don’t miss it! 🎸

While Lars Ulrich from Metallica is one of the most famous opponents of Napster, he was far from the only one. At the time, many recording artists believed that fans’ ability to illegally download their music for free was taking money out of their pockets. However, not everyone in the music business felt that way. Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst was an outspoken proponent of Napster. The platform even sponsored one of the band’s tours. This didn’t sit well with the likes of Dr. Dre and Eminem. Unfortunately for them, they had already appeared in one of the band’s most popular music videos.

Limp Bizkit’s video for “Break Stuff” was packed with cameos. Snoop Dogg, Pauly Shore, Korn frontman Johnathan Davis, Dr. Dre, and Eminem were among them. The latter pair have since admitted they regret agreeing to appear in the video.

Dr. Dre and Eminem on Their “Break Stuff” Cameos

Eminem and Dr. Dre spoke about the “Break Stuff” video and why they regretted appearing in it during a joint interview.

“I actually don’t know why I decided to do it, to tell you the truth,” the legendary producer said. “I didn’t even know whose video I was going to be in. I just pulled out and they said, ‘Yo, say this in the camera.’ And I did it,” he recalled. “I really wish I hadn’t have done it now, to tell you the truth,” he added. “I really regret it.”

The good doctor wasn’t shy about why he regretted being in the Limp Bizkit video. “I just don’t like the things that Fred Durst has been standing for lately,” he said. “Definitely about Napster,” he said when asked if Durst’s support of the platform was at the root of his issue. “The situation with Napter is basically this: they’re enabling people to get our music free. Music we go into the studio and work hard on for long periods of time. A lot of money is spent on producing those records. They’re enabling people to get the music free. I don’t think it’s right. They’re taking food out of my kids’ mouths,” he explained.

“Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit is being sponsored by Napster to put on a free concert that he got paid for. I don’t think it’s right that he’s doing that,” Dr. Dre continued.

Eminem Shares His Thoughts

“It’s like… give our music away for free and we’ll sit in the studio and spend hours and days on making this music, and ‘Here you go. Here it’s for free.’ Meanwhile, me and Dre will go work at a burger place a flip burgers, and do the music and basically wh**e ourselves for people. Like, ‘Here, we’re your wh**es. Take our music for free,’” Eminem said. “It’s straight up disrespectful. That sh*t is bullsh*t,” he added. “Anybody who stands for it is bullsh*t.” The “Stan” rapper went on to reveal that he lost approximately 30,000 sales due to Napster and illegal downloading.