Legendary musician Elton John has some high praise for the skills of Atlanta rapper Young Thug in his latest interview with Billboard Magazine. 

Elton is releasing his new album titled ‘Lockdown Sessions’ later this month in which he has enlisted Thug and Nicki Minaj on the track titled ‘Always Love You. Elton was so impressed during the recording session of the track that he compared Young Thug’s freestyling better than another legend from Detroit Eminem who also happens to be a friend of Elton’s.

“I mean, I’ve seen Marshall [Mathers] do it in Detroit, but I’ve never seen someone like Thug come in and do that. In the end, I had to leave because I think he felt a bit intimidated that I was there and I just wanted him to relax. But it’s just an amazing moment in my musical life… I have no understanding of how rap records are put together and it’s fascinating to watch.”

Elton also tells he encouraged Young Thug to sing more on his records “He said, “What do you think? What advice would you give me?’ I said, ‘Did you sing in the choir?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, of course I sang in the choir. Gospel choir.’ I said, ‘Sing more. Don’t just rap, sing more, because the mixture of rap and musicianship and melody is what really makes rap take off.’ And he’s doing that now.”