Eminem dropped his second single, “Tobey,” from The Death of Slim Shady album on Tuesday (July 2), featuring fellow Detroit artists Big Sean and Babytron. Taking the third verse, Eminem tackled the brooding production and appeared to comment on his placement as No. 5 on Billboard’s 50 Greatest Rappers of All-Time list released last year.
In “Tobey,” Eminem expresses disbelief about ranking below artists he believes he has surpassed: “But this, to me, is a mystery/ How rappers I’ve already ripped could be higher up on a list than me/ Yet I sit here on your list that went five, wished it was fine, but just know inside/ To me that s–t’s hilarious,” he raps.
The exact targets of his lines remain unspecified, but the four rappers ranked above him are 2Pac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z.
Eminem also addressed Melle Mel’s comments that his top-five status stemmed from his race. Last year, after Billboard published the list, Mel criticized Eminem’s ranking in an interview with The Art of Dialogue: “He’s white,” Mel noted, suggesting Eminem’s race influenced his high ranking.
Eminem responded sharply in “Tobey,” acknowledging Mel’s influence on his career but asserting his legacy: “So when I get dissed though and by a pioneer/ Who was one of the reasons why I’m here/ They tell me I should just let that s–t go and slide/ ‘Melle Mel shouldn’t get no reply, that man is a legend’/ B—h, so am I.”
Read: Eminem Shakes the Charts with New Single “Houdini” from Upcoming Album
“Tobey” sets the stage for The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), scheduled to release on streaming platforms on July 12. Eminem’s previous single from the project, “Houdini,” debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100, marking his highest-charting hit this decade.
