Eminem has never been one to hold back or rank anyone above himself in the rap game. At 51 years old, he addresses his No. 5 position on Billboard's Greatest Rappers list in his new single “Tobey.” Released on Tuesday (July 2), the track features Big Sean and Babytron and serves as the second single from his upcoming album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce).
Though Eminem is retiring his old moniker, he won't let anyone forget who he believes he's outperformed throughout his career. “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 sh*t’s hilarious,” he raps.
The four rappers ahead of the 15-time Grammy winner were 2Pac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and JAY-Z. Having collaborated with all of them, it's clear that Eminem believes he deserves a higher ranking.
In “Tobey,” Eminem also addresses Melle Mel, who criticized Eminem's high ranking on the Billboard list, attributing it to his race. “Obviously he’s a capable rapper,” Mel said on The Art Of Dialogue. “If you was talking about sales, he’s sold more than everybody. If you were talking about rhyme style, OK he got a rhyme style. But he’s white. He’s white.
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So now if Eminem was another nia like all the rest of us, would he be top five on that list when a nia that could rhyme just as good as him is 35?”
Eminem isn’t having it. “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 sh*t go and slide/ Melle Mel shouldn’t get no reply, that man is a legend/ Bi**h, so am I,” he responds in his lyrics.
“Tobey” follows the single “Houdini,” both leading up to The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), set for release on July 12. The album is building strong momentum, with “Houdini” reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Watch the music video below.
