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Rap God

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"Rap God"
Song

"Rap God" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song premiered via YouTube, on October 14, 2013 and was released in the US on October 15, as the third single from Eminem's eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013). It contains references to previous conflicts in Eminem's career, as well as to other rappers' conduct. The song received positive reviews, with critics praising Eminem's lyrical ability and rapping speed.

Composition

The song references a line from the first Marshall Mathers LP, on the song "I'm Back", where he talks about the Columbine High School massacre, rapping "Seven kids from Columbine; Put 'em all in a line, add an AK-47, a revolver, a nine." The verse was censored when originally released, and is included in "Rap God" to test public reaction.[2] Eminem references the Lewinsky scandal in order to demonstrate his longevity as a dominant force in the rap industry, thus establishing himself as an "immortal god".[3]

Additional references include[4] a conflict between Fabolous and Ray J, Heavy D & the Boyz,[5] planking,[6] The Walking Dead,[7] J. J. Fad's 1988 song "Supersonic", Tupac Shakur, Pharaohe Monch, Rakim, N.W.A, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Lakim Shabazz[8] and the 2007 Hotstylz song "Lookin Boy".[9][10][11]

"Rap God"
Eminem raps 97 words in 15 seconds - an average of 6.5 words per second - which he describes as "supersonic speed" (7-22).
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In the verse that begins at 4:26,[12] Eminem raps 97 words in 15 seconds — an average of 6.5 words per second — which he describes as "supersonic speed":[13]

Uh, sama lamaa duma lamaa you assuming I'm a human
What I gotta do to get it through to you I'm superhuman
Innovative and I'm made of rubber
So that anything you say is ricocheting off of me and it'll glue to you
I'm devastating, more than ever demonstrating
How to give a motherfuckin' audience a feeling like it's levitating
Never fading, and I know the haters are forever waiting
For the day that they can say I fell off, they'd be celebrating
Cause I know the way to get 'em motivated
I make elevating music...

— Eminem, "Rap God"[13]

The song's production was handled by American hip hop producer Bigram Zayas, professionally known as Develop or DVLP; he has produced songs for rappers such as The Diplomats, Rick Ross and most notably Lil Wayne.[14] The song was co-produced with Matthew "Filthy" Delgiorno. [14] The song's recording session took place at Effigy Studios in Michigan, with brothers Mike and Joe Strange working with Eminem on mixing and engineering the record. Joe Strange also contributed additional keyboarding and programming.[15] On October 14, 2013, DVLP tweeted that the beat was two years old, made in November 2011, and that Eminem recorded the song in 2012.[16]

Music video

On November 21, 2013, Eminem tweeted the trailer for the music video and announced it would be released on November 27, 2013.[17] On November 27, 2013 as scheduled, the music video was released on Vevo at 12:00pm ET.[18]

Critical reception

"Rap God" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Critics praised the song's lyrical content and rapping speed. Per Lijas of Time gave the song a positive review, stating that "the world can expect an immortal recording" based on "Rap God" and the album's lead single, "Berzerk".[19] Jim Farber of the Daily News compared the song to The Marshall Mathers LP, stating that the song "revives the super-sick humor of that era, which comes as a relief after all the internalizations and ruminating of Em’s more recent work".[20] Kory Grow of Rolling Stone also gave the song a positive review, praising that instead of "giving his chorus to an R&B crooner like Rihanna or the New Royales' Liz Rodrigues", "he instead delivers a straight rap refrain about feeling like a rap deity. His verses recall hip-hop history ... as much as his own history".[5] Nick Hill of Contact Music praised the song's rhyming and lyrical content. He exclaimed that the verse beginning at 4:20 best displays Eminem's rapping abilities.

Conversely, Consequence of Sound stated that, although the flow of the verses are impressive, the lyricism "falls victim to dated references [...] and the tired technique of using other rapper’s monikers to complete rhymes." They also noted that beat is "pedestrian at best", and that altogether the song "[lacks] the commercial appeal" of "Berzerk".[21]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Chart, despite its late release.[22][23][24] It replaced "Berzerk", his first single from the album at that position.[25] In the United States, it debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100[26] and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[27] When the R&B component is removed is debuted at number one on the Rap Songs chart.[28] It also debuted at number one on the Digital Songs chart,[29] with over 270,000 downloads sold.[30] "Rap God" is Eminem's seventh top 10 start on the Hot 100, pushing him past Lil Wayne (six) for the most among men in the chart's 55-year history.[30]

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 15
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[32] 45
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[33] 5
Denmark (Tracklisten)[34] 30
France (SNEP)[35] 23
Invalid chart entered Germany2 33
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 53
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 4
Scotland (OCC)[39] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 31
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 5
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[43] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[45] 2

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States October 15, 2013[46] Digital download Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
December 2013 Urban contemporary radio[47]
Rhythmic contemporary radio[48]

References

  1. ^ Steffen Hung. "Eminem - Rap God". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  2. ^ Graham, Adam (October 14, 2013). "Emimem strikes again with 'Rap God' single". The Detroit News. MediaNews Group. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Markman, Rob (October 15, 2013). "Eminem's 'Rap God' Decoded: What He's Really Saying On Venomous Track". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "Eminem's 'Rap God' Debuts As Latest Cut Off Of 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2'". The Huffington Post. AOL. October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Grow, Kory (October 14, 2013). "Eminem Declares Himself a 'Rap God'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  6. ^ Kurp, Josh (October 15, 2013). "Oh Good, Eminem References Monica Lewinsky In His New Song 'Rap God'". Uproxx. Uproxx Media. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  7. ^ Chai, Barbara (October 14, 2013). "Eminem Drops 'Rap God' Single". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  8. ^ "Rap God". Rap Genius. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  9. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (October 14, 2013). "Eminem – "Rap God"". Stereogum. Spin Media. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  10. ^ Staff (October 14, 2013). "Listen to Eminem's new song "Rap God", which is anything but godly". Consequence of Sound. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  11. ^ Markman, Rob (October 14, 2013). "Eminem's New Track Proves He's 'A God,' Too". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  12. ^ Hill, Nick (October 16, 2013). "Eminem Drops The Ferocious 'Rap God' Showing Why He Is The Best!". Contact Music. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Acuna, Kirsten (October 15, 2013). "Here's What Eminem is Saying During His 'Supersonic Speed' Verse In New Song 'Rap God'". Business Insider. Business Insider Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Markman, Rob (October 23, 2013). "Eminem's Thanks 'Rap God' Producer For One Of The 'Illest Beats' He's Heard". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  15. ^ Eminem "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" Album Credits Released | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX
  16. ^ "Twitter / its_dvlp: #RapGod track is 2 YEARS old". Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  17. ^ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/11/eminem-teases-rap-god-video/
  18. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/eminem-embraces-hip-hop-history-in-rap-god-20131127
  19. ^ Lijas, Per (October 15, 2013). "Eminem's New 'Rap God' is Divine". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  20. ^ Farber, Jim (October 15, 2013). "Eminem's 'Rap God' is throwback to rapper's playful prime: music review". Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  21. ^ Staff (14 October 2013). "Listen to Eminem's new song "Rap God", which is anything but godly". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  22. ^ "2013-10-26 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  23. ^ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  24. ^ "Lawson and OneRepublic take on Miley Cyrus for Number 1". Officialcharts.com. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  25. ^ "2013-10-19 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  26. ^ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  27. ^ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  28. ^ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  29. ^ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  30. ^ a b Trust, Gary (2013-10-23). "Lorde's 'Royals' Is Hot 100's Ruler For Fourth Week". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  31. ^ "Eminem – Rap God". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  32. ^ "Eminem – Rap God" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  33. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  34. ^ "Eminem – Rap God". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  35. ^ "Eminem – Rap God" (in French). Les classement single.
  36. ^ "Chart Track: Week 42, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
  37. ^ "Eminem – Rap God" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. ^ "Eminem – Rap God". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  40. ^ "Eminem – Rap God". Singles Top 100.
  41. ^ "Eminem – Rap God". Swiss Singles Chart.
  42. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  44. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  45. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  46. ^ "Rap God - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  47. ^ http://www.promoonly.com/listings/view.php?issueid=15180&backup-view=1
  48. ^ http://www.promoonly.com/listings/view.php?issueid=15197&backup-view=1
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