Eminem Reacts to Billboard’s Top Rappers Chart Ranking for “Tobey”

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Eminem returned on Tuesday (July 2) with his second The Death of Slim Shady single, “Tobey,” alongside fellow Detroiters Big Sean and Babytron. Third on the track, Em cut through the ominous production and even seemed to touch on Billboard ranking him 5th on the list of the 50 greatest rappers of all time, published last year.

“But to me it’s a mystery/ How rappers I’ve already demolished could be higher on a list than me/ Yet I’m sitting here on your list that went to five, I wish it would all work out, but I just know deep down/ To me it’s hilarious,” he says.

It’s unclear who Slim Shady is addressing, but the four rappers ahead of him in the ranking (four to one) are 2Pac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.

Em also responded to Melle Mel’s criticism that Marshall Mathers was one of the top five rappers. Mel had said during an interview with The art of dialogue last year after BillboardHis list was released and he thinks Em made it so high on the list because he’s white.

He raps in “Tobey”: “So when I get insulted by a pioneer/ Who was one of the reasons I’m here/ They tell me I should drop that sh–t and slide/ ‘Ms. Mel shouldn’t have no answer, that man is a legend’/ B—h, me too.”

Mel explained his thoughts in the The art of dialogue “Obviously, he’s a competent rapper. If you’re talking about sales, he’s outsold everybody. If you’re talking about rhyming style, okay, he’s got a rhyming style. But he’s white. He’s white,” Mel said. “So now, if Eminem was just another n****, would he be in the top five on this list when someone who could rhyme as well as him is 35? Who has records and shit? He’s 35. He’s white.”

“Tobey” will lead Eminem to the arrival of The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace)which will be released on streaming services on July 12. “Houdini” was the lead single from the project and gave Em his highest Hot 100 hit of this decade when it debuted at No. 2.

Listen to “Tobey” below.