Eminem is intensifying his “Death of Slim Shady” phase with a new music video for the song “Tobey.” This song features Michigan rappers Big Sean and Babytron, with the video directed by Cole Bennett. The video is fast-paced and shows the rappers in various locations like hotels, clubs, and rooftops, using digital effects to duplicate their images.
Babytron raps first, followed by Big Sean, and Eminem finishes the song. In Eminem’s part, the video shows a house from his “The Marshall Mathers LP” cover, symbolizing the end of his Slim Shady character. Despite strong verses from Sean and Tron, Eminem stands out with his performance, hinting at the end of Slim Shady.
Eminem’s lyrics address recent controversies, including his ranking as the fifth greatest rapper on Billboard’s list, behind 2Pac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and JAY-Z. This ranking has been a topic of debate in the hip-hop community.
When the list came out in 2023, rapper Melle Mel criticized Kendrick and Eminem’s spots, claiming Kendrick’s music isn’t true to contemporary hip-hop and that Eminem is favored because he’s white. In “Tobey,” Eminem directly responds to these criticisms, defending his place on the list and mocking the controversy.
Eminem’s new album, “The Death of Slim Shady,” will be released on July 12. This will be his 12th album, following his 2020 album “Music to Be Murdered By,” and is meant to be the final album for his Slim Shady persona.
