Tobey Review

Tobey is a horrorish sounding masterful Eminem song, that has more in common with MMLP than Relapse, and not just because he ditched the accents. The song starts like proper horror movie: cinematic noises and the clatter of footsteps (perhaps goat hooves?) leading the listener to expect to hear a psychotic man sounding like he's pinching his nose and complaining about "stupid fucking questions."

From there, we are treated to a great hip hop chorus, and three stellar verses that mirror the malevolent witch's poison of an instrumental brewing underneath: Babytron starts off cool, with a buttery smooth verse, until Big Sean brings the pot to a boil with a show stealing verse amid erratic guitar sounds and electronic noises. before Eminem comes in an finishes it off. The beat is insane!

Eminem's verse is exemplary: lyrically, as is common in rap, he retreads old ground found in other songs such as "Phenomenal" but with much better execution. His verse is electrifying, and he avoids his worst impulses (such as shouting) as he delivers a densely written, interconnected web of a verse that rewards multiple listens, and gets better and better every time you hear it, like an unknown verminous potion that oh so slowly, very, very gradually slays you the way they all killed this song.

My only minor gripe is the obvious lie in the hook: Tobey was NOT, in fact, bit by a spider-that was Perter Parker. the character he was pretending to be. Are they pretending to be the GOAT? But then, maybe that's the point. Each of the three is humble, but engaging in the bravado required in rap, while simultaneously knowing that yes, each of them are elite level wordsmiths in the sport that is their profession. This song makes that demonstrably clear.

It might not seem like much after one listen, but this song has the hallmarks of classic Eminem: give it half a chance, and like the monster hiding under you're bed, it surely reach out and grab you like...

ABRACADABRA! Shady's in his motherfucking bag, bruh!