Tobey (song)

On March 19, 2024, long-time producer and collaborator Dr. Dre revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that Eminem was working on his next studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), and that it would be releasing in 2024.^[1] During the 2024's NFL draft event in his hometown Detroit on April 26,^[2] he shared a video in the style of real crime show, Unsolved Mysteries, posed as a question of "Who killed Slim Shady?"^[3] A reporter dressed in a trenchcoat lists the enemies Shady has made over the years, with rapper 50 Cent commenting on the persona.^[4] On May 13, the album was further promoted with a fake obituary on the Detroit Free Press.^[5]

On May 21, Eminem made a cryptic post to his social media accounts, containing an iMessage chat-style video with the message "...and for my last trick!" Eminem changed his social media profile pictures to match the rabbit-in-a-top-hat emoji used in the post.^[6] On May 28, the rapper teased the album's first single, "Houdini", by posting a joint video call between himself and magician David Blaine,^[7] in which the former asked Blaine for help and a magic trick, in which he states that for his "last trick", he was going to make his career "disappear".^[8] The rapper then previewed "Houdini" by playing a short instrumental snippet, with the song title and release date revealed.^[9] On May 31, "Houdini" was released with an accompanying music video.^[10] The song later received commercial success, including its debut at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.^[11]

"Tobey"

Beginning with a reference based on Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, Eminem uses his verse to criticize his fifth place ranking on Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list.

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"Tobey" is a hip-hop^[12] song at a running time of four minutes and forty-four seconds.^[13] It serves as a collaborative effort from Michigan natives Eminem, Big Sean and BabyTron.^[14] The song was produced by Eminem, Cole Bennett, Car!ton, Daniyel, Marvy Ayy, and John Nocito. "Tobey" is the fourth collaboration between Eminem and Big Sean, following "Detroit vs. Everybody" (2014), "No Favors" (2017), and "Friday Night Cypher" (2020).^[15]

Over a beat including bells and a hard rock guitar riff,^[12] BabyTron uses his hook to reference Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan Kenobi that he was her only hope in the 1977 film Star Wars and The Iron Giant's consumption of scrap metal,^[16] and Big Sean references Yoda^[12] and Wes Craven.^[17] Eminem uses his verse to criticize his fifth-place ranking on Billboard and Vibe's "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time" list and Melle Mel for questioning his high ranking;^[18] upon release, many fans interpreted some of his verse as taking shots at Jay-Z, prompting Royce da 5′9″ to opine otherwise.^[19]

On June 28, 2024, Eminem posted a horror-themed trailer for "Tobey" on his social media accounts, containing himself, Big Sean, and BabyTron, announcing that it would be released on July 2, and its music video, directed by Cole Bennett, set to premiere three days later on July 5.^[20] The trailer featured Eminem in a Jason Voorhees mask carving into a bleeding invisible figure with a chainsaw,^[14] intended to represent Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady,^[21] followed by BabyTron rapping "Tobey Maguire got bit by a spider, but see, me, it was a goat".^[16] The video was delayed by three days after it became apparent that it was not ready, with Eminem instead releasing a short snippet in which he rapped outside his house.^[19] On July 2, "Tobey" was released through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records,^[15] and the second single from Eminem's twelfth studio album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) following "Houdini".^[22] "Tobey" marks BabyTron's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[23]

Tom Breihan of Stereogum, who had previously panned "Houdini", expressed that "Tobey" was "more like it," describing the latter as "rap for rap's sake, without headline-chasing edgy jokes or forced, rushed cadences." He also opined that the song's central concept was "a little goofy," but felt that it worked.^[30] Upon release, Anthony Fantano criticized the instrumental, but admired the concept and lyrics and felt that the track was a "big Detroit deal" on the grounds that the track comprised "three generations of Detroit artists".^[31] Upon reviewing The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), however, he felt that his words made its narrative "a little confusing" due to the conflicting messages he was getting from "Tobey" and the album's "Guilty Conscience 2".^[32]

Upon the release of "Tobey", the song debuted in multiple countries. "Tobey" peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100^[33] and number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[34] Additionally, it peaked at number 23 on the Global 200.^[35] In both the UK and Australia, it peaked at number 29 on their singles charts^[36][37] and number seven on their hip-hop singles charts.^[38][39] Elsewhere, "Tobey" charted in Canada,^[40] New Zealand,^[41] Switzerland,^[42] Greece,^[43] Ireland,^[44] Finland,^[45] Austria,^[46] Germany,^[47] Slovakia,^[48] Sweden,^[49] Lithuania,^[50] the Netherlands,^[51] the Czech Republic,^[52] and Portugal.^[53] On December 10, 2024, Music Canada certified the song as Gold for exceeding 40,000 units.^[54] By the end of 2024, "Tobey" ranked at number 86 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year-end chart.^[55]

Credits were adapted from Tidal^[13] and the liner notes of The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).^[56]

Locations

• Recorded at Effigy Studios, Detroit, Michigan
• Recorded at The Hip Hop Lab Studios, Warren, Michigan
• Recorded at Don Life Studios

Musicians

• Eminem – primary artist, vocals, songwriter, additional producer
• Big Sean – primary artist, vocals, songwriter
• BabyTron – primary artist, vocals, songwriter
• Luis Resto – keyboards, songwriter
• Cole Bennett – producer, songwriter
• Carlton McDowell – producer, songwriter
• Daniyel – producer, songwriter
• John Nocito – producer, songwriter
• Marvy Ayy – producer, songwriter

Technical

• Mike Strange – recording engineer, mixing engineer
• Tony Campana – recording engineer
• Tom Kahre – recording engineer
• Milan Becker – recording engineer
• Brian Gardner – mastering engineer
• James Johnson – recording engineer