The Ringer (song) explained

The Ringer
Type:song
Artist:Eminem
Album:Kamikaze
Released:August 31, 2018
Recorded:2018
Genre:Hip hop
Length:[1]
Label:
Producer:

"The Ringer" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his album Kamikaze (2018).[2] [3] The album’s opener, it was not released as a single but debuted in the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. [4]

Contents

See also: Donald Trump in music.

In the song, Eminem attacks the contemporary hip hop scene, mainly artists who perform mumble rap. A few rappers he calls out on the track are Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, Lil Xan, Machine Gun Kelly, Vince Staples, NF and Iggy Azalea. He also attacks the critics who gave his previous album, Revival, negative reviews. Finally, he sends shots at U.S. president Donald Trump, similar to the presidential critiques on Revival, calling Trump "Agent Orange" and referencing Eminem's freestyle rap "The Storm"[5] from the 2017 BET Awards.[6]

Secret Service interview

On the song, Eminem references the U.S. Secret Service visiting him in response to lyrics on Revival perceived to be threatening towards Trump. BuzzFeed filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Secret Service to find out if this was true. In October 2019, the agency revealed to BuzzFeed that, in response to an email from a TMZ employee pressing the Secret Service to investigate Eminem for his "threatening lyrics" about Ivanka Trump (on "Framed"), they had conducted a background check and arranged an interview, in which the interviewers read the verse out loud to Eminem—and he rapped along. The agency subsequently decided against referring the case to a federal prosecutor.[7]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8] 10
France (SNEP)[9] 36
Greece Digital International Singles (IFPI)[10] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Ringer - Eminem on Spotify . August 31, 2018 . Spotify . September 14, 2018.
  2. Web site: Eminem Drops a Surprise Album, Raps About Venom . Hughes . William . . August 31, 2018 . September 14, 2018.
  3. Web site: Eminem Drops Surprise Album "Kamikaze . Park . Andrea . September 1, 2018 . CBS News.
  4. Web site: Eminem Drops New Album Kamikaze . . Nyren . Erin . August 30, 2018 . September 14, 2018.
  5. Web site: Eminem Addresses Trump Rap in Surprise Album Kamikaze . Victor . Daniel . . September 14, 2018 . August 31, 2018.
  6. Web site: Eminem Unleashes Freestyle Rap Attack on 'Kamikaze, Racist, Orange' Trump . September 14, 2018 . Livsey . Anna . . October 11, 2017.
  7. Web site: Leopold . Jason . October 24, 2019 . TMZ Emailed The Secret Service About Eminem's Trump Lyrics. Agents Then Investigated The Rapper. . October 25, 2019 . BuzzFeed News.
  8. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 36, 2018. Hitlisten. September 14, 2018.
  9. Web site: Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) – Semaine du 07 Septembre 2018. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. September 14, 2018.
  10. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 36/2018. September 17, 2018. September 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917140152/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html. IFPI Greece.
  11. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 17, 2018. September 14, 2018.
  12. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. September 14, 2018.
  13. Drake's 'In My Feelings' Leads Hot 100 For Ninth Week. Billboard. Trust. Gary. September 10, 2018. September 14, 2018.