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Killshot (song)

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This article is about the Eminem song. For the Ben Frost song, see By the Throat (Ben Frost album).

"Killshot"
Single by Eminem
ReleasedSeptember 14, 2018
RecordedSeptember 2018
Genre
Length4:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)IllaDaProducer
Eminem singles chronology
"Fall"
(2018) 		"Killshot"
(2018) 		"Venom"
(2018)

"Killshot" is a diss track written and recorded by American rapper Eminem. It was released on September 14, 2018, through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, amidst his feud with American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It serves as Eminem's response to Kelly's diss track "Rap Devil".

Primarily produced by Illa da Producer, "Killshot" is a grimy hip hop track composed of a minimalist beat with sharp piano keys and a deep bassline.[1] Its lyrics directly target Kelly, mocking his appearance, career, and lyrical abilities while addressing his critiques from "Rap Devil". Eminem also brings up his longevity in the music industry and his influence on younger artists. The track further criticizes Kelly for trying to use their feud to elevate his career.

"Killshot" was met with widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised Eminem's lyrical prowess and delivery. It broke the record for the biggest YouTube debut for a hip hop song, accumulating 38.1 million views within 24 hours. "Killshot" debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Eminem's highest-charting single of 2018. It also topped the charts in Ireland and peaked in the top 10 in several other countries, including Canada and New Zealand.

Background and release

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In 2012, Machine Gun Kelly posted a tweet about Eminem's daughter, Hailie Mathers (who was then sixteen). The tweet read, "ok so I just saw a picture of Eminem's daughter...and I have to say, she is hot as fuck, in the most respectful way possible cuz Em is king". MGK claimed to apologize to Eminem behind the scenes. After this, in 2015, MGK claimed that Eminem banned him from going to Shade 45, a SiriusXM radio station owned by Eminem. In 2017, MGK was on Power 106 FM and did a freestyle with The LA Leakers. During this, he again claimed Eminem had banned him from Shade 45. MGK also collaborated on a song with Tech N9ne in March 2018, and sent disses towards Eminem. On August 31, 2018, Eminem released a surprise album Kamikaze in which he dissed several artists, including MGK.

On the song "Not Alike" from Kamikaze, Eminem made several disses aimed at MGK. Two days later, MGK responded to "Not Alike" with the song "Rap Devil", releasing a music video for the song as well on September 3, 2018. After MGK's response, Eminem released an interview with Sway Calloway, in which Eminem was asked about the feud. Eminem explained that he did not want to respond initially, because it would just benefit MGK's exposure. On September 14, 2018, Eminem released "Killshot".[2] On September 19, 2018, the song was officially released as a single.

Critical reception

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Vulture said "Eminem's Machine Gun Kelly response is the best he's sounded in half a decade".[3]

Commercial performance

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"Killshot" debuted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its first week[4] after gaining over 38.1 million views within the first 24 hours of releasing on YouTube, making it the nineteenth most-viewed video in the first 24 hours, and the most for an audio only release on the YouTube platform.[5] It also held the biggest YouTube debut for a hip hop video ever, surpassing Kanye West's and Lil Pump's "I Love It", beating the record just the week before.[6] This was beaten by 6ix9ine's debut of "Gooba" in 2020.[7][8]

As of September 2024, "Killshot" has been viewed on YouTube over 484 million times, with over 6.7 million likes.[9]

Response

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Machine Gun Kelly responded in a tweet, criticizing Eminem for what he perceived as a slow response.[10] In reality, Eminem likely waited to publish the track so that it was released on the anniversary of Patrick Swayze's death, referencing a line on the track. Rapper Jay Electronica criticized Eminem for a line in the song where he jokingly accused Diddy of having Tupac killed.[11] After this, Electronica had then deactivated his social media profiles.[12] Rapper Iggy Azalea's name was dropped in the song and she let out a series of tweets reacting to and criticizing the lyrics, calling the bars "lazy".[13] Halsey also responded to her name being dropped in reference to her relationship with rapper G-Eazy in a tweet saying, "I'm jus saying my pops had to hear a grown man talk about his daughter getting fucked while that man simultaneously defended his own daughter." She later added, "I'm not proud. I just don't care. They can argue about record sales. My album sold more copies than each of theirs."[14]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[40] Platinum 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[43] Platinum 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 14, 2018 Streaming (YouTube–Audiomack exclusive)
[45]
September 19, 2018 Digital download [46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Genius (September 14, 2018). Eminem's "KILLSHOT" Explained – Song Stories. Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Lamarre, Carl (September 14, 2018). "Eminem Fires Back at Machine Gun Kelly With Blistering Diss Record 'Killshot'". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Lockett, Dee (September 14, 2018). "Eminem's Machine Gun Kelly Response Is the Best He's Sounded in Half a Decade". Vulture.
  4. ^ Trust, Gary (September 24, 2018). "Maroon 5 & Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Hits No. 1 on Hot 100, Eminem & 5 Seconds of Summer New to Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Lynch, John (September 18, 2018). "Eminem's new diss track had the biggest debut of a hip-hop song in YouTube's history". Business Insider. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. ^ Pedrosa, Marina (September 18, 2018). "Eminem's 'Killshot' Has the Biggest YouTube Debut for a Hip-Hop Video Ever". Business Insider. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Tekashi 6ix9ine Breaks Records On YouTube And Instagram In Comeback". May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Tekashi 6ix9ine's 'GOOBA' breaks YouTube record for biggest 24-hour debut in hip-hop". NME. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "KILLSHOT [Official Audio]". Eminem. YouTube. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. ^ C. Vernon Coleman II (September 15, 2018). "Machine Gun Kelly Calls Eminem's "Killshot" Diss Trash – XXL". XXL. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  11. ^ Mojica, Nick (September 14, 2018). "Jay Electronica Slams Eminem for Accusing Diddy of Killing Tupac – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Price, Joe (September 17, 2018). "Jay Electronica Deactivates Social Media Profiles After Issuing Warning to Eminem". Complex. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  13. ^ Zidel, Alex (September 14, 2018). "Iggy Azalea Reacts To Being Name-Dropped On Eminem's 'KILLSHOT'". HotNewHipHop.
  14. ^ "Did Halsey Respond to Her Name-Drop in Eminem & Machine Gun Kelly's Feud?".
  15. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Eminem – Killshot" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  17. ^ "Eminem – Killshot" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  19. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  20. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "Eminem – Killshot" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 38/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  24. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  25. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Eminem". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  26. ^ "2018 39-os SAVAITĖS (rugsėjo 21 – 27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "Eminem – Killshot" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  28. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  29. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". VG-lista. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  30. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  33. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  34. ^ "Eminem – Killshot". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  36. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  37. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  38. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  40. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – Killshot" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  41. ^ "Danish single certifications – Eminem – Killshot". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  42. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – Killshot". Radioscope. Retrieved December 18, 2024. Type Killshot in the "Search:" field.
  43. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Eminem – Killshot" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  44. ^ "British single certifications – Eminem – Killshot". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  45. ^ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com.
  46. ^ "Killshot". Spotify. September 19, 2018.
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