Fall

"Fall" is a multi-layered song that serves as the centerpiece of Eminem's aggressive rebuttal on the album Kamikaze. The primary meaning of the song is a direct and furious response to the widespread criticism of his 2017 album, Revival. Eminem uses "Fall" to address his critics head-on, including journalists, media personalities like DJ Akademiks, and fellow rappers such as Joe Budden and Tyler, the Creator. The title itself is a metaphor for the fear and accusation of 'falling off'—losing relevance and skill—which he defiantly rejects. The song's core message is one of resilience and a reassertion of his dominance and lyrical skill in the hip-hop landscape.

Beyond the personal attacks, "Fall" also critiques the state of modern hip-hop. Eminem expresses his frustration with what he perceives as a decline in lyrical substance and originality, calling out newer artists for having derivative styles. He positions himself as a guardian of a more complex, lyrical form of rap, separating the "sheep from goats" and emphasizing that he writes all of his own material, a jab at artists rumored to use ghostwriters. The song is also an introspective look at his own legacy. He acknowledges his place as an elder statesman who inspired a new generation of top-tier lyricists but simultaneously feels the need to prove he is still at the peak of his powers. The emotional undercurrent is one of anger, frustration, and deep-seated insecurity masked by an aggressive and confident exterior.

The song is a direct and aggressive confrontation with the music world, framed as a response to the negative reception of Eminem's previous album, Revival. It opens with him acknowledging the widespread criticism he's faced, deciding it's his turn to voice his opinions on them. He contrasts his past as an addict with his current workaholic mentality, giving a nod to Dr. Dre. He declares that this time, no one, not even his long-time manager Paul Rosenberg or Dr. Dre, will censor what he has to say. He feels that people have forgotten he's the same artist who made empowering anthems like "Not Afraid" and now he's re-engaging in rap battles. He dismisses contemporary rappers as unoriginal, accusing them of copying the styles of Migos and Drake.

The central theme of the song is Eminem's refusal to 'fall off' or decline in relevance. The hook, sung by Justin Vernon, is a plea: "Don't fall on my face, Don't fall on my faith, oh." Eminem takes aim at specific critics. He targets Joe Budden, a former collaborator on Shady Records, and media personality DJ Akademiks for their harsh critiques of his work. He also attacks Lord Jamar for questioning his place in hip-hop culture. The most controversial part of the song is a direct insult towards Tyler, the Creator, where he uses a homophobic slur. This lyric addresses Tyler's earlier criticism of his music, but in a way that sparked significant public backlash. Eminem frames these attacks as a necessary response to the disrespect he feels he has received, asserting that any critic must be at his level of skill or better to have a valid opinion.

He continues by mocking the Grammy Awards, accusing them of exploiting popular artists for views only to give the main awards to lesser-known acts, and dismisses the credibility of ghostwriters in hip-hop. He positions himself as a genuine lyricist who writes every word he performs. The song becomes a declaration of his purpose: he does it for the kids who look up to him, who listen to his music in their mirrors and find inspiration. He compares his lyrical prowess to carrying an Oxford dictionary and boasts about the new generation of successful rappers he inspired, such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Big Sean. The track concludes with a defiant assertion of his legacy and his determination to remain at the top of the rap game, refusing to fall despite the immense pressure and criticism. The final moments of the accompanying music video show him stepping on and crushing a CD case for his album Revival, symbolizing that he has moved past the criticism and is reborn in this new, aggressive persona.

"Fall" was created for Eminem's tenth studio album, Kamikaze, which was released as a surprise on August 31, 2018. The album itself was a direct reaction to the negative critical and fan reception of his previous album, Revival, released just eight months prior. The recording for Kamikaze took place between January and August 2018 at Effigy Studios in Ferndale, Michigan. The song was produced by Mike Will Made It, with additional production by Eminem himself. The credited writers are Marshall Mathers (Eminem), Michael Williams II (Mike Will Made It), Luis Resto, BJ Burton, and Justin Vernon.

A key feature of the song is the uncredited chorus vocals from Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Vernon's involvement became a point of controversy. He stated on social media that he was not in the studio with Eminem when the track was made; his contribution originated from a separate session with producer BJ Burton and Mike Will. After hearing the final song and its controversial lyrics, particularly the slur directed at Tyler, the Creator, Vernon distanced himself from its message. He expressed his disapproval, stating he had asked for the track to be changed, but his request was denied.

"Fall" was officially released as the album's first single on September 4, 2018, accompanied by a music video.

Eminem's approach to rhyme and rhythm in "Fall" is a masterclass in technical complexity, designed to underscore the song's aggressive and lyrically-focused nature. The song is not built on a simple, predictable rhyme scheme but rather a dense web of internal, multi-syllabic, and near rhymes. His flow is relentless and often feels like free verse in its structure, yet it is meticulously crafted.

The rhythmic delivery is characterized by its speed and syncopation. Eminem often raps slightly ahead of or behind the beat, creating a sense of urgency and tension. His verses are filled with intricate cadences where he crams a high number of syllables into a single bar, a technique that showcases his technical virtuosity. He utilizes assonance (repetition of vowel sounds) and consonance (repetition of consonant sounds) extensively to create a sense of internal cohesion and musicality, even when perfect rhymes are not used. For example, in the lines "Went from addict to a workaholic, word to Dr. Dre / In that first marijuana tape—guess I got a chronic case," the repetition of the 'a' and 'o' sounds ties the phrases together sonically.

The tempo is fast-paced, matching the lyrical onslaught. The rhythm of his rapping—the flow—is the dominant element of the track, often taking precedence over the beat itself. This interplay between his complex vocal rhythm and the more straightforward trap beat creates a dynamic tension that drives the song forward and emphasizes his lyrical dominance.

"Fall" showcases a range of Eminem's signature literary and musical techniques, all geared towards creating an aggressive, lyrically dense, and confrontational track.

• Vocal Delivery: Eminem employs an aggressive, rapid-fire vocal delivery. His tone is sharp and incisive, shifting in intensity to emphasize his anger and frustration. This contrasts with Justin Vernon's ethereal, falsetto hook, which creates a dynamic sonic and emotional juxtaposition.
• Multi-syllabic and Internal Rhymes: A hallmark of his style, the song is filled with complex rhyme schemes. He frequently uses multi-syllabic rhymes (rhyming multiple syllables across different words) and dense internal rhymes within single lines, creating a complex and rhythmic lyrical texture. For example: "You'd swear to God I've forgot I'm the guy that made 'Not Afraid' / One last time for Charlemagne."
• Allusion: The lyrics are packed with allusions to pop culture and hip-hop figures. He references the Hunger Games ("One minute they're mockin' Jay / Next minute, they get their style from Migos, then they copy Drake"), the Watergate scandal, and Jack the Ripper. These references serve to anchor his disses in a wider cultural context.
• Wordplay and Puns: Eminem uses extensive wordplay. A notable example is "I call it 'Walk on Watergate,'" a pun that merges his song "Walk on Water" with the political scandal. Another is when he tells the Grammys to "suck the blood from all the biggest artists like some leeches," then says "every parasite needs a host," a play on the host of an awards show.
• Musical Production: The beat, produced by Mike Will Made It, has a modern trap influence, characterized by its hard-hitting 808s and skittering hi-hats. This choice is stylistic in itself, as it places Eminem, a veteran artist, over a contemporary soundscape, subtly countering the criticism that he is out of touch with modern hip-hop.

"Fall" made a significant cultural splash upon its release, largely driven by the surprise nature of the Kamikaze album and its controversial content. The song was a focal point of discussion due to its numerous diss targets and, most notably, its use of a homophobic slur against rapper Tyler, the Creator. This lyric sparked widespread debate and condemnation from fans and fellow artists, including Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons. The controversy was amplified when the song's featured vocalist, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, publicly disavowed the song's message, stating he had unsuccessfully tried to get the lyric changed. Eminem later expressed regret for the slur in an interview, admitting he "went too far."

The song and its music video were also seen as a symbolic moment in Eminem's career, marking a deliberate return to his more aggressive, confrontational Slim Shady persona after the more pop-oriented and introspective Revival. The video's final shot of Eminem crushing the Revival CD was widely interpreted as him disowning his previous project and starting anew. Despite the controversy, Kamikaze debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and "Fall" was one of its most talked-about tracks, demonstrating Eminem's continued ability to command public attention and generate discourse within the hip-hop community and beyond.

The song "Fall" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its theme of defiance and conflict.

• The Title "Fall": The most central metaphor is the concept of the "fall" itself. It represents Eminem's potential career decline, the loss of his lyrical prowess, and his fall from the top of the rap hierarchy. The entire song is a powerful rejection of this idea, with the chorus pleading, "Don't fall on my face."
• Kamikaze/Aircraft Imagery: The song is part of the Kamikaze album, whose artwork pays homage to the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill, which features a crashing jet. This imagery of a kamikaze mission symbolizes a suicidal, all-or-nothing attack on his critics, where he is willing to self-destruct in order to take them down with him. This theme of a reckless, targeted assault permeates the song's aggressive tone.
• The Music Video's Demon: In the official music video, Eminem is haunted and eventually possessed by a dark, shadowy entity that emerges from his phone while he reads negative reviews. This demon symbolizes the negativity and hate from critics and social media, which first haunts him and then fuels his aggressive comeback, turning his eyes black and giving him a sinister power. His final act in the video is crushing the Revival CD case under his foot, symbolizing his destruction of the old, criticized version of himself and his rebirth as a more aggressive force.
• "Walk on Watergate": Eminem uses a clever pun, stating, "all the hate, I call it 'walk on watergate'". This metaphor combines his criticized song "Walk on Water" with the infamous Watergate scandal. It suggests that the controversy and criticism surrounding him are a manufactured political-like scandal, while also asserting his almost biblical ability to rise above it.

Several recurring motifs and phrases anchor the themes of "Fall" and the broader Kamikaze album.

• The Motif of Falling: The central motif is encapsulated in the title and the hook sung by Justin Vernon: "Don't fall on my face / Don't fall on my faith, oh / Don't fall on my fate." This phrase is repeated throughout the song, acting as both a plea and a point of defiance. It represents the central anxiety of the track—the fear of declining relevance and the pressure from critics predicting his downfall. Eminem's verses act as a direct response to this recurring fear, defiantly stating "I'm not gonna fall."
• Criticism and Response: The theme of receiving and responding to criticism is a constant throughout the song. It opens with Eminem acknowledging the negative feedback ("everybody's been tellin' me what they think about me for the last few months") and immediately pivots to his rebuttal ("Maybe it's time I tell 'em what I think about them"). This sets up the song as a direct dialogue with his detractors.
• Generational Divide: There is a recurring motif of a generational clash within hip-hop. Eminem repeatedly contrasts his lyrical style with that of newer rappers, whom he accuses of being unoriginal ("get their style from Migos, then they copy Drake"). He also positions himself as an inspiration for the current generation of top lyricists ("I inspired the Hopsins, the Logics, the Coles, the Seans, the K-Dots"), highlighting his complex position as both a veteran pioneer and a contemporary competitor.