The Meaning of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" - Extra Chill (2023)

Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" is fueled by frustration with rifts between hip-hop artists and, in particular, his own rifts with rappers Ja Rule and Benzino, then editor ofThe source🇧🇷 The track appeared on their 2004 album.bis,and samples from the 1988 song Martika,"Toy Soldiers".

"Like Toy Soldiers" features two extended verses in which Eminem raps darkly over a spare drum beat. First, however, we hear the chorus in which the "Toy Soldiers"Searchenter the game:"Step by step, heart to heart, left, right, left / We all fall like tin soldiers."

In the context of the song, toy soldiers represent hip hop artists who fight as if they are controlled by outside forces, such as their friends or the desire to sell records. Eminem suggests that participating in these fights often depresses everyone involved, as he will explore in the verses.

In the first verse, Eminem explains his reasons for writing the song and expresses his frustration with where things had gotten to in his own feuds and the general state of the hip-hop community at the time.

Eminem has never been one to shy away from public confrontation, we hear more"O Real Slim Shady",but this time he went too far:

I should be the soldier who never loses his composure
Even if I carry the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
I should never show this, my team shouldn't know
Even if it means crashing head-on into a Benzino, it doesn't matter.
I would never drag her into battles I can't handle unless absolutely necessary.
I must make an example
I must be the leader, my team expects me to lead them.
If something happens, you must be with them.

First verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (1/3).

Eminem starts by referencing two songs from his previous album, 2002.o show do eminem:"Soldier"y"Hailies mentiu."He then refers to himself as the leader of his team, which was then D12, and laments the fact that he can't show his inner struggles externally and regrets dragging others into his arguments with other rappers, most notably the rapper andThose onesPartner-owner of Benzino.

Benzino and Eminem's feud dates back to 2002 when Benzino released a diss song by Eminem called"I don't want"🇧🇷 After that it got hotterThose onesThey played the very popular Eminem album.Die Marshall Mathers-LPa mic review 2/5 (later up to 4, Em still didn't like it), and Benzino started to screw it up"are"Rappers in the press.

Their bullshit has lasted for many years, although Benzino tried in 2022finish it.

What spawned "Like Toy Soldiers," however, was Benzino's threat to Eminem's daughter Hailie on his 2003 diss track."Better Lose You"along with Ja Rule's use of his name later that year. On Benzino's "Better Lose Yourself" raps:"Tell Hailie it ain't safe anymore (nah) / Daddy better watch you at the candy store."

We see this in the next part of the verse:

You see, shit, I tried to crush him, it was too late to stop him.
There's a certain line you just don't cross, and he crossed it.
I heard him say Hailie's name in a song and I lost my mind.
It was crazy, this shit went way beyond any Jay Z and Nas shit
And though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it
I've put so much energy into it that, to be honest, I'm exhausted.
And I'm so wrapped up in this that I almost feel like I caused this.
That's not why I'm in hip-hop, that's not why I got into it.

First verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (2/3).

Ja Rule further encouraged him with the song."small change"later in 2003. "Loose Change", Ja Rule sings:"Um, you say your mom's a crackhead / and Kim's a known slut / So what's Hailie going to be when she grows up?"

Ja Rule started the feud after Eminem signed 50 Centobscure recordsin 2002, and they traded a few punches until Ja went too far with "Loose Change" and Eminem countered with a"Ave Maria"over Tupac's famous beat where he absolutely shreds Ja Rule along with 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. Look this:

"Loose Change" is considered by many to be the moment Ja Rule kick-started his career, as the backlash from Eminem & Co greatly overwhelms and humiliates him. Ja Rule took a hiatus from music in 2005 and has never been in the spotlight since.

Next, Eminem refers to the famousJay-Z e Nas Beef, which was much more innocent in comparison. He then acknowledges his Ja Rule Beef win, but explains that he's not exactly proud, just exhausted, and that it didn't even feel like a win to him.

Eminem's frustration is fueled somewhat by the fear that things will get worse and someone will get killed over his rants or other rants that were going on in hip-hop at the time:

It was never my goal to kill anyone.
Why would I want to destroy something I helped build?
It wasn't my intention, my intention was good.
I went my entire career without mentioning it
And that was just out of respect for not opening her mouth.
And talk about something I didn't know
Also, Dre said to stay out, it's just not my thing.
So I did, just leaned back and watched and gritted my teeth.
While talking on TV about a man who literally saved my life.
Fuck it, I get that's the deal
And that shit is none of my business
But I still know this shit can start anytime

First verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (3/3).

Here he refers to one who was killed as if it happened on account of these disputes, but in fact it was not. D12 memberbugzhe was murdered in 1999, but that had nothing to do with a piece of meat. Some people assume this was a reference to Proof, but that was 2004 andThe death of evidenceIt wasn't until 2006.

Since we're talking beef, and Eminem getting ready to make a Suge Knight reference, it's safe to assume that Eminem was referring to the deaths of Biggie and Tupac, both killed as a result of hip-hop beef. jump. distant

When he sings about going through his"whole career without ever being mentioned" (blank)", Suge would be the word you would have said, as it rhymes with "good" in the line above.

Here's what says Dr. Dre was struggling at the time, and apparently Dre asked Eminem to stay out of it. Eminem fell for this because of his love for Dr. Dre. He did it, hard, but he compromised out of respect.

Eminem closes the verse by acknowledging that fights are often made for the public and that they are just part of the hip-hop business. Still, he feels things could get worse at any moment, and so he lets that lovely refrain continue.

This brings us to the second verse, where Eminem starts reminiscing about hip-hop's better days:

In the past you could only say one rhyme
And I wouldn't have to worry about one of them dying.
But now it's elevated because you put someone's children on it.
Shit escalates, it's not just words anymore, is it?
It's a different game, you name names and you don't just rap

(Video) Eminem - Mockingbird [Official Music Video]

Second verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (1/4)

Once again, Eminem goes back to the fact that these rappers used his daughter's name in their songs and took things to the next level. He says as soon as you bring someone's kids into the business it gets serious and it's not just hip-hop anymore and it's about life. What Eminem is saying here is that the situation he's in is the kind of situation where people die, and he really doesn't want it to come to that.

Below, Eminem shares more details about the fight that ended Ja Rule's career and how it all started:

In fact, we try to avoid 50 and yes beef.
Dre and I sat with him and kicked him and talked to him.
And he asked him not to start, he would not chase him.
Until Ja started babbling in magazines about how we stabbed him.
Fuck 50 Smash It! Put it down and let her have it
My attention was now drawn in another direction.
A receptionist at The Source, on the phone at her desk.
I have the hots for me and he thinks I'll be his resurrection.
He tries to dust off the mic and record a new record.
But now it spoiled the game because one of the ways I came up with
Through this release, it was the same thing that made me famous.
Now the owner holds a grudge against me for nothing
Fuck it, that motherfucker can get it too, so fuck it

Second verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (2/4).

Yes rule and 50 cents had onebeef for a long timedating back to 1999 and intensified when 50 Centwas stabbedin 2000, during a fight with some employees of Ja Rules Murder, Inc.. Eminem claims to have sat down with 50 Cent and tried to avoid the beef, but Ja Rule started talking about it.in magazines🇧🇷 Afterwards, Eminem encourages 50 Cent to get involved with Ja Rule, and of course, he gets involved himself.

Eminem then explains how he handles two fights at once and mentions something about a receptionist.The sourcethat started with himMarshall Mathers LP-Rezensão🇧🇷 Eminem says the author doesn't understand that with readersThe sourceloves it and the magazine made it famous so they shoot themselves in the foot by destroying it.

He finally takes it to Benzino, expressing his frustration at having started a fight with him for no reason. This is true, and Benzino's Beef with Eminem was widely seen as a publicity stunt, even though it led to the downfall ofThe source(as it was known at the time) and Benzino's resignation from the magazine.

Then Eminem takes to the streets again and shows some more love to his homies at D12, the "soldiers":

But I'm so busy pissed off I can't stop thinking
That we just inherited the '50s beef with Murder Inc
And he inherited mine, which is fine, we both don't care
We still have soldiers standing at the front.
It's ready to die for us as soon as we give the orders.
Never to blackmail us, but to show that they support us.
We could scream in a rap or a chorus
To show them that we love them and let them know how important it is
Have Runyan Avenue soldiers on our street corners
Your loyalty to us is worth more than any award

Second verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (3/4).

With this piece, Eminem once again draws attention to the fucked up nature of the hip-hop game. He mentions that he and 50 Cent have these soldiers on the street who would do anything for them, including death for just one scream in a song.

It's a little menacing, but it's also Eminem's way of showing appreciation for the people who have been there for him since the beginning. Give a special shout out to the Runyan Ave Soldiers, a hip hop group made up of members of D12 and friends from Eminem's hometown of Detroit.With Artist and Craftsman.

Finally, Eminem closes with a peace offering, but certainly not an apology:

But I'm not going to try to make sure none of my people are hurt and killed.
Not worth it, I can't think of a more perfect way to put it.
Than just saying I love you too much to see the verdict
I'll walk away from anything before I let it go any further
But don't twist it, it's not a plea I copy
I'm ready to be the biggest man
If you can stop jumping in the pines, well I can
Because honestly, I'm tired of talking
I will not let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience.

Second verse of Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" (4/4).

In his final text, Eminem strives to end all of his fights in one fell swoop because, again, he doesn't want the situation to escalate to the point of killing someone. He sends love to his enemies, even those who despise him, but he makes it clear when he says that he is not the one failing.

Basically, Eminem tells Ja Rule and Benzino to quit and assures them that if they quit, so will he. What he's implying, though, is that if Eminem's family is mentioned again, someone will get killed, and he certainly doesn't want to see that.

Looking back on this song nearly 20 years after its release, none of the people involved in this fight have died as a result. "Like Toy Soldiers" is considered one of the best songs of Eminem's long and storied career, and the rappers definitely are.still shaking.

Check out Eminem's music video for Like Toy Soldiers below.