Eminem released a new song on Friday after a social media campaign by Generation Z TikTok users who sought to cancel the Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper because of some of his controversial lyrics.
The musical artist shared part of the lyrics of the track, which seems to address the reaction, on Twitter.
“I will not stop even when my hair goes gray (I am deaf to shades) / Because they will not stop until they cancel me,” Eminem wrote alongside a preview of the new video with lyrics from “Tone Deaf”.
The controversy started in February, when a Generation Z TikTok user argued the rapper’s 2010 hit “Love The Way You Lie” glorifies toxic relationships and domestic violence.
The hip-hop ballad, which features chart-topping artist Rihanna, describes the dangerous cycle of being trapped in an abusive relationship and the tug of war between love and hate that comes with it. The song was released after the two artists became involved in abusive public relationships, Rihanna with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown and Eminem with ex-wife Kim Scott.
Fans of Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, defended the rapper on social media and opposed members of Generation Z, those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010.
In a tweet this week, “The View” co-host Meghan McCain wrote, “Eminem will not be canceled. Come to me Z’s.”
Throughout his career, Eminem has overcome countless controversies, including celebrity feuds, allegations of homophobia in some of his lyrics and pleading guilty to possession of a concealed weapon and assault in 2001.
The Secret Service interviewed him on at least two separate occasions, while examining “threatening letters” addressed to former presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
The Detroit rapper seems to address his ability to overcome controversies in “Tone Deaf”, jokingly, blaming his alter ego, Slim Shady, for his tumultuous bars and promising never to change his artistic choices due to public pressure.
Despite the latest reaction on social media, one of Eminem’s most popular songs, “Lose Yourself”, recently exceeded 1 billion streams on Spotify. The 2002 track was the first single from the soundtrack to his semi-autobiographical film “8 Mile”. The song earned him an Oscar for best original song.
