Caterpillar (song)
"Caterpillar" | ||||
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Royce da 5'9" featuring Eminem and King Green | ||||
from the album Book of Ryan | ||||
Released | May 3, 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2017 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:43 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Royce da 5'9" singles chronology | ||||
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Eminem singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Caterpillar" on YouTube |
"Caterpillar" is a song by American rapper
Background
The single was released to iTunes and Royce da 5'9"'s YouTube Vevo channel on May 3, 2018. Its release was accompanied with a music video. According to Royce, "I knew as soon as I heard the beat, I knew I wanted [Eminem] on there."[1]
A remix, featuring American rapper
Composition
The intro of the song samples "Introduction / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron.[3] The song finds Royce da 5'9" and Eminem rapping over an "organ-driven" boom bap beat, with King Green on the chorus.[4] Eminem takes aim at mumble rap, rapping: "The boom bap is coming back / With an ax to mumble rap".[5] In an interview with Rap-Up, Royce said:
The basic theme of the song is, "Don't disrespect the caterpillar to praise the butterfly." Marshall falls a little bit more into that category than I do, but both of us are caterpillars. A lot of times, you'll praise these guys but gotta tear us down… But where do you think his style came from?[6]
Critical reception
The song has been described as the return of Bad Meets Evil, the duo that the two rappers had formed. Israel Daramola of Spin called the song a "throwback record to the jazzy, hard rapping style of the '90s, acting as a vehicle for Royce and Em to exercise their lyrical prowess."[5] Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard writes that "Royce and Em attack the boom-bap beat with furious intensity."[7] Ralph Bristout of Revolt describes the song as a "nearly five-minute display of rap calisthenics."[8]
Music video
The music video was filmed in
Track listing
- Digital Download
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Caterpillar" (featuring | 4:43 |
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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US | 13 |
References
- ^ Clark, Trent (May 3, 2018). "Royce Da 5'9 & Eminem Lyrically Spaz In "Caterpillar" Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- Complex. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ Royce da 5'9" - "Caterpillar" Footnotes ft. Eminem
- ^ DeVito, Lee (May 3, 2018). "Royce Da 5'9" drops 'Caterpillar' featuring Eminem". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on 2018-05-03.
- ^ a b Daramola, Israel (2018-05-03). "Video: Royce da 5'9" & Eminem - "Caterpillar"". Spin. Archived from the original on 2018-05-04.
- ^ "Exclusive: Royce da 5'9" Reveals Eminem & Logic Collaborations". Rap-Up. April 26, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-27.
- ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (May 3, 2018). "Royce Da 5'9" and Eminem Release Fiery New Single 'Caterpillar'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2018-05-04.
- ^ Bristout, Ralph (2018-05-03). "New Music: Royce da 5'9" and Eminem deliver rap justice on "Caterpillar"". REVOLT. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (2018-05-04). "See Royce Da 5'9", Eminem Reteam for New 'Caterpillar' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2018-10-29.
- ^ "Royce da 59 Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.