Killshot (song)

{{About|the Eminem song|other songs|Killshot (disambiguation)#Music}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Killshot

| cover = Eminem Killshot.jpg

| border = yes

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Eminem

| released = September 14, 2018

| recorded = September 2018

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|hardcore hip hop|trap}}

| length = {{duration|m=4|s=13}}

| label = {{hlist|Shady|Aftermath|Interscope}}

| writer = {{hlist|Marshall Mathers}}

| producer = IllaDaProducer

| chronology = Eminem

| prev_title = Fall

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title = Venom

| next_year = 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.{{Cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7HrROdGdGc| title = Eminem's "KILLSHOT" Explained – Song Stories| date = September 14, 2018| access-date = September 18, 2018| via = YouTube| author = Genius| author-link = Genius (website)}} Its lyrics 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. The song charted at number one in Canada while reaching the top 10 in Hungary, New Zealand, and the United States as well as the top 20 in Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Scotland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.

Background and release

In 2012, Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) 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".{{cite magazine| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8475269/eminem-machine-gun-kelly-diss-record-killshot| title = Eminem Fires Back at Machine Gun Kelly With Blistering Diss Record 'Killshot'| last = Lamarre| first = Carl| magazine = Billboard| date = September 14, 2018| access-date = September 15, 2018}} On September 19, 2018, the song was officially released as a single.

Critical reception

Vulture said "Eminem's Machine Gun Kelly response is the best he's sounded in half a decade".{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/09/eminems-machine-gun-kelly-diss-killshot-review.html|title=Eminem's Machine Gun Kelly Response Is the Best He's Sounded in Half a Decade|first=Dee|last=Lockett|date=September 14, 2018|website=Vulture}}

Commercial performance

"Killshot" debuted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its first week{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8476577/maroon-5-girls-like-you-hot-100-number-one-cardi-b|title=Maroon 5 & Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Hits No. 1 on Hot 100, Eminem & 5 Seconds of Summer New to Top 10|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=September 24, 2018|access-date=September 25, 2018}} 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.{{cite news| last = Lynch| first = John| title = Eminem's new diss track had the biggest debut of a hip-hop song in YouTube's history| url = https://www.businessinsider.com/eminem-killshot-diss-biggest-hip-hop-debut-in-youtube-history-2018-9| access-date = September 18, 2018| work = Business Insider| date = September 18, 2018}} 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.{{cite news| last = Pedrosa| first = Marina| title = Eminem's 'Killshot' Has the Biggest YouTube Debut for a Hip-Hop Video Ever| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8475838/eminem-killshot-biggest-youtube-hip-hop-debut| access-date = September 19, 2018| work = Business Insider| date = September 18, 2018}} This was beaten by 6ix9ine's debut of "Gooba" in 2020.{{cite web |title=Tekashi 6ix9ine Breaks Records On YouTube And Instagram In Comeback |date=May 11, 2020 |url=https://theblast.com/129828/tekashi-6ix9ine-breaks-records-on-youtube-and-instagram-in-comeb |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605075149/https://theblast.com/129828/tekashi-6ix9ine-breaks-records-on-youtube-and-instagram-in-comeb |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Tekashi 6ix9ine's 'GOOBA' breaks YouTube record for biggest 24-hour debut in hip-hop |website=NME |date=May 10, 2020 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/tekashi-6ix9ine-gooba-breaks-youtube-record-biggest-24-hour-debut-hip-hop-2663173 |access-date=May 15, 2020}}

As of December 2024, "Killshot" has been viewed on YouTube over 489 million times, with over 6.7 million likes.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxQTY-W6GIo|title=KILLSHOT [Official Audio]|publisher=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402153547/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxQTY-W6GIo|access-date=May 28, 2022|url-status=live|work=Eminem|archive-date=April 2, 2022}}

Response

Machine Gun Kelly responded in a tweet, criticizing Eminem for what he perceived as a slow response.{{cite news| author = C. Vernon Coleman II| title = Machine Gun Kelly Calls Eminem's "Killshot" Diss Trash – XXL| url = http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/09/machine-gun-kelly-calls-eminems-killshot-diss-trash-preps-binge-ep/| access-date = September 16, 2018| work = XXL | date = September 15, 2018}} Rapper Jay Electronica criticized Eminem for a line in the song where he jokingly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of having Tupac Shakur killed.{{cite news| last = Mojica| first = Nick| title = Jay Electronica Slams Eminem for Accusing Diddy of Killing Tupac – XXL| url = http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/09/jay-electronica-warns-eminem-tread-carefully-after-accusing-diddy-having-tupac-shakur-killed/| access-date = September 16, 2018| work = XXL Mag| date = September 14, 2018}} After this, Electronica had then deactivated his social media profiles.{{cite news| last = Price| first = Joe| title = Jay Electronica Deactivates Social Media Profiles After Issuing Warning to Eminem| url = https://www.complex.com/music/2018/09/jay-electronica-disappears-from-twitter-after-eminem-warning| access-date = September 18, 2018| work = Complex| date = September 17, 2018}} 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".{{cite news |last=Zidel|first=Alex|title=Iggy Azalea Reacts To Being Name-Dropped On Eminem's 'KILLSHOT'|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/iggy-azalea-reacts-to-being-name-dropped-on-eminems-killshot-news.59796.html|work=HotNewHipHop|date=September 14, 2018}} 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-09-17-did-halsey-respond-to-her-name-drop-in-eminem-machine-gun-kellys-feud/|title = Did Halsey Respond to Her Name-Drop in Eminem & Machine Gun Kelly's Feud?}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{single chart\|Australia\|11\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|42\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 4, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|29\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 13, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|1\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 25, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|27\|year=2018\|week=39\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 2, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Denmark\|31\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 3, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|81\|songid=1795256\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 28, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI){{cite web\|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html\|publisher=IFPI Greece\|access-date=October 1, 2018\|title=Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 38/2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001175029/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html\|archive-date=October 1, 2018}} \| 8
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|6\|year=2018\|week=38\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 28, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Hungarystream\|15\|year=2018\|week=39\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 5, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Ireland3\|17\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/savaites-klausomiausi-47-2/\|title=2018 39-os SAVAITĖS (rugsėjo 21 – 27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100\|language=lt\|publisher=AGATA\|date=September 28, 2018\|access-date=June 3, 2021\|archive-date=October 9, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009182025/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/savaites-klausomiausi/\|url-status=live}} \| 11
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|76\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|6\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 28, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|18\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Portugal\|46\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 6, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|11\|date=20180928\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Slovakdigital2\|16\|year=2018\|week=39\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 2, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|23\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 28, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|30\|artist=Eminem\|song=Killshot\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 1, 2018}}
{{single chart\|UK\|13\|date=20180928\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|3\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 30, 2022}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|2\|artist=Eminem\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 25, 2018}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 31, 2018}}

| 83

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=June 29, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Eminem|title=Killshot|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=August 16, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Eminem|title=Killshot|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|id=14203|access-date=July 31, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Eminem|title=Killshot|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 18, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Eminem|title=Killshot|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Eminem|title=Killshot|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=August 26, 2022|id=15690-438-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Country ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\| Various \| September 14, 2018 \| Streaming {{small\|(YouTube–Audiomack exclusive)}} \| rowspan="2"\| {{hlist\|Shady\|Aftermath\|Interscope}} \| {{Cite web\|url=https://audiomack.com/eminem/song/killshot\|title=Audiomack \| Free Music Sharing and Discovery\|website=audiomack.com}}
September 19, 2018 \| Digital download \| {{Cite web\|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1jo3TwNGCXfNdB5uba3ZVv?si=Rb0whht1QNuFss7MqVPNGQ\|title = Killshot\| website=Spotify \|date = September 19, 2018}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Country

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various

| September 14, 2018

| Streaming {{small|(YouTube–Audiomack exclusive)}}

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Shady|Aftermath|Interscope}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://audiomack.com/eminem/song/killshot|title=Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery|website=audiomack.com}}

September 19, 2018

| Digital download

| {{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1jo3TwNGCXfNdB5uba3ZVv?si=Rb0whht1QNuFss7MqVPNGQ|title = Killshot| website=Spotify |date = September 19, 2018}}