Realest
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|2023 single by Ez Mil and Eminem}}
{{Other uses|The Realest (disambiguation){{!}}The Realest}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Realest
| cover = Ez Mil and Eminem - Realest.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| album = DU4LI7Y: REDUX
| released = August 4, 2023
| recorded = 2023
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 3:37
| label = * FFP
| writer = * Ezekiel Miller
| producer = * Ez Mil
- Eminem
| chronology = Ez Mil
| prev_title = Up Down (Step & Walk)
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Eminem
| type = single
| prev_title = Is This Love ('09) (Italy only)
From the D 2 the LBC
| prev_year = 2022
| title = Realest
| year = 2023
| next_title = Lace It
| next_year = 2023
}}
}}
"Realest" is a song by Filipino-American rapper Ez Mil and American rapper Eminem. It was released by FFP Records, Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records on August 4, 2023. It serves as the lead single to the deluxe edition of Ez Mil's 2022 studio album DU4LI7Y. The song's official lyric video was released to YouTube on August 11, 2023.
Background
"Realest" marks Ez Mil's major-label debut single and his first collaboration with Eminem. He was signed by Eminem and Dr. Dre to Shady, Aftermath, and Interscope in July 2023, making him the first artist to get signed to all three labels since Stat Quo.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/700646-eminem-the-game-realest|title=Eminem Takes Aim At The Game In New Ez Mil Song "Realest"|website=HotNewHipHop|last=Fisher|first=Caroline|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/ez-mil-eminem-dr-dre-shady-aftermath-interscope-label-3474058|title=Ez Mil signs with Eminem and Dr. Dre's Shady/Aftermath labels|website=NME|last=Singh|first=Surej|date=July 27, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023}}
According to Miller, he had already made the beat, the first verse, and the hook before knowing that he would be meeting Eminem and Dr. Dre.{{Cite web |last= |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Ez Mil Recalls First Time Meeting Eminem and Dr. Dre {{!}} Eminem.Pro - the biggest and most trusted source of Eminem |url=https://eminem.news/ez-mil-rx931.html |access-date=August 14, 2023 |language=en-US}} When he showed it to them, they were impressed, and Eminem offered to be on the song.
Composition
Trent Fitzgerald of XXL wrote that the song featured "a fist-thumping lunchroom table beat" and a "popping snare", with the two artists rapping using a variety of flows.{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/eminem-the-game-melle-mel-diss-track/|title=Eminem Goes at The Game and Melle Mel on Scathing Diss Track - Listen|website=XXL|last=Fitzgerald|first=Trent|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023}}
Eminem's verse contains several disses toward musicians who have spoken negatively about him in the past, including Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and The Game, while also taking jabs at Gen Z. The Game had previously dissed Eminem in his 2022 album Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind. Melle Mel responded to Eminem with a short diss track on August 8, 2023, which was panned by critics online.{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/melle-mel-trashed-eminem-diss-track|title=Melle Mel Trashed For 'Embarrassing' Diss Track|website=HipHopDX|last=Mendez|first=Marisa|date=August 8, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023}} He later deleted the diss track from his social media and released an apology to Eminem.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2232952/melle-mel-eminem-beef-statement-diss-track/news/|title=Melle Mel Shares Statement On Eminem Drama: "Regrettably, My Response Fell Short In Its Execution"|website=Stereogum|last=Rettig|first=James|date=August 12, 2023|access-date=August 15, 2023}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Realest" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|95|artist=Eminem|rowheader=true|access-date=August 15, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-09-08|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 14, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023}}
| 3 |
|---|
| {{single chart|UKdownload|27|date=20230811|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|25|artist=Eminem|rowheader=true|access-date=August 15, 2023}} |