Detroit rapper Big Sean is feeling a sense of déjà vu following the release of his latest collaboration with Eminem, “Tobey.”
This track, which also features fellow Detroit native Babytron, marks the fourth time Sean and Eminem have joined forces. But for Sean, this particular collaboration holds a particularly special meaning.
In a heartfelt post on X, Sean shared his thoughts on this full-circle moment, revealing that Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP was the first CD he ever bought with his own money.
“Not gon hold you, Slim Shady LP was the first CD I bought wit my own money at Costco,” Sean wrote.
“Me n Em bout 4 songs in now (DVE, No Favors, Detroit 2 cypher) but being on The Death Of Slim Shady is full circle. I ain’t know when I bought that, that I’d be one of the next ones out da city…”
“Let alone even know Em,” Sean added in his tweet. “A reminder to myself of how real unrealistic really is.”
The release of “Tobey” comes just ahead of Eminem’s highly anticipated twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), set to drop on July 12. It follows 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 to give Eminem his historic 10th consecutive leader.
The album, teased with a series of cryptic messages and a horror-themed trailer, is expected to bid farewell to Eminem’s famed alter ego, Slim Shady.
“Houdini” served as the project’s lead single and gave Em his best-charting hit on the Hot 100 this decade when it debuted at No. 2.
In his latest release “Tobey,” Eminem addresses the perennial debate about the greatest rappers of all time, asserting his dominance while responding to those who have questioned his place in hip-hop history.
He even tackles recent criticism from hip-hop pioneer Melle Mel, who had questioned Eminem’s standing in the culture.
With less than two weeks until the album’s release, the excitement continues to build for what’s set to be a monumental moment in Eminem’s storied career.
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) hits streaming services on July 12.
You can stream “Tobey” below.
