Verified archive entry

Fall

Fall is a diss track by Eminem targeting Joe Budden, DJ Akademiks, Tyler, the Creator, Lord Jamar and Charlamagne Tha God. The track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends.

Released2018
Annotated4
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Intro: Eminem & Justin Vernon]

    02

    (Photoshoot)

    03

    You know, everybody's been tellin' me what they think about me for the last few months

    04

    It's too loud

    05

    Maybe it's time I tell 'em what I think about them

  2. 06

    Can't hear it coming down the hallway stairs from the parking lot

    07

    It's too loud

    08

    Three's not a crowd all up in it, slow fire

  3. 09

    [Chorus: Justin Vernon]

    10

    Don't fall on my face

    11

    Don't fall on my faith, oh

    12

    Don't fall on my fate

    13

    Don't fall on my faith, oh

  4. 14

    Don't fall on my fate

    15

    Don't fall on my—

  5. 16

    [Verse 1: Eminem]

    17

    Gotta concentrate, against the clock I race

    18

    Got no time to waste, I'm already late, I got a marathoner's pace

    19

    Went from addict to a workaholic, word to Dr. Dre

    20

    In that first marijuana tape, guess I got a chronic case (Yeah)

  6. 21

    And I ain't just blowin' smoke, 'less it's in your mama's face

    Multi-line diss block
    22

    I know this time, Paul and Dre, they won't tell me what not to say (Nope)

    23

    And though me and my party days have all pretty much parted ways

    24

    You'd swear to God I forgot I'm the guy that made "Not Afraid" (Yeah)

    Block noteMakes the feud personal through family

    TargetJoe Budden

    MeaningWhat it means: In “And I ain't just blowin' smoke, 'less it's in your mama's face,” Eminem brings a relative or family boundary into the exchange with Joe Budden, moving the dispute beyond music and into private life. Why it was said: The track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends. Family references explain why the conflict feels personal: they raise the emotional cost for Joe Budden and make the line more consequential than a routine comparison of rap skill.

    ContextThe track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends.

  7. 25

    One last time for Charlamagne, if my response is late, it's just how long it takes

    26

    To hit my fuckin' radar, I'm so far away (Woo)

    27

    These rappers are like Hunger Games, one minute, they're mockin' JAY (Yeah)

    28

    Next minute, they get their style from Migos or they copy Drake

  8. 29

    Maybe I just don't know when to turn around and walk away

    30

    But all the hate, I call it Walk-on-Water-Gate, I've had as much as I can tolerate

    31

    I'm sick and tired of waitin', I done lost my patience

    32

    I can take all of you motherfuckers on at once (Yeah)

  9. 33

    You wanted Shady? You got him

  10. 34

    [Chorus: Justin Vernon & Eminem]

    35

    Don't fall on my face (Yeah)

    36

    Don't fall on my faith, oh

    37

    Don't fall on my fate (Line 'em up)

    38

    Don't fall on my faith, oh (Rrr)

  11. 39

    Don't fall on my fate (Ha)

  12. 40

    [Verse 2: Eminem]

    Multi-line diss block
    41

    Somebody tell Budden before I snap, he better fasten it or have his body bag get zipped

    42

    The closest thing he's had to hits is smackin' bitches (Pump it up)

    43

    And don't make me have to give it back to Akademiks

    44

    Say this shit is trash again, I'll have you twisted

    Block noteAttacks the target's ability to rap

    TargetJoe Budden

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Say this shit is trash again, I'll have you twisted,” Eminem challenges Joe Budden on writing, delivery, flow, or command of the microphone rather than relying only on a personal insult. Why it was said: The track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends. This goes to the qualification that gives Joe Budden standing in a rap battle; if the craft is weak, the reply loses authority before its other claims are considered.

    ContextThe track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends.

  13. 45

    Like you had it when you thought you had me slippin' at the telly (Yeah)

    Multi-line diss block
    46

    Even when I'm gettin' brain, you'll never catch me with a thot

    47

    Lacking with it, "He ain't spittin' like this on his last shit"

    48

    Ho, you better go back and listen, you know me better

    Block noteQuestions the target's judgment

    TargetJoe Budden

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Even when I'm gettin' brain, you'll never catch me with a thot,” Eminem characterizes Joe Budden as unintelligent, careless, or unable to understand the situation being addressed. Why it was said: The track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends. The insult makes the target's decisions part of the evidence: a poor response can be framed not as strategy, but as proof that Joe Budden never understood the contest.

    ContextThe track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends.

  14. 49

    Thinkin' I'll slow or let up, call it trap 'cause it's a total setup

    50

    Hopin' that you rappers fall in that, Dre said, "Hold your head up" (Huh?)–Kathy Griffin

    51

    Stackin' ammunition, slap the clip in, cock it back on competition

    52

    This is how I shot ahead (Pew)–Gabby Gifford

  15. 53

    My attack is vicious, Jack the Ripper, back in business

    Multi-line diss block
    54

    Tyler create nothin', I see why you called yourself a ******, bitch

    55

    It's not just 'cause you lack attention

    56

    It's because you worship D12's balls, you're sack-religious

    Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation

    TargetJoe Budden

    MeaningWhat it means: In “It's because you worship D12's balls, you're sack-religious,” Eminem uses gendered or sexual language to question Joe Budden's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. Why it was said: The track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends. The tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Joe Budden's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.

    ContextThe track answers criticism of Eminem's music and attacks named commentators, rival rappers, and broader industry trends.

  16. 57

    If you're gonna critique me, you better at least be as good or better

    58

    Get Earl the Hooded Sweater, whatever his name is to help you put together

    59

    Some words, more than just two letters, the fans waited for this moment

    60

    Like that feature when I stole the show (Ha), sorry if I took forever (Haha)

  17. 61

    [Chorus: Justin Vernon & Eminem]

    62

    Don't fall on my face (Yeah)

    63

    Don't fall on my faith, oh (I won't)

    64

    Don't fall on my fate (Line 'em up)

    65

    Don't fall on my faith, oh (Haha)

  18. 66

    Don't fall on my fate (It's too easy)

  19. 67

    [Verse 3: Eminem]

    68

    Just remember, I was here before you

    69

    And I'll be here after you make your run-in for you

    70

    Detractors, I'ma have to fuck Pitchfork with a corkscrew (Ah)

    71

    Just what the doctor ordered, revenge is the best medicine (Yeah)

  20. 72

    Increase the dose, from least to most, and then tell the Grammys to go and fuck themselves

    73

    They suck the blood from all the biggest artists like some leeches

    74

    So they nominate 'em, get 'em there, get a name to MC the show

    75

    Every parasite needs a host (Haha)

  21. 76

    Then give Album of the Year to somebody that no one's ever even heard of

    77

    All I know is I wrote every single word of everything I ever murdered

    78

    Time to separate the sheep from GOATs (Yeah)

    79

    And I got no faith in your writers, I don't believe in ghosts

  22. 80

    When rap needed it most, I was that wing and a prayer (Huh)

    81

    A beacon of hope, put a B-I-R-D in the air

    82

    Somewhere some kid is bumpin' this while he lip-syncs in the mirror

    83

    That's who I'm doin' it for, the rest, I don't really even care

  23. 84

    But you would think I'm carryin' a Oxford dictionary in my pocket

    85

    How I'm buryin' these artists on a scale of "turnt", you're "minus"

    86

    Mine says "very", yours says "hardly", and what's scary is you prob'ly

    87

    Can compare me to your car 'cause I'm just barely gettin' started (Woo)

  24. 88

    And far as Lord Jamar, you better leave me the Hell alone

    89

    Or I'll show you an Elvis clone, walk up in this house you own

    90

    Thrust my pelvic bone, use your telephone and go fetch me the remote

    91

    Put my feet up and just make myself at home (Yeah)

  25. 92

    I belong here, clown, don't tell me 'bout the culture

    93

    I inspired the Hopsins, the Logics, the Coles, the

    94

    Seans, the K-Dots, the 5'9"s, and oh

    95

    Brought the world 50 Cent, you did squat, piss and moan

  26. 96

    But I'm not gonna fall, bitch (Yeah)

  27. 97

    [Outro: Justin Vernon]

    98

    It's too loud

    99

    Can't hear it coming down the hallway stairs from the parking lot

    100

    It's too loud

    101

    Three’s not a crowd all up in it

  28. 102

    Slow fire