Verified archive entry

Hail Mary

Hail Mary is a diss track by Eminem targeting Ja Rule. The recording also credits 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

Released2003
Annotated11
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Sample: Ja Rule]

    02

    Everybody wants to make comparisons to Pac and X and me

    03

    Y'all niggas wanna see Pac come back?

    04

    Y'all wanna see this shit?

    05

    It's here nigga, it's here

  2. 06

    [Intro: Eminem]

    07

    Makaveli, rest in peace

    08

    Irv Gotti, too much Bacardi in his body

    09

    Mouth like a 12-gauge shotty (Feel me)

    10

    (Come get me)

  3. 11

    And Ja said he shall be the last begotten seed of 2Pac

    12

    To lead this industry into the ways of the man

    13

    (Motherfuckers if you want Shady)

    14

    (If Pac was still here now, he would never ride with Ja)

  4. 15

    Follow me

    16

    (Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na)

    17

    Keep my mesh vest as Pac's vest

  5. 18

    [Chorus: Eminem]

    Multi-line diss block
    19

    Come get me

    20

    If you muthafuckas want Shady

    21

    If Pac was still here now

    22

    He would never ride with Ja

    Block notePoints to a claimed failure or contradiction

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “He would never ride with Ja,” Eminem treats the refusal, inability, or contradiction named in the lyric as evidence against Ja Rule's public position. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The wording tests Ja Rule's image against a specific action; the gap between the two is what the audience is being asked to remember.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  6. 23

    Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah

  7. 24

    [Verse 1: Eminem]

    Multi-line diss block
    25

    You ain't no killa, you a pussy

    26

    That Ecstasy done got you all emotional and mushy

    27

    Bitches wearin' rags in photos, Ja's words bein' quoted

    28

    In The Source, stealin' Pac's shit like he just wrote it

    Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You ain't no killa, you a pussy,” Eminem uses gendered or sexual language to question Ja Rule's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Ja Rule's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  8. 29

    You loud mouths pray to God, hopin' no one's listenin'

    30

    See 50 comin' for me, oh my god, my—my position

    31

    No one'll pay attention to me

    32

    Please Gotti, here I go, give me this pill

  9. 33

    Ecstasy done got me feelin' so invincible

    34

    And now all of a sudden I'm a fuckin' madman who screams

    35

    Like I'm Pac, but I'm not, enemies, Hennessey

    36

    Actin' like I'm great, but I'm fake, I'm crazy

  10. 37

    Sweat drip, get me off this trip, someone stop this train

    38

    Some say my brain is all corrupted, fucked from this shit

    39

    I'm stuck, I'm addicted to these drugs, I'ma quit

    40

    Sayin' muthafuckas names before somebody fucks me up

  11. 41

    Ain't no pussies over here, partner, see you in hell, fucka

  12. 42

    [Chorus: Eminem]

    Multi-line diss block
    43

    Come get me

    44

    Motherfucker if you want Shady

    45

    If Pac was still here now

    46

    He would never ride with Ja

    Block notePoints to a claimed failure or contradiction

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “He would never ride with Ja,” Eminem treats the refusal, inability, or contradiction named in the lyric as evidence against Ja Rule's public position. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The wording tests Ja Rule's image against a specific action; the gap between the two is what the audience is being asked to remember.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  13. 47

    Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah

    48

    Get off that E

    49

    'Fore you try to come and fuck with me

    50

    It's Aftermath here now

  14. 51

    Shady Records got it locked

    52

    La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-locked

  15. 53

    [Verse 2: 50 Cent]

    54

    Penitentiaries is packed with promise makers

    55

    Never realized the precious time that bitch niggas is wastin'

    56

    Institutionalized, my bitches bring me product by the bundles

    57

    Hustle hard from a cell, G-Unit, muthafucka, we ballin'

  16. 58

    Catch me countin' cheese and when I'm callin', can you accept my call?

    59

    C.O. let me sip on Hennessy, can I sip some more?

    60

    Hell, I done been to jail, I ain't scared

    61

    Mama checkin' in my bedroom, I ain't there

  17. 62

    I got a head with no screws in it

    63

    Muthafuckas thinkin' they can stop 50, they losin' it

    64

    Lil' nigga named Ja think he live like me

    65

    Talkin' 'bout he left the hospital, took nine like me

  18. 66

    You live in fantasies, nigga, I reject your deposit

    Multi-line diss block
    67

    When your lil' sweet ass gon' come out of the closet?

    68

    Now he wonderin' why DMX blowed him out

    69

    Next time grown folks talkin', bitch, close your mouth

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You live in fantasies, nigga, I reject your deposit,” Eminem addresses Ja Rule directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. Naming or plainly addressing Ja Rule removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  19. 70

    Peep me, I take this war shit deeply

    Multi-line diss block
    71

    Done seen too many real niggas ball to let these bitch niggas beat me, Black

    72

    You's a muthafuckin' punk and you'll see me with gloves

    73

    Quit scarin' them fuckin' kids with your ugly-ass mug (Hahaha)

    Block noteTurns the target into a visual punchline

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Quit scarin' them fuckin' kids with your ugly-ass mug (Hahaha),” Eminem reduces Ja Rule to an exaggerated physical caricature instead of engaging the target's preferred public image. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. A visual insult is easy for an audience to remember and repeat; the goal is to make ridicule of Ja Rule travel beyond the song itself.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  20. 74

    And you can tell them niggas you roll with whatever you want

    Multi-line diss block
    75

    But you and I know what's goin' on

    76

    Nigga, payback! Tah, I know your bitch ass from way back

    77

    Witnessed me strapped with Macs, knew I don’t play that

    Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Nigga, payback! Tah, I know your bitch ass from way back,” Eminem addresses Ja Rule directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. Naming or plainly addressing Ja Rule removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  21. 78

    All these old rappers tryin' to advance

    79

    It's all over now, take it like a man (Ha-ha)

    80

    Irv lookin' like Larry Holmes, flabby and sick

    81

    Tryna playa-hate on my shit, man, eat a fat dick

  22. 82

    Lovin' this shit, that's how you made me

    83

    Feelin' like I got you niggas crazy, uh-huh

    84

    Against all odds, hopin' my thug muthafuckas know

    85

    This be the realest shit I ever wrote

  23. 86

    Against all odds, up in the studio gettin' blowed

    87

    To the truest shit I ever spoke

    88

    Twenty-one gun salute, bitch!

  24. 89

    [Verse 3: Busta Rhymes]

    Multi-line diss block
    90

    Ayo, I've been one of the most humble, rep the streets to the core

    91

    Hey Jeffrey, what the fuck you come involvin' me for

    92

    It's been a long time comin', like a bless and a check

    93

    You see, 106 and Park fans don't even fuckin' respect you

    Block noteMakes the rejection unmistakably direct

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Hey Jeffrey, what the fuck you come involvin' me for,” Eminem drops any pretense of a subliminal and rejects Ja Rule in blunt, unqualified language. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The direct wording removes plausible deniability: listeners are not left guessing whether Ja Rule is part of the dispute or whether a response is being invited.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  25. 94

    It's kinda funny, wannabe Pac, wanna fake like you thug

    Multi-line diss block
    95

    Runnin' around talkin' shit that he ain't capable of

    96

    Now let me off this cocksucker whilst we handle you, nigga

    97

    If I recall, Violator use to manage you, nigga

    Block noteTreats the target's persona as fabricated

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “It's kinda funny, wannabe Pac, wanna fake like you thug,” Eminem says Ja Rule's public story or image is false rather than a reliable account of who the target is. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. Once the persona is presented as invented, the boasts and accusations built on it become easier for listeners to dismiss.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  26. 98

    Then took a closer look and realized you was an impostor

    Multi-line diss block
    99

    There's never been a Violator on a Murda Inc. roster, dumbass

    100

    Now who's shootin'? Ah, made you look

    101

    You said Bus singin' the same old hook? You stupid

    Block noteQuestions the target's judgment

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You said Bus singin' the same old hook? You stupid,” Eminem characterizes Ja Rule as unintelligent, careless, or unable to understand the situation being addressed. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The insult makes the target's decisions part of the evidence: a poor response can be framed not as strategy, but as proof that Ja Rule never understood the contest.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  27. 102

    If y'all shootin', I take a look at your man—

    Multi-line diss block
    103

    The bitch shot himself in front of Def Jam

    104

    Cheddar Bob–ass nigga, start adjustin' your plan

    105

    You let the streets down nigga, Apologize to your fans

    Block noteChallenges the target's public standing

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You let the streets down nigga, Apologize to your fans,” Eminem questions whether Ja Rule's attention, audience, or reputation reflects genuine respect. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. Visibility can be mistaken for victory, so the artist recasts Ja Rule's recognition as temporary, manufactured, or disconnected from credibility.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  28. 106

    Watch you pull a little stunt like we ain't know what it was

    107

    Little faggot desperate tryin' to re-establish a buzz

    108

    I know the shit is drivin' you crazy, you wonderin' how

    109

    The streets ain't never want you, Beatrice, what you gonna do now?

  29. 110

    Now if you wanna beef with me, then I'm beefin' with you

    Multi-line diss block
    111

    I think about the game and what it's like and

    112

    WHAT WOULD IT BE WITHOUT YOUUUUUUU!!

    113

    You finished, I ain't tryna repeat this

    Block noteForces the dispute into a direct contest

    TargetJa Rule

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Now if you wanna beef with me, then I'm beefin' with you,” Eminem addresses Ja Rule as an opponent who must prove the claims being made rather than rely on reputation. Why it was said: The track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter. The challenge narrows the argument to performance under pressure, where refusing or failing to answer can itself be presented as a loss for Ja Rule.

    ContextThe track belongs to the early-2000s dispute linking Shady/Aftermath and Murder Inc.; it intensified after Ja Rule mentioned Eminem's daughter.

  30. 114

    Just 'cause I'm cool, you shouldn't take my kindness for weakness (Oh shit)

  31. 115

    [Interlude: Busta Rhymes]

    116

    Hahahaha

    117

    It was fun

    118

    Next time you got a problem with me

    119

    Address me before you try to make shit a public issue, homie

  32. 120

    Now I'ma return back to my regular self

    121

    And have fun again

  33. 122

    [Outro: 50 Cent & 2Pac]

    123

    Hahaha, biatch!

    124

    Haha, Outlawz, haha

    125

    Makaveli the Don, haha

    126

    Since you wanna be 2Pac, motherfucker, hahaha

  34. 127

    2Pac's shoes too big for you to walk in, you lil' faggot

    128

    Hahaha

    129

    (What do we have here now?)