Eminem was was making them to be serious so how bad? You can't say Like Toy Soldiers is dumb because it's deep and significant and one of the most important and touching songs in hip hops history IMO. If this song was around in the 90s, Biggie & 2Pac would be alive. Fact.
Unlike something like Deja Vu which turns out cringing (The idea is okay, even though its shallow because 1.) hes talking about pills and drugs like every other rapper 2). It has a horrible accent that ruins it 3.) I cant relate to it) Yet everyone loves it. What? just because it has a good beat and a catchy chorus? Your all turning into mainstream fans...ur just like them.
It obviously isn't the exection because his rhyming and emotion on Like Toy Soldiers is amazing and the 2nd verse is one of the best in his career. Have you heard the second verse? Count the multis
There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme
And wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dyin'
But now it's elevated cause once you put someone's kids in it
The shit gets escalated, it ain't just words no more is it?
It's a different ball game, callin' names and you ain't just rappin'
We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin'
Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him
And asked him not to start it he wasn't gonna go after him
Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how we stabbed him
Fuck it 50 smash 'em, mash 'em and let him have it
Meanwhile my attention is pullin' in other directions
Some receptionist at The Source who answers phones at his desk
Has an erection for me and thinks that I'll be his resurrection
Tries to blow the dust off his mic and make a new record
But now he's fucked the game up cause one of the ways I came up
Was through that publication the same one that made me famous
Now the owner of it has got a grudge against me for nothin'
Well fuck it, that motherfucker can get it too, fuck him then
But I'm so busy being pissed off I don't stop to think
That we just inherited 50's beef with Murder Inc.
And he's inherited mine which is fine ain't like either of us mind
We still have soldiers that's on the front line
That's willing to die for us as soon as we give the orders
Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us
We'll maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus
To show them we love 'em back and let 'em know how important it is
To have Runyan Avenue, soldiers up in our corners
Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is
But I ain't tryna have none of my people hurt and murdered
It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it
Then to just say that I love ya'll too much to see the verdict
I'll walk away from it all before I let it go any further
But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coppin'
I'm just willin' to be the bigger man
If ya'll can quit poppin' off at the jaws, well then I can
Cause frankly I'm sick of talkin'
I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience cause
Plus it was one of his best tributes to Proof, IMO. Atleast its not forced emotion with crap flow/hooks like If I Had.
These songs are what make Em underground (raping about real shit) and is why he's better than mainstream rappers (Lil Wayne, Asher Roth, Atmosphere for eg)
