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Caterpillar (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Caterpillar
| cover = CaterpillarRoyce.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Royce da 5'9" featuring Eminem and King Green
| album = Book of Ryan
| released =
| recorded = 2017
| genre = Hip hop
| length =
| label = * Heaven Studios
* eOne
| writer = * Ryan Montgomery
* Marshall Mathers
* Larry Griffin, Jr.
* King Green
| producer = * S1
* Epikh Pro
| chronology = Royce da 5'9"
| prev_title = Dumb
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Black Savage
| next_year = 2019
| misc =
}}
"'Caterpillar'" is a song by American rapper Royce da 5'9", released as the fourth single from his seventh studio album 'Book of Ryan' (2018). The song features guest vocals from rappers Eminem and King Green. The song is produced by American record producers Symbolyc One and Epikh Pro, and was released for digital download through iTunes on May 3, 2018.
Background
The single was released to iTunes and Royce da 5'9"'s YouTube Vevo channel on May 3, 2018. Its release was accompanied with a music video. According to Royce, "I knew as soon as I heard the beat, I knew I wanted [Eminem] on there."
A remix, featuring American rapper Logic, is included on the bonus track edition of Royce's 'Book of Ryan'. Originally, Logic was meant to appear on the main version of the song, but was later replaced by Eminem. Royce explained that this was because he and Logic "couldn't figure out a good time for us to be able to shoot [the video]." Eminem and Logic further collaborated on Logic's 2019 album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on the track Homicide.
Composition
The song finds Royce da 5'9" and Eminem rapping over an "organ-driven" boom bap beat, with King Green on the chorus. Eminem takes aim at mumble rap, rapping: "The boom bap is coming back / With an ax to mumble rap". In an interview with 'Rap-Up', Royce said:
The basic theme of the song is, "Don't disrespect the caterpillar to praise the butterfly." Marshall falls a little bit more into that category than I do, but both of us are caterpillars. A lot of times, you'll praise these guys but gotta tear us down But where do you think his style came from?
Critical reception
The song has been described as the return of Bad Meets Evil, the duo that the two rappers had formed. Israel Daramola of 'Spin' called the song a "throwback record to the jazzy, hard rapping style of the '90s, acting as a vehicle for Royce and Em to exercise their lyrical prowess." Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of 'Billboard' writes that "Royce and Em attack the boom-bap beat with furious intensity." Ralph Bristout of 'Revolt' describes the song as a "nearly five-minute display of rap calisthenics."
Music video
The music video was filmed in black and white and directed by James Larese. In it, Royce da 5'9" and Eminem take turns rapping while the other "remains stoic".
Track listing
;Digital Download
Charts
References
Category:2018 singles
Category:2018 songs
Category:Royce da 5'9" songs
Category:Eminem songs
Category:Songs written by Eminem
Category:Songs written by Royce da 5'9"
Category:MNRK Music Group singles
Category:Songs written by Symbolyc One
Category:Song recordings produced by Symbolyc One
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