"Tobey" is a collaborative effort from Michigan natives Eminem, Big Sean and BabyTron.[2] Released on July 2, 2024, through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records, it was produced by Eminem, Cole Bennett, Car!ton, Daniyel, Marvy Ayy, and John Nocito.[3] "Tobey" is the fourth collaboration between Eminem and Big Sean, following "Detroit vs. Everybody", "No Favors" and "Friday Night Cypher",[3] and the second single taken from Eminem's twelfth studio album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) following "Houdini".[4] Shortly after the music video was released, Cole Bennett stated on Instagram that the track started life as a BabyTron track, with Big Sean brought in later as "a moment for Detroit" and Eminem brought in after that to bring "three generations of Detroit" together.[5] "Tobey" marks BabyTron's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.[6]
On June 28, Eminem posted a horror-themed trailer for "Tobey" on his social media accounts, containing himself, Big Sean and BabyTron, announcing that it would be released on July 2, 2024, and its music video, directed by Bennett, set to premiere three days later on July 5.[7] The trailer featured Eminem in a Jason Voorhees mask carving into a bleeding invisible figure with a chainsaw,[2] intended to represent Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady,[8] followed by BabyTron rapping "Tobey Maguire got bit by a spider, but see, me, it was a goat".[9] The video was delayed by three days after it became apparent that it was not ready, with Eminem instead releasing a short snippet in which he rapped outside his house.[10]
The music video for "Tobey" was directed by Cole Bennett, who previously directed Eminem's videos for "Godzilla", "Gnat" and "Doomsday Pt. 2", and was released on July 8, 2024.[16] The video features multiple copies of each rapper delivering their verses,[17] and contains scenes of Eminem rapping outside his childhood house[18] and carving into his alter ego Slim Shady.[8] Shortly after release, Bennett posted to Instagram to state that the video had been shot six weeks earlier during a single day, with post-production stopping only two hours earlier. He also stated that he had intended a more embellished version of his video for "100 Bars",[5] his earlier BabyTron track.[19]
Critical reception
Tom Breihan of Stereogum, who had previously panned "Houdini", expressed that "Tobey" was "more like it," describing the latter as "rap for rap's sake, without headline-chasing edgy jokes or forced, rushed cadences." He also opined that the song's central concept was "a little goofy," but felt that it worked.[20] Upon release, Anthony Fantano criticized the instrumental, but admired the concept and lyrics and felt that the track was a "big Detroit deal" on the grounds that the track comprised "three generations of Detroit artists".[21] Upon reviewing the album, however, he felt that his words made its narrative "a little confusing" due to the conflicting messages he was getting from "Tobey" and that album's "Guilty Conscience 2".[22]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 29. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 19. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
