Caterpillar (song)
| Company type | Single |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | May 3, 2018 |
| Founder | Royce da 5'9" |
| Products | Hip hop song |
Caterpillar is a track by American hip-hop artist Royce da 5'9", featuring contributions from rappers Eminem and King Green. It serves as the fourth single extracted from Royce's seventh studio project, Book of Ryan (2018). The production was handled by Symbolyc One (S1) alongside Epikh Pro, and the song became available for digital purchase on May 3, 2018.
Background
The single was released on iTunes and uploaded to Royce da 5'9"'s official Vevo channel on YouTube on May 3, 2018, accompanied by a supporting music video. Royce expressed, "The moment I heard the beat, I was certain I wanted [Eminem] involved."
A remix version featuring rapper Logic is included on the bonus track edition of Book of Ryan. Initially, Logic was slated to appear on the original cut but was replaced by Eminem due to scheduling conflicts related to the video shoot. Subsequently, Eminem and Logic collaborated on the song "Homicide" from Logic's album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2019).
Composition
Incorporating a sample from Gil Scott-Heron's "Introduction / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," the song features Royce da 5'9" and Eminem delivering verses over an "organ-driven" boom bap rhythm, with King Green providing the hook. Eminem critiques mumble rap in his lyrics: "The boom bap is coming back / With an ax to mumble rap." Discussing the concept in an interview with Rap-Up, Royce explained: "Don't disrespect the caterpillar to praise the butterfly," underscoring that both he and Eminem represent the "caterpillars," symbolizing their foundational influence on newer artists' styles.
Critical reception
This release signifies a reunion of Bad Meets Evil, the duo formed by Royce and Eminem. Israel Daramola from Spin described it as a "throwback record to the jazzy, hard rapping style of the '90s," highlighting their lyrical prowess. Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard remarked that "Royce and Em attack the boom-bap beat with furious intensity." Ralph Bristout from Revolt characterized the track as a "nearly five-minute display of rap calisthenics."
Music video
Directed by James Larese, the black-and-white music video showcases Royce da 5'9" and Eminem alternating their verses while maintaining stoic expressions when not performing.
Track listing
- Digital Download
Charts
Template:Single chart| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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