Caterpillar
Eminem feat. Royce Da 5'9' Lyrics

You will not be able to stay home brotha
You won't have the option to just stay at home, brother.

You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out
You won't be able to escape reality by tuning in and avoiding responsibility.

You will not be able to lose yourself on scag and skip out for beer during commercials
You won't be able to get high on drugs and ignore important matters when there are breaks on TV.

Because the revolution will not be televised
The significant change happening won't be broadcasted on TV.

This right here for the number ones
This is dedicated to the top artists.

Number ones here with your number one
The highest achievers here with their best work.

You ain't number one, just another one
You aren't the best, just an average participant.

Now everybody sayin' that they number one
Now everyone claims to be on top.

Ring the alarm, the caterpillar keeps firing
Raise the alarm, the talented artist continues to impress.

Oh, we in the war
We are engaged in a fierce competition.

Where butterflies keep dyin' (ah)
In a place where artists with potential fail to survive.

I'm a product of Parker, Lewis and Kubiak
I was influenced by the TV shows and people I grew up with.

If didn't do this, where in the fuck would you be at?
If I didn't pursue this career, where would you be?

See there's a difference between us, what I spit hit arenas
There's a distinction between us, my lyrics have a big impact on large concert venues.

You a drip from my penis, I eat lions and sip hyenas
You're insignificant compared to me, while I metaphorically consume powerful adversaries.

You number one when it comes to slaughtered mics
You have a reputation for dominating rap battles.

I'm tryna be number one in my son and daughter life
I strive to be the best role model for my children.

Uh, all you niggas my lil' rapper babies
All of you are like my little proteges

Y'all my children, y'all bit my shit and contracted rabies
You all imitated my style and became infected with mediocrity.

Don't you grade me next to these rapper, baby, that's degrading
Don't compare me to these inferior rappers, it's disrespectful for me.

My style got so many different facets, I switch into so many different passions
My artistic style has various dimensions, I easily switch between different interests.

I'm skippin' class to be fascinating
I'm skipping traditional routes to pursue more captivating endeavors.

My pen is like Big Ben, this shit's just a classic waiting
My writing ability is like a prominent landmark, waiting to become a timeless masterpiece.

Your favorite rapper come at me, I just decapitate him
If your favorite rapper challenges me, I will quickly defeat him.

Out here congratulating these has-beens who had their highs
I'm annoyed by people celebrating washed-up artists who had their moments in the past.

These rappers only won their matches because they strategize
These rappers only succeed because they plan their moves strategically.

I'll bring adequate to these patterns and here's my battle cry
I will bring skill and talent to these regular music structures and this is my declaration of war.

Kid think your number won't quit
People believe you will remain successful indefinitely.

Number one song, get your number one chick
Having a hit song attracts the most desirable partner.

Number one fly with your number one kick
Exhibiting the most stylish fashion and footwear.

When it's all done then your number gon' switch
Once your success fades, your ranking will change.

Hold up, wait a minute
Wait a moment.

Guess what I'ma never do
Let me tell you what I'll never do.

Show so much respect to you
Express excessive admiration or regard for you.

That I feel like we're friends, so now we no longer competitors
To the point where I think we are friends, so we're no longer rivals.

That could be the death of you
This could ultimately harm you.

Never let someone who's not as smart as you gas you up
Don't allow someone less intelligent than you to excessively praise or influence you.

And tell you somethin' you never knew
And share information with you that you were unaware of.

Always stay professional
Maintain a level of professionalism.

You always gon' make revenue
You will always generate income.

Don't let people next to you that don't want the best for you
Avoid having people around who don't have your best interests at heart.

It's completely normal to hold on to a regret or two
It's normal to have a few regrets in life.

I do what I wanna do, they do what I let them do
I do what I desire, while they only do what I allow them to do.

Everything niggas be sayin' is a fuckin' lie
Everything these individuals say is completely untrue.

It's nothing I can say to you that is realer
I cannot speak any more honestly or truthfully to you.

Remember when you praisin' the butterfly
Remember when you were appreciating the successful artist.

Don't you ever disrespect the fuckin' caterpillar
Don't ever disrespect the artist who was still developing and not yet successful.

You lookin at Atilla
You are witnessing a powerful and ruthless figure.

The psychopathic killer, the caterpillar
The insane murderer, representing the early stage of an artist's career.

Don't tell me when I'm supposed to rap until
Don't dictate when my rap career should end.

Especially when your favorite rapper isn't even half as ill
Especially when your preferred artist isn't even close to being as talented as me.

A savage still, the tracks a banana peel, attack of the silverback gorilla
I'm still a ruthless and aggressive artist, while other tracks are weaker and not a challenge to me.

You're havin' a little trouble fathomin' this is actually happenin'
You're struggling to comprehend that this success is real.

Like Anderson Silva when he snapped his shin in half
Similar to when Anderson Silva broke his leg during a fight.

And then had shit hangin' by a flap of skin
And then had his leg tissues hanging loosely.

After he tried to plant the shit back on the mat again
After attempting to reposition his leg on the floor.

Pad to pen I'm batty like eyelids when they're blinkin' a lot
From my notepad to my pen, I'm crazy and intense like fast-blinking eyelids.

You copy me, but you're not
You imitate my style, but you don't possess my talent.

You can't be butterflies
You can't attain the level of success or skill that I have.

My offspring's are just moths
My successors are just inferior versions of me.

If I see that thing, I'ma squash it and rip the wings of it off
If I see any competition, I will destroy it and eliminate its potential to succeed.

So ring the alarm, pull the extinguishers off of the wall, set the sprinklers off
Prepare for a major battle, remove all safety measures, and engage in an intense conflict.

Like Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah, 'til the shingles come off the roof
Just like the characters in the movie 'Set It Off,' we won't stop until chaos and destruction occur.

We'll shatter the ceilings
We will break through the limitations imposed on us.

Slaughterhouse in the building, middle fingers aloft
The rap group Slaughterhouse is present, expressing their defiance.

Say what I think when I rhyme, in ink-pen I talk
I speak my mind in my rap lyrics, expressing my thoughts and opinions.

And the language I speak is my mind
The words I use are a reflection of my thoughts and inner self.

Kingpin and Penguin combined
Combining the influence and power of a crime boss with the cunning of a fictional character like Penguin.

Spit like it's King of the Dot
Rap with exceptional skill as if I'm competing in the King of the Dot rap battle league.

A singular thought I'd think I would help you distinguish
A unique idea that I believe will assist in setting me apart and being recognized.

A brother from the cream of the crop
A talented individual from the top tier of artists.

Wait a minute, hold up
Wait a moment.

Like a flash card
Similar to a visual aid used for quick learning.

Damn dog, is that copyin', or payin' homage?
Wow, is that an act of copying or showing respect and appreciation?

It's sad because dad taught you to rap as a damn toddler
It's unfortunate because your father taught you to rap from a very young age.

My dad is your grandfather
My level of talent and success is generations ahead of yours.

I have to rehatch on you
I need to come back and outdo you.

Come back as black wasp
Return as a fierce and formidable force.

Half yellow jacket, you can't swat a
Partly resembling a yellow jacket, making it difficult to defeat or dismiss me.

Sasquatch dancin' on top of a ant
A large and overwhelming presence compared to something small and insignificant.

Trample it and stomp it, smash it and stand on it
Crush and destroy it, asserting dominance and superiority.

Dammit, I can't stop it
Despite others' attempts, I can't be stopped.

The rap is a vag and I can't stop goin' in like a tampon in this bitch
I can't stop rapping with intensity and skill, much like a tampon inside a vagina.

It's manslaughter
It's a metaphorical killing of the competition.

Stampin' out grasshoppers, you can't be no Rap Gods
Defeating and eliminating weak rappers, proving that they can't be considered rap deities.

In fact you're exact opposites
In reality, you are the complete opposite.

You make a wack song, and can't hold a candle
You create terrible music and can't even compare to me.

But even Daniel-san wax off, you jack-offs
Even beginners like Daniel-san in 'Karate Kid' can do better than you.

Need to come to grips, like a hand job
You need to accept the reality and face the truth, similar to how one must grasp a hand when receiving a handjob.

The boom bap is back with an axe to mumble rap
The traditional and authentic hip-hop sound is making a comeback and aiming to eliminate mumble rap.

Lumberjack with a hacksaw
An aggressive and skilled rapper with the ability to destroy others' careers.

Number one, but my pencils are number two 'cause that's all I do with 'em
I may be a top artist, but I only use my pencils for writing lyrics and nothing more.

Poop is my pseudonym
Using the term 'poop' as a nickname or alternate persona.

On the john like a prostitute when I droppin' a deuce and
Sitting on the toilet like a sex worker while taking a bowel movement.

When I'm producing them lyrical bowel movements
When I'm creating my impressive and impactful rap verses.

These beats are like my saloons
These music tracks are like my favorite places to perform and showcase my talent.

'Cause these bars always got my stools in 'em
Because my rap verses always contain my clever wordplay.

And I don't need Metamucil to loosen them
I don't require any assistance in making my verses flow smoothly.

Bitch it is real like I pooped Jerusalem
It's genuine and authentic, just like my impressive rap skills.

I'm 'bout to go spin another cocoon
I'm ready to undergo another stage of transformation and artistic growth.

And I'm cuttin' you from your mother's womb then I'm flushin' you
I'm metaphorically separating you from your roots and then swiftly eliminating you.