Fuel - Intellectual

JID paints a picture of a community rife with violence, sexual encounters, and drug use, all elements that would merit an X or R rating in movies, suggesting that the reality they live in is no less intense or explicit.

JID outlines plot for revenge after a murder.

1) R.I.P. on a shirt
2) Searching and lurking for the perpetrator
3) Followed by the murder: murk (murder), squirt (bleeding), dirt (buried), and the subsequent police search (first 48).

Em has referenced school shootings before and his stance for gun control on songs like Nowhere Fast and Darkness and his disdain for people dying so needlessly at such a young age.

Marshall is implying that his fingers are inside the trigger guards, meaning his “index fingers fucking the ‘nina’.” Nina is doubling here as both a woman’s name and a slang term for a TEC-9 pistol, whose firing is mimicked by Em’s fast chopper style flow in this verse. The analogy was first deployed in hip-hop by 2Pac, who is referenced earlier in the verse.

The flow itself was popularized by rapper TechN9ne whose name is inspired from the TEC-9, and who also goes by the nickname “N9na”

JID uses one of his signature styles: word flipping, to signify that’s he likely focused on getting money.

This most popular usage of this style is from his verse on 2021 song “Enemy”

I’m hopin' that somebody pray for me
I’m prayin' that somebody hope for me

It can also be found on tracks like “Raydar” and others.

Crackin' a whip, whippin' the crack

Drawing correlation between the synonyms of gritting and grinding. Grinding your teeth is typically something people do when they are angry or frustrated, clenching their teeth and jaw together. Often the phrase only is heard when you’re at the dentist, but both grinding and gritting your teeth are the same action. Neat wordplay simply conveying his ability to grind out verse after verse.

He took a deal for 12 years. Which means he was facing 20 plus years if he is found guilty at trial.

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Reference to the theory that Diddy was responsible for putting a hit out on both Tupac and Biggie. Keefe D was a South Side Compton Crip who has been charged with Tupac’s Murder.

Keefe was a known associate of Diddy and he hired him as security for Bad Boys West Coast tour in the height of the East Coast vs West Coast beef. Keefe claims Diddy hired him to murder Pac for a million dollars but Diddy never paid so he couldn’t be linked to the murder.

Shady made it clear lots of times before that these cynical thoughts that are popping in his head out of nowhere isn’t his fault and he can’t stop it. His hit song The Monster (The Marshall Mathers LP 2, 2013) featuring Rihanna is one of them:

“I’m just relayin' what the voice in my head’s sayin'
Don’t shoot the messenger”

Alphabet soup contains pasta pieces that are in the shape of random letters. So Shady is comparing the words that the voices in his head making him say to putting these pasta pieces, letters in your mouth to make diabolical statements.

Additionally Nikolas Cruz, the self-confessed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter, said there were demons and voices in his head as police captured and cuffed the killer on February 14, 2018, the day of the worst school shooting in Florida history.

The voices told him to “burn, kill, destroy,” according to a transcript of Cruz’s interview with investigators.

Em is asking what you’ll do if he doesn’t ‘run out of fuel’ is also him asking other artists what would they do if he never stops making music.

Fuel, in this instance is a metaphor for creating music. As stated, he’s asking what will other artists do if he doesn’t stop making music. The line, ‘that scares the fuck out of you’ means two things.

The thought of Eminem never retiring scares them, because old rappers, and new rappers will always have a popular and good competitor to always take the spotlight from them.
It can also scare them, because Eminem can be a massive threat in terms of competition. Just looking at his disses is enough to see why he can be viewed as a threat.

Em use of the sample “down, down, down” originates from an actual airplane.
This same sample is also prominently featured in A Plane Scraped Its Belly On A Sooty Yellow Moon by Roni Size.
The sample is used in the context of a plane going down after running out of fuel, directly tying into the song’s lyrics.

Here, Eminem comments on the ignorance some people have regarding the struggles and conflicts that come with fame. His achievements, while celebrated, also incite envy and competition, leading to inevitable conflicts.

Earlier in the verse, JID mentions Rocket, which is a photographer in the movie “City of God” that takes place in the poor areas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the film, an ambitious drug dealer uses Rocket and his photos documenting increased drug violence as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival.

JID is hinting at how he finds the hypocrisy of ministers flipping the pov and continuing to sin using imagery to further their agendas while drawing similarities to the film

Eminem makes a clever pun with the homophones “over? Wait” and “overweight”, the latter relating to obesity.

He used a similar wordplay on his song “Lock It Up”, from his eleventh studio album Music To Be Murdered By.

Think I may have broke the scale
‘Cause the wait is over

He may also be alluding to people thinking that this would be his final project but he’s letting them know that he’s just getting started.

Additionally, Em pauses when saying “obesity” so that it sounds like “Obie city”, which could be a continuation of the west coast-related run of bars he’s currently on, as Obie Trice was born in Detroit.

Word play from the previous line “essay”
In Spanish, “ese” is a homie/ brother
There is a large population of Mexicans in the western part of the United States, primarily California

This metaphor compares strays (bullets that did not hit the intended target) to straight disses.

Eminem is saying that when you play his music everyone is susceptible to be dissed by him.

This might also be a reference to his disstrack Killshot and his rap beef with Machine Gun Kelly

In 2020, teenager Kyle Rittenhouse shot three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin amidst an ongoing protest. Kyle was eventually declared not guilty by a judge in 2021.

Slim Shady likens himself to Kyle, who walked the streets of Kenosha carrying a rifle, as throughout the album Slim intentionally goes out of his way to provoke others.

In response to these lines, Kyle Rittenhouse took to X to say:

Can someone tell @Eminem it’s the warthog that goes Brrt not the TEC? pic.twitter.com/lYvHSRbgjt
— Kyle Rittenhouse (@ThisIsKyleR) July 12, 2024

Halyna Hutchins was a cinematographer who was tragically shot on set by renowned actor Alec Baldwin during the production of the upcoming Western film Rust. A functional prop gun, which Baldwin was using while rehearsing a scene involving a quick draw, was unknowingly loaded with live ammunition. It accidentally discharged, striking Halyna and resulting in her death.

In this context, Em suggests that if anyone “fucks around” with him, his reckless and negligent response could lead to a fate similar to that of Halyna Hutchins: homicide.

This is a continuance to the “trying to sell a pound to the dog cage” line previously. “Smack” is another term for Heroin.

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This is a nod to the Fabo/Alliance song from the early 2000s “Tatted Up”. In a recent interview Fabo made it known he was screaming the name Barbara (as in Barbara Bush) at the end of the song because she was unlikely to have a tattoo he thought.
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Of course referencing his longevity, dropping this track in 2024 after his very first song to ever hit the public was in 1988, “Eat It” followed by his group endeavors of New Jacks and Soul Intent. His first solo studio album being Infinite in 1996. His career spanning from the 80s to the 2020s.

Some of the only artists to debut in the same time period and continue to generate music to this day being Dr.Dre, Ice Cube, LL COOL J, EPMD, Rakim and Redman.

Using basketball terminology, JID metaphorically describes succeeding in multiple areas (scoring, assists, rebounds) of life or his career. It suggests proficiency and versatility, not just in sports but in navigating life’s challenges.

James Todd Smith, better known as LL COOL J is a highly respected rapper and huge inspiration to Eminem. The pair have performed together as well as collaborated on a 2024 track called “Murdergram Deux.”

Aside from rapping, Cool J is an actor who starred in the 1999 film, In Too Deep, as an underground boss nicknamed “God.”

The standard length of a verse is 16 bars. Em is pointing out that noone’s bars are even close to his level of writing

JID contrasts two ideas: the person’s positive growth (“gaining weight”) and the sudden introduction of danger or a threat (“got a sharp shank”). Gaining weight can symbolize stability or success, while a “sharp shank” refers to a weapon, often associated with violence or survival in tough situations. This juxtaposition highlights the complexities of life, where progress can be met with unforeseen challenges or risks. It reflects the struggle between personal advancement and the harsh realities of one’s environment.

JID is referencing eye for an eye violence, where a murder will be avenged with another murder.

Here, JID is describing a scene from East Atlanta (the A), where individuals of various ages are involved in illegal activities, possibly drug dealing (a pound typically refers to a pound of marijuana). Dog cage might symbolize the constraints and limitations of their environment, suggesting they are trapped in a cycle of illegal activities.

He’s saying the you have to pay him more for a feature.

Eminem throws a warning shot here to Diddy.
Eminem has proven over the years that he’s unbeatable in battle-rapping.

Most recently, earlier this year Eminem dissed the American rapper Benzino in his song “Doomsday Pt.2” after Benzino teased him for a long time.
The diss track made Benzino beg to squash the beef with Eminem during an interview in Drink Champs.

“Through conscious, I conjure that”: This line suggests that through his conscious mind or awareness, Slim or Em is able to evoke or summon certain thoughts or images.

“Kamikaze”: This reference could have multiple layers. Kamikaze pilots were Japanese pilots who carried out suicide attacks during World War II, which could symbolize a fearless, all-out approach. Eminem also released an album titled Kamikaze, where he took on a similarly aggressive, no-holds-barred attitude.

“I’m concoctin' this” could also sound like “I’m gun cocked in this” with the literal gun cocking ad-lib in the background and the following lines adding on to the gun scheme

DJ Paul of rap group Three 6 Mafia was born with Erb’s palsy, a nerve condition which atrophies the muscle.

This line may be directed at Benzino, with whom Eminem has had a longstanding feud. In early 2024, Em reignited their rivalry on “Doomsday Pt. 2” mocking his short neck and arms:

Arm so short he can’t even touch his hands
When they’re above his head doin' jumpin' jacks (Wow)

The fact that Paul and Em have no known beef, yet Paul is still insulted, is an illustration of the “strays” Em warned of at the beginning of the verse.

The line itself is a reference to the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, connecting the previous line (“I became God”). BK brawl refers to bare knuckle brawling, which is of course a form of boxing.

A similar reference was made by Xzibit in Eminem’s 2000 track, “Bitch Please II”:

Your little lungs is too small to hotbox with God

Knowing that JID is from East Atlanta adds context to his lyrics. In this line, he addresses the realities of his environment, where violence and hardship can feel like a way of life.

When he mentions “they play, they gotta partake,” it suggests that in his community, there’s an expectation to engage in the struggles around them. The “heart full of hate” and “face full of war paint” symbolize how people armor themselves emotionally and physically to navigate a tough life. The “eyes all red, full of rage” captures the pain and anger that come from these experiences, and “hard to escape from a dark place” reflects the difficulty of breaking free from cycles of violence and despair that can define inner-city life. Overall, it highlights the impact of his upbringing on his identity and the challenges faced by those in his community.

This is a play on words with test. Eminem says “they do not test” which indicates that he is ready to attack anyone coming at him and they shouldn’t test him.

An essay is a piece of writing that is used by teachers to test your knowledge on a topic. hence “they do not test like an essay”

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Competitors have been coming at Eminem’s throne for years now. He references Biggie and Pac, who were both murdered in their prime, and says that the only way someone “kills” him would have to be a literal murder.

In other words, it’s not possible for any rapper to lyrically murder Eminem.

A platter is a tray that you can fill food on. Here JID is saying that he can make a girl let him eat her out.

When he says like a platypus, he is combining the two words platter and pussy.

Eminem references his career longevity and his impactful collaborations with Dr. Dre, who produced many songs for the old him. This supercharged his rise in the hip-hop industry.

TEC is a reference to the TEC-9, a semi automatic pistol made for spray fire. TEC also stands for The Eminem Community, Eminem’s fanbase.

Ethan Crumbley is a 15-year old convicted mass murderer, responsible for the deaths of 4 students at Oxford High School), which is located in the Detroit exurb of Oxford Township, just 39 miles south of where Eminem attended high school. Crumbley’s parents were subsequently arrested and convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the first US parents to be charged with having responsibility for a mass school shooting by a child.

In his manifesto, Crumbley called himself “the demon”, with Em comparing himself to Crumbley, calling himself the reaper, who is the personification of death.

Violence is often used as a way to express a message, since violence attracts news attention. An example of this is the Kyle Rittenhouse case, which is mentioned later by Eminem.

Coup de grâce – the final kill shot or blow.

Eminem also has a MGK diss track called ‘Killshot’ – the artwork depicting the reticule ‘right between the eyes’

The line comes at the end of the song, much like the last round in a magazine or the last hit of a combo that staggers and knocks the opponent out

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This resembles Eminem’s featured verse on “Speedom (Wwc2)”, where he said:

Ammunition replenished, the Punisher
With his gun insured, hundred words
In a clip, other words motherfuckers better run

This is likely a nod towards his collaborator and friend Tech N9ne, as earlier on this track Em said:

For a couple decades (Brrt)
Been lettin' this TEC spray (Brrt)

It’s also worth noting that it’s been decades since Tech and Em both featured on hip-hop duo Sway & King Tech’s “The Anthem”, released in the late 90s. Plus, Tech incidentally released his studio album COSM the same day Em dropped The Death Of Slim Shady.

Here, Eminem uses wordplay with “base” referencing both a crack base and being fundamentally mistaken. It underscores how out of touch someone must be to challenge him.
He’s talking about kids playing stick ball in the street. ‘on base if you thinkin you can touch my car’ is also saying these kids are using a car as ‘base’ in their game.
Also continuing the Diddy references, with him allegedly trying to blow up Kid Cudi’s car.

n.b. when he says “base”, a bass sound plays.

Plenty to unpack here.

R-A-P-P-E-R, spelled without a P, spells raper.

Em also ends the line with “P, did he"—a homophone of P. Diddy—one of the stage names of rapper Sean John Combs. Em has mentioned Diddy before in reference to his involvement with Tupac’s death. Diddy is a controversial figure and has been sued for sexual assault on multiple occasions. He also contrasts the word rapper with raper (rapist). Em is saying that Diddy doesn’t have credibility as a rapper – so instead of forming part of the world of rappers, he should be left out, included among rapists instead.

S-As, short for sexual assaults, is a homophone of “essays” (mentioned in the previous bars) and also a homophone for “ese”, a Mexican Spanish term to refer to a friend.

One of Eminem’s favorite groups and major influences, Gang Starr, certainly did not have all this in mind when they titled a song “As I Read My S-A” back on their classic Hard to Earn.

Finally, this is a callback to a lyric in “The Real Slim Shady”:

He didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?

Kellen Mond is a quarterback for Texas A&M college known for his strength.

Kellen showed appreciation for the shoutout on X, posting:

Wizard with the bars! 🔥 @JIDsv

Fuel || Eminem x JID https://t.co/fqIjiM1QhX
— K M o n d (@TheKellenMond) July 13, 2024

Before his rapping fame, JID too played college football, aspiring to play professionally.

This line is connected to the two lines prior to this “Nobody’s sixteens are touching
These motherfuckin' index fingers fuckin' the nina”

Em is using M16 rifle as a metaphor for 16 rap bars and saying your M16 rifle is not enough against him when he comes holding a 9mm pistol

Em is asking what you’ll do if he doesn’t ‘run out of fuel’ is also him asking other artists what would they do if he never stops making music.

The thought of Eminem never retiring scares them, because old rappers, and new rappers will always have a popular and good competitor to always take the spotlight from them.
It can also scare them, because Eminem can be a massive threat in terms of competition. Just looking at his disses is enough to see why he can be viewed as a threat.

Eminem is known for his intense and often violent lyrics, here using the sound of a SIG Sauer pistol firing as a metaphor for his own sharp, impactful words—not just sound effects in his music but powerful messages that hit hard like gunshots.

Eminem also faced criticism for using gunshot sound effects shortly after mass shootings in Florida in 2018, during his performance at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Ethan Crumbley, who Shady mentions at the end of this verse, also used a 9mm SIG Sauer SP 2022 semi-automatic handgun during the Oxford High School shooting.

JID name drops the places of worship for Judaism, Islam, Buddhism (but other religions too) and Christianity, suggesting that no matter what religion you switch to, you cannot escape your sins.

Handing out flowers is usually a sign of endearment or condolences at funerals

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The lyrics are derived from the 2019 song “Ridin' Round” by III Diam, which JID has incorporated into his track “Fuel,” a fact that remains largely unknown to many.

Ridin' Round:

Smoking trees, and ridin' and round
Come to my side of town
Lately its been going down

vs…

Fuel

Smokin' trees, I’m ridin' ‘round
Come to my side of town
Lately, it’s been goin’, goin', goin', goin', goin' down (Look, uh, look)

Kon Artis is Denuan. He was a member of D12 and Eminem’s friend since childhood and also his hypeman since proof died. He is the producer of the song and has produced multiple songs for Eminem over the years.

Eminem uses “running out of fuel” as a metaphor for losing motivation or creative energy. The idea that this scares others suggests his dominance in the rap industry; his presence and productivity are threats to other artists.

A toaster is a gun, and English muffins are heated in a toaster.