# Tobey (song)
"Tobey" is a song by the American rapper Eminem featuring fellow Michigan rappers [Big Sean](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-sean) and BabyTron, released on July 2, 2024 as the second single from his twelfth studio album, *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)*.[1](https://www.eminem.com/news/listen-eminem-tobey/) • [2](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/) The title and central conceit reference the actor [Tobey Maguire](https://www.edgepedia.org/tobey-maguire), who played [Spider-Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/spider-man) in the early-2000s film trilogy; BabyTron opens the track with the line "Tobey Maguire got bit by a spider, but, see, me, it was a goat," tying the Spider-Man origin story to the rappers' own rise and to Eminem's self-styling as the "GOAT" (greatest of all time).[3](https://stereogum.com/2270267/eminem-tobey-feat-big-sean-babytron/music) • [4](https://www.stayfreeradioip.com/post/eminem-tobey-meaning-and-review)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | July 2, 2024, digital single; second single from *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)*[1](https://www.eminem.com/news/listen-eminem-tobey/) |
| Artists | Eminem with Big Sean and BabyTron, all from Michigan[2](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/) |
| Album position | Track 17 of 19 on the standard edition[5](https://www.shadyrecords.com/album/the-death-of-slim-shady-coup-de-grace/) |
| Length and label | 4:45; Shady/Aftermath/Interscope[6](https://www.universalmusic.it/popular-music/album/tobey_37425544665/) |
| Producers | Car!ton, Cole Bennett, Daniyel, Eminem, John Nocito, and marvy ayy[2](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/) |
| Chart debut | Number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100, against number 2 for the lead single "Houdini"[7](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/823686-eminem-tobey-billboard-debut-hip-hop-news) |
| Music video | Directed by Cole Bennett, shot in Detroit on blue screen with fully built 3D environments[8](https://frender.com/blog/from-concept-to-screen-creating-the-visual-feast-of-tobey/) |
## Release and context
"Tobey" arrived one month after "Houdini," the album's lead single, and around the same time Eminem announced the album's July 12, 2024 release date.[1](https://www.eminem.com/news/listen-eminem-tobey/) • [9](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/eminem/news/2024-07-03/) It was his first album in four and a half years, following 2020's *Music to Be Murdered By*.[9](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/eminem/news/2024-07-03/) The single brought together three generations of [Michigan rap](https://www.edgepedia.org/michigan-rap): BabyTron, born James Edward Johnson IV in 2000 in Ypsilanti, handles the chorus and opening verse; Big Sean takes the second verse; and Eminem closes the track.[10](https://uproxx.com/music/who-is-babytron-eminem-tobey/) • [11](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/821831-eminem-big-sean-babytron-tobey-stream) For Eminem and Big Sean it was a fourth collaboration, following "Detroit vs. Everybody," "No Favors," and "Friday Night Cypher"; neither rapper had previously recorded with BabyTron.[2](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/)
The single's cover art extends the Spider-Man theme, caricaturing the three rappers as Spider-Men in the pose of the well-known meme of three Spider-Men pointing at each other, with a goat drawn in the upper left corner.[12](https://los40.com/2024/07/05/eminem-se-inspira-en-spider-man-para-lanzar-los-versos-de-tobey-el-ultimo-adelanto-de-su-nuevo-disco/)
## Lyrics and structure
The song runs on extended Spider-Man wordplay. The chorus compares the city to Leia and the rapper to Obi-Wan with "a mission to pass," and Big Sean's verse continues the theme with "If he Obi-Wan, then I gotta be Yoda."[13](https://clutchpoints.com/entertainment/tobey-eminem-2024-song-review) Eminem's closing verse takes a more serious tone, addressing his legacy and his standing in hip-hop, and answers the early-1980s rap pioneer [Melle Mel](https://www.edgepedia.org/melle-mel), who had dissed him the previous year: "When I get dissed, though, and by a pioneer who was one of the reasons why I'm here... 'Melle Mel shouldn't get no reply, that man is a legend' / Bitch, so am I."[3](https://stereogum.com/2270267/eminem-tobey-feat-big-sean-babytron/music) • [12](https://los40.com/2024/07/05/eminem-se-inspira-en-spider-man-para-lanzar-los-versos-de-tobey-el-ultimo-adelanto-de-su-nuevo-disco/)
The instrumental is minimal, built on twinkling, ghostly keys with swelling synths, guitar, and understated drums underneath.[11](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/821831-eminem-big-sean-babytron-tobey-stream)
## Music video
The official video, directed by [Cole Bennett](https://www.edgepedia.org/cole-bennett), was released on July 5, 2024; Bennett had previously directed Eminem's videos for "Godzilla," "Gnat," and "Doomsday Pt. 2."[2](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/) It was shot entirely in the trio's hometown of Detroit, with a production running more than six weeks and editing continuing until two hours before release.[8](https://frender.com/blog/from-concept-to-screen-creating-the-visual-feast-of-tobey/) The shoot used blue screen throughout, and the visual-effects team at FRENDER built detailed 3D environments from scratch, from urban cityscapes to abstract, surreal spaces, compositing live-action footage into these digital worlds with rotoscoping and frame-by-frame keying of each performer. The result is a technically demanding, one-take-style visual that expanded on the approach of Bennett's earlier "100 Bars" video.[8](https://frender.com/blog/from-concept-to-screen-creating-the-visual-feast-of-tobey/)
## Commercial performance and reception
On the Billboard Hot 100 dated July 27, 2024, "Tobey" debuted at number 95, a sharp contrast with "Houdini," which had debuted at number 2 and was Eminem's highest-charting single since "The Monster" with Rihanna in 2013.[7](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/823686-eminem-tobey-billboard-debut-hip-hop-news) • [14](https://ca.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-07-27) Commentary at the time suggested the song could climb steadily with the album's release that Friday.[7](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/823686-eminem-tobey-billboard-debut-hip-hop-news)
Critical response was mixed. Tom Breihan of Stereogum called it "more like it" than "Houdini," describing it as "rap for rap's sake" with long, twisty verses from all three rappers.[3](https://stereogum.com/2270267/eminem-tobey-feat-big-sean-babytron/music) HotNewHipHop judged that all three rapped "with serious hunger" and that the track had strong replay value.[11](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/821831-eminem-big-sean-babytron-tobey-stream) A ClutchPoints review graded the song B+ while arguing that it "sounds too much like a song featuring Eminem rather than an Eminem song to serve as a single," noting that Eminem has only one verse, does not perform the chorus, and appears last.[13](https://clutchpoints.com/entertainment/tobey-eminem-2024-song-review) On Album of the Year, the single holds a user score of 58 based on 1,579 ratings.[15](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1000034-eminem-tobey.php)
## References
1. [LISTEN + WATCH: EMINEM – "TOBEY", Eminem.com](https://www.eminem.com/news/listen-eminem-tobey/)
2. [Eminem, Big Sean, and BabyTron Share New Song "Tobey": Listen, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/eminem-big-sean-and-babytron-share-new-song-tobey-listen/)
3. [Eminem – "Tobey" (Feat. Big Sean & Babytron), Stereogum](https://stereogum.com/2270267/eminem-tobey-feat-big-sean-babytron/music)
4. [Eminem Tobey Meaning and Review, Stay Free Radio IP](https://www.stayfreeradioip.com/post/eminem-tobey-meaning-and-review)
5. [THE DEATH OF SLIM SHADY (COUP DE GRACE), Shady Records](https://www.shadyrecords.com/album/the-death-of-slim-shady-coup-de-grace/)
6. [Tobey di Eminem, Big Sean, BabyTron, Universal Music Italia](https://www.universalmusic.it/popular-music/album/tobey_37425544665/)
7. [Eminem's "Tobey" Slots In At #95 On The Billboard Hot 100, HotNewHipHop](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/823686-eminem-tobey-billboard-debut-hip-hop-news)
8. [From Concept to Screen: Creating the Visual Feast of 'Tobey', FRENDER](https://frender.com/blog/from-concept-to-screen-creating-the-visual-feast-of-tobey/)
9. [最新シングル「Tobey」をリリース, Universal Music Japan](https://www.universal-music.co.jp/eminem/news/2024-07-03/)
10. [Who Is BabyTron From Eminem's New Single 'Tobey?', Uproxx](https://uproxx.com/music/who-is-babytron-eminem-tobey/)
11. [Eminem Has A Winner With Big Sean & BabyTron-Assisted "Tobey", HotNewHipHop](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/821831-eminem-big-sean-babytron-tobey-stream)
12. [Eminem se inspira en Spider-Man para lanzar los versos de 'Tobey', LOS40](https://los40.com/2024/07/05/eminem-se-inspira-en-spider-man-para-lanzar-los-versos-de-tobey-el-ultimo-adelanto-de-su-nuevo-disco/)
13. ['Tobey' review: Eminem recruits Detroit natives for new single, ClutchPoints](https://clutchpoints.com/entertainment/tobey-eminem-2024-song-review)
14. [The Billboard Hot 100, week of 2024-07-27, Billboard Canada](https://ca.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-07-27)
15. [Eminem, Big Sean & BabyTron - Tobey (Single), Album of The Year](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1000034-eminem-tobey.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Compositions and songs › Pop, rock, and metal songs › Hip-hop songs › 2020s hip-hop songs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license