The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Bad Guy

Eminem

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

421

Internal

172

Multi

510

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus: Sarah Jaffe]

I flee the scene

Like it was my last ride

You see right through

Oh, you had me pegged^✦ the first time

You can see the truth

But it's easier^✦ to justify^✦ what's bad is good

And I hate to be the bad guy

I just hate to be the bad guy

(Follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh-run,^✦ follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh-run)^✦

I just hate to be the bad–

[Verse 2: Eminem]

And to think I used^✦ to think you was the shit, bitch

To think it was you at one time I worshipped? Shit

Think you can hurt people and just keep gettin'^✦ away^✦ with it?

Not this time, you better^✦ go and get the sewing^✦ kit, bitch

Finish this stitch, so you can reap what you sew, nitwit^✦

Thought some time would pass and I'd forget^✦ it? Forget^✦ it

You left our family^✦ in shambles

You expect me to just get over^✦ him, pretend he never^✦ existed?

May be gone but he's not forgotten

And don't think 'cause he's been out the picture^✦

So long that I've stopped^✦ the plottin' and still ain't coming^✦ to get ya

You're wrong and that shit was rotten^✦

And the way you played him, same shit you did to me, cold

Have you any^✦ idea^✦ the shit that I've gone through?

Feelin's I harbor?^✦ All this pent-up^✦ resentment I hold on to?

Not once you call to ask me how I'm doin'

Letters, you don't respond to 'em

Fuck it, I'm comin'^✦ to see you

And, gee, who better^✦ to talk to than you?

The cause of my problems

My life is garbage,^✦ and I'm 'bout to take it out on ya

Poof, then I'm gone, voosh

[Chorus: Sarah Jaffe]

I flee the scene

Like it was my last ride

You see right through

Oh, you had me pegged^✦ the first time

You can see the truth

But it's easier^✦ to justify^✦ what's bad is good

And I hate to be the bad guy

I just hate to be the bad guy

(Follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh-run,^✦ follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh-run)^✦

I just hate to be the bad guy

(Follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh-run,^✦ follow^✦ me, I ruh-uh,^✦ ruh-uh-un)

[Verse 3: Eminem]

I've been drivin'^✦ around^✦ your side of this town

Like nine frickin' hours and forty-five minutes now

Finally,^✦ I found your new address, park in your drive

Feel like I've been waitin'^✦ on this moment^✦ all of my life

And it's now arrived and my mouth is full of saliva^✦

My knife is out and I'm duckin'^✦ on the side of your house

See, it's sad it came to this point

Such a disappointment^✦ I had to make this appointment^✦

To come and see ya, but I ain't here for your empathy^✦

I don't need your apology or your friendship or sympathy^✦

It's revenge that I seek, so I sneak

Vengefully and treat your bedroom window^✦ like I reached my full potential – I peeked^✦ (Haha)^✦

Continue to peep, still bent low, then keep

Tapping the glass lightly then start to crescendo, sneak

All the way 'round to the back porch

Man, door handles unlocked, shouldn't be that easy^✦ to do this

You don't plan for intruders beforehand?

Surprised to see me? Cat got your tongue?

Gag, chloroform rag, dag, almost^✦ hack-up^✦ a lung

Like you picked^✦ an axe up and swung, stick to the core plan

Dragged to the back of a trunk by one of your fans

Irony's spectacular, huh? Now who's a faggot,^✦ you punk?

And here's^✦ your Bronco^✦ hat, you can have that shit back 'cause they suck

It's just me, you and the music^✦ now, Slim, I hope you hear it

We're in a car right now—wait,^✦ here comes^✦ my favorite lyric^✦

"I'm the bad guy who makes^✦ fun of people that die"

And hey, here's^✦ a sequel^✦ to my Mathers^✦ LP just to try to get people to buy

How's this for a publicity stunt? This should be fun

Last album now 'cause after^✦ this you'll be officially^✦ done

Eminem^✦ killed^✦ by M and M, Matthew^✦ Mitchell

Bitch, I even^✦ have your initials, I initially^✦ was

Gonna^✦ bury^✦ you next to my brother, but fuck it

Since you're in love with your city^✦ so much, I figured,^✦ what the fuck

The best place you could be buried^✦ alive^✦ is right here

Two more exits,^✦ time is quite near

Hope we don't get stopped,^✦ no license I fear

That sirens I hear?

Guess ninety^✦ on the freeway wasn't the brightest idea^✦

As cops appear^✦ in my driver's side mirror^✦

(Oh, God, police,^✦ agh)

Hope Foxtrot gets an aerial^✦ shot of your burial^✦ plot, at least

New plan, Stan

Slim: "Chauvinist pig drove in this big Lincoln Town Car"

Well, gotta^✦ go, almost^✦ at the bridge

Haha,^✦ big bro, it's for you, Slim, this is for him

And Frank Ocean;^✦ oh, hope you can swim good

Now say you hate homos^✦ again^✦

[Part II]

[Verse: Eminem]

I also^✦ represent^✦ anyone^✦ on the receiving end of those jokes^✦ you offend^✦

I'm the nightmare you fell asleep^✦ and then woke up still in

I'm your karma^✦ closin'^✦ in with each stroke of a pen

Perfect time to have some remorse to show for your sin

Nope, it's hopeless, I'm that denial^✦ that you're hopelessly in

When they say all of this is approachin' its end

But you refuse^✦ to believe that it's over,^✦ here we go all over^✦ again^✦

Back's to the wall, I'm stackin' up all them odds, toilets clogged

Yeah, 'cause I'm talkin'^✦ a lot of shit, but I'm backin'^✦ it all up

But in my head there's^✦ a voice in the back and it hollers

After^✦ the track is demolished, I am your lack of a conscience

I'm the ringin'^✦ in your ears, I'm the polyps on the back of your tonsils

Eatin'^✦ your vocal^✦ cords after^✦ your concerts

I'm your time that's almost^✦ up that you haven't^✦ acknowledged, grab for some water^✦

But I'm that pill that's too jagged^✦ to swallow

I'm the bullies you hate that you became^✦

With every^✦ faggot^✦ you slaughtered comin'^✦ back on ya

Every^✦ woman^✦ you insult, batter^✦

But the double-standard you have when it comes^✦ to your daughters

I represent^✦ everything^✦ you take for granted

'Cause Marshall Mathers,^✦ the rapper's persona's half a facade^✦

And Matthew^✦ and Stan's just symbolic

Of you not knowin'^✦ what you have 'til it's gone

'Cause after^✦ all the glitz and the glam, no more fans that are callin'^✦ your name

Cameras are off, sad, but it happens^✦ to all of them

I'm the hindsight to say, "I told you so"

Foreshadows of all the things that are to follow^✦

I'm the future^✦ that's here to show you what happens^✦ tomorrow

If you don't stop after^✦ they call ya

Biggest laughing stock of rap who can't call it quits

When it's time to walk away,^✦ I'm every^✦ guilt trip, the baggage^✦ you have, but

As you gather^✦ up all your possessions

If there's^✦ anything^✦ you have left to say

'Less it makes^✦ an impact then don't bother^✦

So 'fore you rest your case better^✦ make sure you're packin'^✦ a wallop^✦

[Outro: Eminem]

So, one last time, I'm back

'Fore it fades^✦ into^✦ black and it's all over^✦

Behold^✦ the final^✦ chapter in a saga^✦

Tryna^✦ recapture^✦ that lightnin' trapped^✦ in a bottle twice

The magic^✦ that started it all

Tragic^✦ portrait^✦ of an artist tortured^✦

Trapped^✦ in his own drawings

Tap into^✦ thoughts blacker and darker^✦ than anything^✦ imaginable

Here goes a wild stab in the dark

Uh, as I pick up where the last Mathers^✦ left off

Technical Breakdown

9.1

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres8.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.0

Performance and control

Computed Score9.13

Production

— S1, M-Phazes, StreetRunner, Vinny Venditto

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Eminem utilizes a high-density, multi-syllabic rhyme scheme to simulate the obsessive, unhinged psychological state of the character, blending personal vendetta with intricate structural precision.

A+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

Wordplay

Delivery

Multisyllabic internal rhyme chainsPhonetic repetitionRhythmic accelerationThematic continuity

Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a dense 'i'/'it' vowel progression, often clustering internal multi-syllabic rhymes (shambles/pamphlets/examples-esque patterns) that lead into aggressive, hard-consonant end-rhymes.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"reap what you sew, nitwit"

① The literal agricultural metaphor of harvesting consequences for one's actions (sewing/sowing).② The specific command to use the 'sewing kit' mentioned in the previous bar to physically repair the damage done to the family.

"out the picture"

① Literally being removed from a photograph or a family portrait.② Being absent or dead, serving as the inciting incident for the character's descent into madness.

Exceptional rhythmic integration where rhymes drive the emotional intensity

Strong character work with a consistent narrative voice

Seamless transitions between internal and terminal rhyme structures

Vocabulary remains aggressive but relies heavily on common vernacular

The narrative focus on revenge can limit metaphorical variety

Bad Guy

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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