“Kill You” is one of the most unsettling tracks in Eminem’s catalogue, and one of the most enduring.
Released as a promotional single from “The Marshall Mathers LP” in 2001, after the album release, the track stirred national controversy and landed Eminem on the Senate floor.
The song, which dives into the dark themes that defined early Eminem, did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and received only modest certifications (Gold in the Us and UK, Platinum in Australia and New Zealand). Still, it became a defining moment in his career. In 2000, then-Second Lady Lynne Cheney cited the lyrics during a Senate hearing, calling them “violence of the most degrading kind against women” and accusing Eminem of glorifying rape and murder.
That criticism only fuelled the track’s legacy. Over 20 years later, “Kill You” remains a fan favourite at live shows. Eminem often uses it to kick off his set, like he did during his Abu Dhabi show in 2019, where the crowd chanted every line back at him.
While the content is intentionally provocative, the numbers speak for themselves: “Kill You” is still one of Eminem’s most streamed solo deep cuts. The 40th to hit 300 million milestone on Spotify, to be exact.
