Eminem’s “Encore” single “Like Toy Soldiers” has been certified 2x Platinum in New Zealand by Recorded Music NZ, marking over 60,000 units sold in a country with a population of only 5 million.
At the time, “Like Toy Soldiers” stood out as one of the most heartfelt and vulnerable moments in Em’s catalogue. Built on Martika’s 1989 ballad “Toy Soldiers”, the song turned into something much bigger than a nostalgic sample. NME even hailed it as “hip hop’s first genuine lighters-in-the-air stadium anthem” and arguably the highlight of “Encore”. Eminem’s exhaustion was palpable as he admitted the cost of rap feuds: “Even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it”.
What’s interesting is how differently the track was received around the world. In the US, where the beefs he referenced were unfolding, it peaked at No.34 on the Billboard Hot 100 – surprisingly modest given the song’s scope. Yet outside America, the message landed differently. Stripped of the politics, international listeners embraced its symbolism of unity and consequence. The track hit No.1 in the UK and landed in the top 10 across 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Denmark, and New Zealand.
And this is what makes “Like Toy Soldiers” timeless. It’s more than a commentary on rap rivalries, but a song about fatigue, regret, and the human toll of constant battles, whether in music or in life. The fact that New Zealand listeners are still streaming and buying it enough to double-platinum status in 2025 proves the message has never lost its importance. And that is why Em still performs it at his shows until this day.
