Not Alike
"Not Alike" is a hip hop diss track by American rapper Eminem, featuring fellow rapper Royce da 5'9", released on August 31, 2018, as the opening and lead single from Eminem's tenth studio album, Kamikaze.[1][2] The song, produced by Tay Keith and Ronny J with additional production by Eminem, runs for 4:48 and critiques contemporary "mumble rap" artists while specifically targeting Machine Gun Kelly, sparking a notable feud that led to MGK's response track "Rap Devil".[3][4][5] The track incorporates samples from Migos' "Bad and Boujee" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) for its beat switch and BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive" (featuring Drake), blending trap influences with rapid-fire lyrical delivery from both artists.[6] Eminem's verse escalates the diss against MGK, referencing their ongoing tension that originated from a 2012 Twitter exchange involving Eminem's daughter Hailie, while Royce da 5'9" opens with explosive bars emphasizing their unique style on the microphone.[4][7] Upon release, "Not Alike" debuted and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 12 weeks on the chart, and reached number 20 on the UK Official Streaming Chart with three weeks of activity.[8][9] It also charted internationally, peaking at number 18 in Canada and entering top 40 positions in Australia and New Zealand, contributing to Kamikaze's massive debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with 434,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[10] The song's provocative content and technical prowess, including complex rhyme schemes and multisyllabic flows, have been highlighted as exemplars of Eminem's signature aggressive lyricism.[4]Background and development
Album context
Kamikaze is the tenth studio album by American rapper Eminem, surprise-released on August 31, 2018, through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records, with no prior promotion or announcement.[11][12] The album's drop aligned with the Labor Day weekend, catching fans and the industry off guard just eight months after Eminem's previous project.[13] This unheralded approach marked a departure from traditional rollout strategies, emphasizing Eminem's intent to reclaim narrative control amid ongoing discourse in hip-hop.[14] The release came in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction with Eminem's ninth studio album, Revival (2017), which drew significant backlash for its perceived shift toward a pop-oriented sound and diminished aggressive edge compared to his earlier work.[15] Critics and fans alike lambasted Revival for its formulaic production and lyrical choices that strayed from the raw intensity defining Eminem's legacy, leading to polarized reception and commercial underperformance relative to expectations.[16] Eminem has openly expressed frustration over this response, framing Kamikaze as a direct retort to the critiques that he felt misrepresented his artistic evolution.[17] Within Kamikaze, "Not Alike" appears as the eighth track, featuring fellow Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9"—Eminem's longtime collaborator from their duo Bad Meets Evil—positioning it as a key track in the album's broader motif of confronting detractors and contemporary hip-hop trends like mumble rap.[4][18]) The song contributes to Kamikaze's overarching narrative of defiance, underscoring Eminem's pushback against perceived dilutions in rap authenticity while highlighting his return to combative form.[19]Inspiration and recording
The creation of "Not Alike" stemmed from Eminem's dissatisfaction with the critical backlash to his previous album Revival (2017), where reviewers deemed his style outdated amid the rise of mumble rap's prevalence in hip-hop. Eminem expressed that the criticism often exceeded constructive feedback, motivating him to respond aggressively through the track, which critiques the genre's shift toward uniformity where music not aligning with mainstream trends is dismissed. He noted a perceived change in hip-hop culture, recalling an era when originality was paramount, contrasting it with contemporary expectations that favored formulaic sounds. This frustration fueled the song's confrontational tone, positioning it as a direct rebuttal to those labeling him irrelevant. To underscore their shared technical prowess against prevailing trends, Eminem chose to feature his longtime collaborator Royce da 5'9", drawing on their history as the duo Bad Meets Evil, formed in 1997 in Detroit. The inclusion of Royce highlighted their enduring partnership, which began with appearances on Eminem's The Slim Shady LP (1999) and was revived on Hell: The Sequel (2011), aiming to exemplify intricate lyricism in opposition to the simpler flows dominating the charts. Royce's verse was crafted to complement Eminem's, reinforcing the track's theme of distinction from "mumble rappers" while nodding to their mutual roots in Detroit's battle rap scene. Recording for "Not Alike" took place in 2018, primarily at Effigy Studios in Detroit, Eminem's personal facility, during sessions for the broader Kamikaze project. Royce da 5'9" traveled to contribute his verses in person, emphasizing the collaborative dynamic and allowing for real-time refinements to align their deliveries with the beat's structure. The process was kept under tight wraps, involving a small circle of trusted producers and engineers, consistent with the album's surprise release strategy. Eminem articulated the track's purpose as disrupting hip-hop's current landscape, likening the album's approach to arriving unannounced to "crash the party" of complacent trends, as reflected in promotional discussions around Kamikaze's unheralded drop.Composition and lyrics
Musical structure
"Not Alike" is a hip-hop track with a runtime of 4:48, divided into two distinct parts produced by different beatmakers to highlight its thematic contrasts.[4] The first part, handled by Tay Keith, features a bombastic trap beat characterized by rapid, trap-influenced hi-hats, booming 808 bass lines, and layered percussion that drives an energetic, Memphis-style bounce.[5] This production interpolates elements from Drake and BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive," incorporating similar hi-hat patterns and rhythmic drive to evoke mainstream trap aesthetics.[4] Midway through the song, at approximately the 2:30 mark, a prominent beat switch transitions to the second part, produced by Ronny J, which shifts to an aggressive SoundCloud rap-inspired sound with distorted synth leads, heavier sub-bass, and minimalistic, eerie synth pads mimicking the auto-tuned, mumble rap production trends of the era for satirical emphasis.[5][4] The chorus hook, "We are not alike," employs a melodic flow that interpolates the cadence from Migos' "Bad and Boujee," further nodding to trap conventions while underscoring the track's ironic critique through sonic parody.[6] Structurally, the song opens with an intro of ad-libs from Royce da 5'9" and Eminem, setting a confrontational tone before Royce delivers the first verse over Tay Keith's beat.[4] A pre-chorus builds tension, leading into the recurring chorus. Following the beat switch, Eminem takes the extended second verse with his signature rapid-fire delivery, exploiting the Ronny J production's intensity. The track concludes with an outro that fades out on the second beat's synths and bass, reinforcing the dual-part division without a traditional bridge or additional hooks.[4] This format—verse-chorus-verse with a mid-song instrumental pivot—exemplifies innovative hip-hop structuring, using the production shift to mirror the song's bifurcated energy.[5]Lyrical content
"Not Alike" serves as a diss track where Eminem and Royce da 5'9" assert their lyrical dominance over contemporary "mumble rappers," emphasizing technical prowess and intricate wordplay over simplistic flows and commercial trends. The chorus encapsulates this central theme with the repeated assertion, "We are not alike, there's nada like us on the mic," highlighting a perceived uniqueness in their mic skills amid a landscape of homogenized hip-hop.[4] Royce opens the track by contrasting their explosive, non-conformist approach with mainstream excess, rapping, "I don't do Jordans and Audemars / I do explosions and Molotovs," which underscores a raw, destructive energy in their delivery that rejects luxury-branded, radio-friendly aesthetics.[4] This sets up a broader critique of mumble rap's perceived lack of substance, exemplified by the line "Y'all music sound like Dr. Seuss inspired it," a jab at artists like Lil Yachty whose ad-lib-heavy, melodic styles are likened to children's rhymes for their playful yet lyrically sparse nature.[20] Eminem's verse escalates the disses with multisyllabic rhymes and cultural barbs, targeting specific figures while weaving in rapid-fire internal schemes that showcase his technical superiority. He directly confronts Machine Gun Kelly, rapping, "And I'm talkin' to you / But you already know who the fuck you are, Kelly / I don't use sublims and sure as fuck don't sneak-diss / But keep commenting on my daughter Hailie," referencing MGK's prior remarks about Eminem's family as the spark for their feud.[21] A veiled shot at MGK appears in lines implying personal vulnerabilities, such as warnings against overstepping boundaries in a way that alludes to his life choices without explicit naming. Eminem also nods to broader mumble rap influences, critiquing the shift toward experimental, less rhyme-focused rap through lines like "Young Thug poster, unplugged toaster."[4] These references are delivered through dense wordplay, such as "I'm fuckin' these syllables, I let 'em lick on my genitals," where Eminem personifies his rhymes as sexual conquests to emphasize mastery over language.[4] Royce da 5'9"'s contribution reinforces the track's non-commercial ethos, with lines like "We don't got nothin' in common / Y'all into stuff like doubled-up Styrofoam cups / On 'em uppers-and-downers," contrasting their focus on "doublin' commas" and authentic brotherhood against drug-fueled, trap-influenced party anthems. Eminem balances the aggression with humor and self-deprecation, acknowledging his veteran status in hip-hop by reflecting on past struggles: "'Cause life is a bitch, she's a bow-legged ho / But now those days are over," a nod to his age and career longevity while poking fun at his own controversial history, including references to figures like Harvey Weinstein to satirize his provocative persona.[4] This blend of bravado and introspection, set against a trap-inspired beat, amplifies the song's role as a lyrical manifesto defending traditional rap skills.[22]Release and reception
Promotion and release
"Not Alike" was released on August 31, 2018, as the eighth track on Eminem's tenth studio album Kamikaze, without prior designation as an advance single but featured prominently in the album's tracklist as part of its surprise rollout.[11] The album's unexpected drop was promoted minimally through Eminem's social media channels, including a midnight Twitter post announcing its availability and YouTube uploads of official audio tracks, which extended to "Not Alike" and facilitated immediate streaming on platforms such as Spotify.[23][3] No official music video was produced for the song, though several lyric videos and fan-created edits emerged on YouTube shortly after the release, garnering views alongside the official audio.[24] While Kamikaze tracks like "Lucky You" and "Venom" appeared in live sets during Eminem's 2019 Rapture Tour, "Not Alike" was not performed, though Royce da 5'9" made guest appearances for select dates, including collaborative segments.Critical response
Upon its release as part of Eminem's album Kamikaze, "Not Alike" received mixed critical reception, with reviewers often highlighting its technical rap elements alongside broader concerns about the track's lyrical approach and the album's overall tone. Pitchfork commended Eminem's enduring technical prowess, including intricate flows and internal rhymes, but critiqued the album's repetitive disses and lack of deeper insight, rating Kamikaze 5.0 out of 10.[25] Rolling Stone singled out "Not Alike" as a standout, praising the scorching interplay between Eminem and Royce da 5'9", with Royce's verse noted for its tight rhymes and complementary aggression that elevated the track's energy.[26] The song's beat switch midway through, produced by Tay Keith, was frequently appreciated for injecting renewed intensity and marking a high point in the album's production.[27] Reviewers like those at Vox described Kamikaze—and by extension tracks like "Not Alike"—as a fiery return to Eminem's aggressive roots, full of impressive skill that contrasted with the missteps of his prior album Revival.[28] However, criticisms focused on the track's reliance on feuds and disses, with The Guardian observing Eminem's sneering at contemporary styles like the Migos flow while questioning the relevance of such interpersonal conflicts in a 3/5-star album review.[29] The song also drew scrutiny for the album's lyrical controversies, including homophobic undertones in Eminem's bars, which Pitchfork highlighted as tone-deaf elements persisting across Kamikaze.[25] These factors contributed to the album's polarizing aggregate score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 16 reviews, reflecting divided opinions on its artistic merits.[30]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"Not Alike" debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at the same position, spending 12 weeks on the chart; its entry was propelled by robust streaming from the album Kamikaze, which amassed 225.5 million on-demand audio streams in its opening week across all tracks.[31][32] The track also charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Internationally, the song achieved top-40 status in multiple markets, supported by digital sales and streaming. It peaked at number 23 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, number 18 on Canada's Canadian Hot 100, and number 20 on the UK's Official Streaming Chart.[33][10][9]| Chart (2018) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 23 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 18 |
| UK (Official Streaming) | 20 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 17 |
Certifications and sales
In the United States, "Not Alike" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 8, 2022, for 500,000 units based on combined sales and on-demand streaming activity.[35] The track has also earned Platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for 70,000 units, Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for 200,000 units in the United Kingdom, and Gold certification from Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) for 15,000 units in New Zealand.[36] Sales were predominantly digital, reflecting the track's album-bound digital release, with minimal physical formats like vinyl limited to the parent album Kamikaze.| Region | Certification | Certified Units | Awarding Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Platinum | 70,000 | ARIA |
| New Zealand | Gold | 15,000 | RMNZ |
| United Kingdom | Silver | 200,000 | BPI |
| United States | Gold | 500,000 | RIAA |