Gnat

Many of us found ourselves with additional free time during the coronavirus lockdown, during which we devoured box sets and chatted with friends online. Eminem, however, kept writing rhymes. Here, he compares his lyrics to the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus. They say these bars are like COVID You get 'em right off the bat Infected with SARS and Corona Like you took a bite off of that Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Some investigators believe the outbreak may have come from humans eating bats. During this song, Slim plays on the origins of the disease to show how his viral flow is contagious, current and hard-hitting.

Throughout the rest of the track, Em incorporates several other references to the pandemic lexicon: dry cough, quarantine, stay at home orders, etc. "My penmanship at times tends to get ill," he raps, "violence but with skill."

The song title comes from Eminem having another poke at his longstanding rival, Machine Gun Kelly. They come at me with machine guns Like trying to fight off a gnat Eminem is comparing Machine Gun Kelly to a small but irritating insect. The Detroit native wordsmith's beef with MGK dates back to 2012, when the Cleveland rapper tweeted that Em's daughter, Hailie, was "hot as f--k." Since then the pair have exchanged lyrical punches with Slim Shady targeting Kelly on such tracks as "Not Alike" and "Killshot."