After Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon heard the finalized version “Fall” from Eminem’s surprise Kamikaze album, he took to Twitter to express his regret. The track contains a line about Tyler The Creator, which refers to him as a “faggot.”
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Vernon said he wanted to alter the song, but the powers that be refused.
“Was not in the studio for the Eminem track…came from a session with BJ Burton and Mike Will,” he wrote on Friday (August 31). “Not a fan the message, it’s tired. Asked them to change the track, wouldn’t do it. Thanks for listening to BRM.”
The indie rock artist then vowed to “kill” the track, while simultaneously praising Shady’s rapping skills.
“Eminem is one the best rappers all time, there is no doubt,” he wrote. “I have and will respect that. Tho, this is not the time to criticize Youth, it’s the time to listen. To act. It is certainly not the time for slurs.
“Wish they would have listened when we asked them to change it.”
Vernon concludes with, “I was wrong and we are gonna kill this track.”
“Em’s line in question goes, “Tyler create nothin’, I see why you called yourself a faggot, bitch/It’s not just ’cause you lack attention/It’s ’cause you worship D12’s balls, you’re sacrilegious/If you’re gonna critique me, you better at least be as good or better.”
Tyler was one several artists Em targeted on the 13-track project. Joe Budden, Earl Sweatshirt, Lil Pump, Lil Xan and mumble rappers in general all caught Shady’s wrath.
Revisit “Fall” below.