Berzerk (song)

"Berzerk"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Released August 27, 2013 (2013-08-27)
Format

Digital download

CD
Genre Rap rock[1][2]
Length 3:58
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Rick Rubin
Certification Platinum (RIAA)
Eminem singles chronology
"C'mon Let Me Ride"
(2012)		 "Berzerk"
(2013)		 "Survival"
(2013)
Music video
"Berzerk" on YouTube
Music sample
Eminem - "Berzerk"

"Berzerk" is a song by American rapper Eminem, and produced by Rick Rubin. The song, released on August 27, 2013, is the first single from Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", as well as the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right", taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, which Rubin had also produced, and Naughty by Nature's "Feel Me Flow". The song was heavily downloaded in its first week of release, resulting in the song debuting at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Composition

Rick Rubin produced "Berzerk".

The song, produced by Rick Rubin, samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right", taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill and also produced by Rubin, and Naughty by Nature's "Feel Me Flow".[3]

The song starts with a "blast of static, hard guitar and Em roaring out of the gate sounding like the long-lost, fourth Beastie Boy", according to Yahoo! Music critic Craig Rosen.[4] The song samples the "Kick it!" part of "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", performed by Ad-Rock.[3][5] According to Billboard's Lars Brandle, the song is "a punchy, guitar-and-beats driven song which channels Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' I Love Rock 'n' Roll and Licensed to Ill-era Beastie Boys."[6]

Release and promotion

"Berzerk" originally premiered on August 26, on SiriusXM channel, Shade 45.[7] The Marshall Mathers LP 2, a sequel to Eminem's acclaimed studio effort The Marshall Mathers LP, was revealed during MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, 2013 with two previews of "Berzerk" via Beats By Dr. Dre commercials.[8] Some critics describe Eminem's return in these commercials as the highlight of the show.[4] The video that accompanied the song featured a boombox prominently.[4] The song is the featured song for the 2013 season of Saturday Night Football, debuting with the September 7 Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry game.[9]

Commercial performance

"Berzerk" sold 362,000 downloads in its first week in the US, debuting at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Eminem's 15th Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.[10] The song has peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[11] When the R&B component of the chart is removed, the song debuted at number one on the Rap Songs chart.[10] "Berzerk"'s debut is just below the debut of the lead single for Recovery, "Not Afraid", which sold 379,000 copies in its first week.[12] It has sold over a million copies in the US as of October 2013.[13]

In Canada, the song debuted at number two with 50,000 downloads sold, which more than doubled the 24,000 downloads sold in the debut week of "Not Afraid".[14] It was Eminem's best one week download total ever in the country, until it was surpassed by the 54,000 downloads sold for Eminem's later single, "The Monster".[15] The song was certified Double Platinum in Digital downloads in Canada on November 1, 2013.[16]

The song debuted at number one on the UK R&B Chart[17] and was replaced on the chart by his single "Rap God".[18]

Critical reception

Will Hermers of Rolling Stone gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting its goal to "celebrate old-school hip-hop".[19] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, stating the song "harks back" to Eminem's "Slim Shady days". Copsey compared the song to Beastie Boys circa 1986, although the song as "inimitable" and "unmistakably Eminem".[20] Vh1 India gave the song 8/10 concluding, "Whether you shudder under 'Berzerk's' cacophonous assault or wear its raps like an emblem — it's 2013, and Eminem still got your attention."[21]

Music video

During the halftime at the September 7, 2013 Michigan–Notre Dame football game, Eminem premiered a preview of the music video for "Berzerk". Then the video was premiered two days later on September 9, via VEVO. The video was filmed in Brooklyn, New York and directed by Syndrome.[22] It features cameo appearances from fellow American rappers Kendrick Lamar and Kid Rock[23][24] (both of whom Eminem mentions in the song's lyrics) in addition to Shady Records labelmates Slaughterhouse, Mr. Porter, Yelawolf and The Alchemist, the song's producer Rick Rubin and Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg. The video also features short clips of backyard wrestling as well as short clips of the official music video of Billy Squier's "The Stroke", which is heavily sampled in the song.[25] The video received a nomination at MTV Video Music Awards 2014 in the category "Best Hip-Hop Video".[26]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Result
2014 Grammy Awards (56th) Best Rap Performance Nominated
2014 World Music Awards Song of the Year Nominated
2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated
2014 Detroit Music Awards Outstanding Video / Major Budget (over $10,000) Won
2014 MTV Video Music Awards Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

Track listing

  1. "Berzerk" – 3:58
  1. "Berzerk" (Explicit) - 3:59
  2. "Berzerk" (Edited) - 3:58

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
scope=rowAustralia (ARIA)[28] 5
scope=rowAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 22
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] 44
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[31] 42
scope=rowCanada (Canadian Hot 100)[32] 2
scope=rowCzech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[33] 49
scope=rowDenmark (Tracklisten)[34] 15
scope=rowFrance (SNEP)[35] 10
scope=rowGermany (Official German Charts)[36] 10
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[37] 7
scope=rowHungary (Single Top 40)[38] 17
scope=rowIreland (IRMA)[39] 16
Italy (FIMI)[40] 25
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[41] 76
scope=rowNetherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 52
scope=rowNew Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 12
scope=rowScotland (Official Charts Company)[44] 3
South Korea (GAON)[45] 1
scope=rowSpain (PROMUSICAE)[46] 46
scope=rowSweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 56
scope=rowSwitzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 9
scope=rowUK Singles (Official Charts Company)[49] 2
scope=rowUK R&B (Official Charts Company)[50] 1
scope=rowUS Billboard Hot 100[51] 3
scope=rowUS Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 18
scope=rowUS Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[53] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Australia (ARIA)[54] 82
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[55] 60
Germany (Media Control AG)[56] 78
US Billboard Hot 100[57] 67
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[58] 18
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[59] 14

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[60] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[61] 2× Platinum 160,000^
United States (RIAA)[62] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Radio and release history

Region Date Format Label
Italy[63] August 27, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Universal Music
United States[27] Digital download Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
Mainstream urban radio[64]
September 3, 2013 Contemporary hit radio[65]
United Kingdom[66] October 6, 2013 Digital download

References

  1. ↑ ""Who decided that a rap-rock comeback was OK?": Initial thoughts on Eminem's bizarre Marshall Mathers LP 2 – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. October 31, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ Korina Lopez (August 27, 2013). "Is Eminem's 'Berzerk' worth the wait?". Usatoday.com. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Berzerk (liner notes). Eminem. Aftermath. 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Rosen, Craig (August 27, 2013). "Shady's Back — Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' Sampling the Beasties and Billy Squier". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ Danton, Eric R. (August 27, 2013). "Eminem Goes Old-School in New Song 'Berzerk': Rapper's single samples Billy Squier, Beastie Boys". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ Brandle, Lars (August 26, 2013). "Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' For New Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ Gleckman, Alexander (August 26, 2013). "Listen: Eminem "Berzerk" (Prod. By Rick Rubin)". Complex. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ Coulehan, Erin (August 25, 2013). "Eminem Announces New Album 'MMLP2'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ Humes, Michael (September 5, 2013). "Saturday Night Football Goes "Berzerk" with Eminem". ESPN. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Katy Perry Dethrones Robin Thicke Atop Hot 100". Billboard. September 4, 2013.
  11. ↑ Eminem - Chart history | Billboard
  12. ↑ "Eminem's 'Berzerk' Selling Strong, Heading for Big Debut". Billboard. August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  13. ↑ Grein, Paul. "Week Ending Oct. 6, 2013. Songs: Adele Reaches A Milestone". Yahoo. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  14. ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD SCORES FIRST NUMBER ONE ALBUM" (PDF). Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  15. ↑ "ARCADE FIRE SCORES THIRD CHART-TOPPING ALBUM Arcade" (PDF). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Gold Platinum Database: Eminem - Berzerk". Music Canada. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  17. ↑ "2013-10-19 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. October 19, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  18. ↑ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive". Official Charts. October 26, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Eminem's "Berzerk" review on Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. September 10, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Eminem: 'Berzerk' - Single review - Music Singles Review - Digital Spy". Digitalspy.ca. September 2, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  21. ↑ Berzerk | Vh1 India
  22. ↑ Eminem, Explains Berzerk | Complex
  23. ↑ "Eminem "Berzerk" Music Video Preview". Complex. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  24. ↑ Eminem Takes It Back with 'Berzerk' - Video | Rolling Stone
  25. ↑ Gil Kaufman (September 9, 2013). "Eminem Ropes In Detroit Homey Kid Rock For 'Berzerk' Video". Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  26. ↑ "2014 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations: Get The Full List". MTV. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Berzerk – Single by Eminem". iTunes Store (US). Apple. August 27, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Eminem – Berzerk". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Eminem – Berzerk" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Berzerk" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Berzerk" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Eminem. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201337 into search.
  34. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Eminem – Berzerk". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Eminem – Berzerk" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eminem – Berzerk". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Greece Digital Songs: September 14, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 15, 2013. (subscription required (help)).
  38. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 35, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Classifica settimanale WK 35 (dal 26-08-2013 al 01-09-2013)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Eminem. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eminem – Berzerk" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Eminem – Berzerk". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: October 19, 2013". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  45. ↑ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Gaon Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Eminem – Berzerk" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Eminem – Berzerk". Singles Top 100.
  48. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Eminem – Berzerk". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  49. ↑ "19, 2013/ Archive Chart: October 19, 2013" UK Singles Chart.
  50. ↑ "19, 2013/ Archive Chart: October 19, 2013" UK R&B Chart.
  51. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Eminem. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Eminem. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Eminem. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  54. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2013". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  55. ↑ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". Prometheus Gobal Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  56. ↑ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  58. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  59. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  60. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  61. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk". Music Canada.
  62. ↑ "American single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  63. ↑ "Eminem – Berzerk (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. August 27, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  64. ↑ blitz
  65. ↑ "CHR – Available for Airplay". FMQB. September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  66. ↑ Corner, Lewis (September 11, 2013). "Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Music video". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
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