Rapper Eminem is officially back as he dropped a new single called "Walk on Water" in collaboration with none other than Beyonce.
The new song is an emotionally charged ballad that features Beyonce's soaring vocals in the chorus, and Eminem's heavy lines in the verses. Unlike most rap songs, the single is mostly piano driven, and relies heavily on the two musical titans' vocals and the message in the lyrics to carry it.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, offers weighty, introspective lyrics that delve into his personal struggles of living up to the high expectations that he has set for himself. "Why are expectations so high?" he rapped. "Is it the bar I set, the arms I stretch, but I can't reach?"
"I'll walk on water, but I ain't no Jesus," sung Beyonce in the chorus. "I'm only human, just like you. I've been making my mistakes, oh if you only knew. I don't think you should believe in me the way that you do, because I'm terrified to let you down."
Eminem sends a very clear message with "Walk on Water," reminding his many fans that he is just human, just like them. This line of messaging is a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop genre, wherein songs usually center on wealth and fame. The message is even more resounding as it comes from two of the biggest icons in popular music.
"Walk on Water" was teased by Eminem last week when he posted on Instagram a photo of a fake doctor's prescription note that said: "Walk on Water. Take as needed."
The teaser was part of the "Revival" themed prescription advertisements that have been launched across the country with little explanation from the rapper or his marketing team. The new single is expected to be part of Eminem's comeback album, "Revival," which will be his first album to be released in a few years.
