2013 single by Eminem
"Berzerk " is a song by American rapperEminem . The song, released on August 27, 2013, is the firstsingle from Eminem's eighth studio albumThe Marshall Mathers LP 2 Rick Rubin andsamples Billy Squier 's "The Stroke ", as well as theBeastie Boys ' "Fight for Your Right ", taken from their 1986 debut albumLicensed to Ill 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 USBillboard Hot 100
Rick Rubin produced "Berzerk".The song, produced by Rick Rubin,samples Billy Squier 's "The Stroke ", theBeastie Boys ' "Fight for Your Right ", taken from their 1986 debut albumLicensed to Ill Naughty by Nature 's "Feel Me Flow ".[ 3] Adam Yauch andAdam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys, andAnthony Criss ,Vincent Brown , andKier Gist ofNaughty by Nature ,Ziggy Modeliste ,Art Neville ,Cyril Neville ,Leo Nocentelli andGeorge Porter Jr. for the "Feel Me Flow" segment.[ 4]
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 toYahoo! Music critic Craig Rosen.[ 5] (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) ", performed byAd-Rock .[ 3] [ 6] Billboard 's Lars Brandle, the song is "a punchy, guitar-and-beats driven song which channelsJoan Jett & the Blackhearts 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll Licensed to Ill -era Beastie Boys."[ 7]
During the halftime at the September 7, 2013 Michigan–Notre Dame football game, Eminem premiered a preview of themusic video for "Berzerk". Then the video was premiered two days later on September 9, viaVEVO . The video was filmed inBrooklyn, New York and directed by Syndrome.[ 8] cameo appearances from fellow American rappersKendrick Lamar (Em's Aftermath labelmate) andKid Rock [ 9] [ 10] Shady Records labelmatesSlaughterhouse (most prominentlyRoyce da 5'9" ),Mr. Porter ,Yelawolf andThe Alchemist , the song's producer Rick Rubin and Eminem's managerPaul Rosenberg . The video also features short clips ofbackyard wrestling , and public fights as well as short clips of the official music video of Billy Squier's "The Stroke", which is heavily sampled in the song.[ 11] MTV Video Music Awards 2014 in the category "Best Hip-Hop Video ".[ 12]
Release and promotion [ edit ] "Berzerk" originally premiered on August 26, onSiriusXM channel,Shade 45 .[ 13] The Marshall Mathers LP 2 The Marshall Mathers LP MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, 2013, with two previews of "Berzerk" viaBeats By Dr. Dre commercials.[ 14] [ 5] boombox prominently.[ 5] Saturday Night Football Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry game. On 10 November 2013 inAmsterdam for theMTV Europe Music Awards 2013 , he performed "Berzerk" and also "Rap God ".[ 15]
Commercial performance [ edit ] "Berzerk" sold 362,000 downloads in its first week in the US, debuting at number three on theBillboard Hot 100Katy Perry 'sRoar andRobin Thicke 'sBlurred Lines ) becoming Eminem's 15th Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.[ 16] Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[ 17] Rap Songs chart.[ 16] Recovery Not Afraid ", which sold 379,000 copies in its first week.[ 18] [ 19]
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".[ 20] The Monster ".[ 21] [ 22]
The song debuted at number one on theUK R&B Chart [ 23] Rap God ".[ 24]
Will Hermes ofRolling Stone [ 25] 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 toBeastie Boys circa 1986, although the song as "inimitable" and "unmistakably Eminem".[ 26] 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."[ 27]
Awards and nominations [ edit ] Digital download [ 28] CD release No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Berzerk" (explicit) Rick Rubin 3 :59 2. "Berzerk" (edited) Rick Rubin 3 :58 Total length: 7 :57
Region Certification Certified units /salesAustralia (ARIA )[ 64] 3× Platinum 210,000‡ Austria (IFPI Austria)[ 65] Gold 15,000* Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil )[ 66] Platinum 60,000‡ Canada (Music Canada )[ 67] 2× Platinum 160,000* Germany (BVMI )[ 68] Gold 150,000‡ New Zealand (RMNZ )[ 69] Platinum 15,000* Sweden (GLF )[ 70] Gold 20,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 71] Platinum 600,000‡ United States (RIAA )[ 72] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡ * Sales figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Radio and release history [ edit ] ^ " .Fact . September 9, 2013. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2014 .[permanent dead link ^ Lopez, Korina (September 9, 2013)."Is Eminem's 'Berzerk' worth the wait?" .USA Today . RetrievedFebruary 18, 2014 . ^a b Berzerk Aftermath . 2013. RetrievedApril 17, 2016 .{{cite AV media notes }}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )^ "ACE Repertory – Berzerk" .ASCAP . RetrievedOctober 28, 2021 .^a b c Rosen, Craig (August 27, 2013)."Shady's Back — Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' Sampling the Beasties and Billy Squier" .Yahoo! Music . RetrievedAugust 29, 2013 . ^ Danton, Eric R. (August 27, 2013)."Eminem Goes Old-School in New Song 'Berzerk': Rapper's single samples Billy Squier, Beastie Boys" .Rolling Stone . RetrievedAugust 29, 2013 . ^ Brandle, Lars (August 26, 2013)."Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' For New Single: Listen" .Billboard . RetrievedAugust 29, 2013 . ^ Eminem, Explains Berzerk | Complex ^ "Eminem "Berzerk" Music Video Preview" .Complex . RetrievedSeptember 8, 2013 .^ Eminem Takes It Back with 'Berzerk' – Video | Rolling Stone ^ Gil Kaufman (September 9, 2013)."Eminem Ropes In Detroit Homey Kid Rock For 'Berzerk' Video" .MTV the original on September 13, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2013 . ^ "2014 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations: Get The Full List" . MTV. Archived fromthe original on July 17, 2014. RetrievedJuly 18, 2014 .^ Gleckman, Alexander (August 26, 2013)."Listen: Eminem "Berzerk" (Prod. By Rick Rubin)" .Complex . RetrievedAugust 27, 2013 . ^ Coulehan, Erin (August 25, 2013)."Eminem Announces New Album 'MMLP2' .Rolling Stone Wenner Media LLC . RetrievedAugust 26, 2013 . ^ Humes, Michael (September 5, 2013)."Saturday Night Football Goes "Berzerk" with Eminem" .ESPN . Archived fromthe original on March 26, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 6, 2013 . ^a b "Katy Perry Dethrones Robin Thicke Atop Hot 100" .Billboard . September 4, 2013.^ "Eminem – Chart history | Billboard" .Billboard the original on August 18, 2016. RetrievedOctober 4, 2013 .^ "Eminem's 'Berzerk' Selling Strong, Heading for Big Debut" .Billboard . August 30, 2013. Archived fromthe original on September 3, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2013 .^ Grein, Paul."Week Ending Oct. 6, 2013. Songs: Adele Reaches A Milestone" . Yahoo. Archived fromthe original on October 12, 2013. RetrievedOctober 9, 2013 . ^ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD SCORES FIRST NUMBER ONE ALBUM" (PDF) . RetrievedSeptember 15, 2013 .[permanent dead link ^ "ARCADE FIRE SCORES THIRD CHART-TOPPING ALBUM Arcade" (PDF) . RetrievedNovember 8, 2013 .[permanent dead link ^ "Gold Platinum Database: Eminem – Berzerk" .Music Canada . Archived fromthe original on October 12, 2013. RetrievedNovember 1, 2013 .^ "2013-10-19 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive" .Official Charts Company . October 19, 2013. RetrievedJanuary 10, 2014 .^ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive" .Official Charts Company . October 26, 2013. RetrievedJanuary 10, 2014 .^ "Eminem's "Berzerk" review onRolling Stone " .Rolling Stone the original on September 18, 2013.^ "Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Single review – Music Singles Review – Digital Spy" . Digitalspy.ca. September 2, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2013 .^ Berzerk | Vh1 India ^a b "Berzerk – Single by Eminem" .iTunes Store (US)Apple . August 27, 2013. Archived fromthe original on November 6, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2013 .^ "Eminem – Berzerk" .ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in Dutch).Ultratop 50 . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in French).Ultratop 50 . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" .Billboard ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 37. týden 2013 in the date selector . ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" .Tracklisten . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in French).Le classement de singles . Retrieved October 21, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in German).GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Greece Digital Songs: September 14, 2013" .Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Archived fromthe original . RetrievedSeptember 15, 2013 .^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian).Single (track) Top 40 lista . Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 7, 2013. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Berzerk" .Irish Singles Chart . Retrieved January 26, 2020. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 35 (dal 26-08-2013 al 01-09-2013)" (in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Archived fromthe original on October 14, 2013. RetrievedApril 25, 2015 .^ "Eminem Chart History (Japan Hot 100)" .Billboard ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" (in Dutch).Single Top 100 . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" .Top 40 Singles . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100" .Official Charts Company .^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart Gaon Chart" .Gaon Chart . Archived fromthe original on October 14, 2013. RetrievedAugust 31, 2013 .^ "Eminem – Berzerk" Canciones Top 50 . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" .Singles Top 100 . ^ "Eminem – Berzerk" .Swiss Singles Chart . Retrieved September 15, 2013. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" .Official Charts Company .^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" .Official Charts Company .^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)" .Billboard ^ "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)" .Billboard ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" .Billboard ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2013" .Australian Recording Industry Association . Archived fromthe original on January 7, 2014. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2013 .^ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100" . Prometheus Global Media. RetrievedDecember 13, 2013 .^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. RetrievedJuly 17, 2020 .^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" .GfK Entertainment . RetrievedJuly 17, 2020 .^ "End of Year 2013" (PDF) .UKChartsPlus . RetrievedApril 12, 2020 .^ "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs" .Prometheus Global Media . RetrievedDecember 13, 2013 .^ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Prometheus Global Media. Archived fromthe original on June 24, 2017. RetrievedDecember 13, 2013 .^ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs" . Prometheus Global Media. Archived fromthe original on May 22, 2015. RetrievedDecember 13, 2013 .^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014" .Billboard . RetrievedSeptember 12, 2019 .^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF) .Australian Recording Industry Association . RetrievedJune 29, 2024 .^ "Austrian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" (in German).IFPI Austria. RetrievedDecember 16, 2024 .^ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" (in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil . RetrievedJune 13, 2024 .^ "Canadian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" .Music Canada .^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eminem; ' Berzerk' )" (in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie . RetrievedApril 17, 2018 .^ "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" . Radioscope. RetrievedDecember 18, 2024 .Type Berzerk in the "Search:" field and press Enter. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Eminem" (in Swedish).Sverigetopplistan . RetrievedMarch 10, 2022 .^ "British single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" .British Phonographic Industry . RetrievedDecember 20, 2024 .^ "American single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" .Recording Industry Association of America . RetrievedOctober 1, 2022 .^ "Eminem – Berzerk (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. August 27, 2013. Archived fromthe original on November 5, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 14, 2013 .^ "blitz" . Archived fromthe original on April 8, 2014. RetrievedApril 8, 2014 .^ "CHR – Available for Airplay" .FMQB . RetrievedAugust 31, 2013 .^ Corner, Lewis (September 11, 2013)."Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Music video" .Digital Spy Hearst Magazines UK . RetrievedOctober 15, 2013 .
