"The Monster" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Single by Eminem featuring Rihanna | |||||||||||||||||||||||
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Released | October 29, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Genre | Hip hop | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Length | 4:10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eminem singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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"The Monster" is a song by American rapper Eminem, featuring guest vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna, taken from Eminem's album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013). The song was written by Eminem, Jon Bellion, and Bebe Rexha, with production handled by Frequency. "The Monster" marks the fourth collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna, following "Love the Way You Lie", its sequel "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" (2010), and "Numb" (2012). "The Monster" was released on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from the album. The song's lyrics present Rihanna coming to grips with her inner demons, while Eminem ponders the negative effects of his fame.
Upon release the song was met with positive reviews from music critics, who compared the song to "Love the Way You Lie". "The Monster" has successfully charted worldwide, topping the charts in twelve countries including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States' Billboard Hot 100. It also marks Eminem's first number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and has reached the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Italy and Spain.
The song's accompanying music video was directed by the American filmmaker Rich Lee, the video depicts Rihanna as Eminem's therapist in a session, as previous videos from his career are shown and referenced including "Mockingbird", "My Name Is", "Lose Yourself", "3 a.m.", "The Way I Am" and the 2001 Grammy Awards performance of "Stan" with Elton John. The video was well received and was nominated for several awards. Eminem and Rihanna performed the song live at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards.