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Why Eminem Swapped Pop Smoke for King Von in “Tone Deaf” Lyrics

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Did you know, Eminem made a distinct lyrical modification between the original unreleased draft and the official release of his 2020 track “Tone Deaf” from the deluxe edition of Music To Be Murdered By Side B album.

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In the original, unreleased version of “Tone Deaf,” Eminem penned a line paying respect to Brooklyn drill star Pop Smoke. The lyric read: “My enemies, I’m a chimney, give me the smoke, opps, / And R.I.P. to Pop Smoke, / and it don’t stop, / and I know not”. This line clever plays on the word “smoke” to connect his readiness for confrontation with an honor to the fallen artist.

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By the time the track was officially released, Eminem updated the line to pay tribute to Chicago rapper King Von instead. The finalized lyrics shifted to: “My enemies, I’m a chimney, give me the smoke, opps, / And R.I.P. to King Von, / and it don’t stop, / and I know not”. The modification seamlessly preserved the exact rhyme scheme and cadence while shifting the focal homage.

This lyrical swap offers a rare glimpse into Eminem’s creative process and his active connection to the hip-hop community. The change reflects the timeline of when the song was finalized relative to the tragic losses of both young stars, demonstrating how veteran artists adapt their music to pay real-time respects to fallen peers.

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You can listen to the unreleased version below:

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