Trivia
- “The Warning” is a diss track aimed at Mariah Carey, with additional shots at her then-husband Nick Cannon. It was released in retaliation to Carey’s song “Obsessed” and social media posts made by Cannon — both of which were responses to Eminem’s “Bagpipes From Baghdad.”
- The track premiered on Eminem’s radio station Shade 45 and was later posted on ’s hip-hop website Rap Radar, which credited Mariah Carey as a featured artist due to her vocals on the track. The vocals are believed to be taken from the “Superman” sessions she recorded with Eminem in 2002.
- In the song, Eminem warns Carey that he will release the voicemails she left him, which would confirm their intimate relationship — a relationship she had publicly denied, with Eminem stating that denial was what started the feud.
- Carey did not respond. However, Cannon did, via social media and the song “I’m A Slick Rick,” in which he impersonates — even dressing like him for the song’s cover image.
- In 2005, it was reported that the Carey voicemails Eminem refers to in the song were used as an exclusive intro to a live performance of “Puke,” featuring the singer pleading: “I heard you were getting back with your ex-wife. Why won’t you see me? Why won’t you call me?”
- “The Warning” was released between Eminem’s 2009 album Relapse and its deluxe edition Relapse: Refill. Fans often include the track on unofficial Relapse 2 playlists due to the timing of its recording and release.
- The Eminem / Mariah Carey beef began in 2002. Their connection started when Eminem reached out to Carey in 2001, asking if she would play the role of his mother in his then-forthcoming movie 8 Mile. Radio executive and record producer Damizza, who was working closely with Carey at the time, claims she was insulted by the offer, as she is only four years older than Eminem. However, according to Damizza, not long after, he and Carey flew to Detroit to see Eminem, stating, “Next thing I know we’re at Eminem’s house, and they disappear. This went from business to ‘y’all fucking.’ So the second they went into his room, literally, I said I’m going back to L.A. She was on him at this point — it was her chasing him.”
Carey was then scheduled to feature on The Eminem Show track “Superman,” with plans progressing as far as her recording vocals for the song. However, something happened, the two fell out, and Carey was replaced by , who said, “I got flown in… Mariah was the original vocal on ‘Superman.’ And whatever happened happened — I think he was a little upset.”
- Eminem went on to reference Mariah a few more times after 2002, but received no response until the release of “Bagpipes From Baghdad,” which led to Carey releasing “Obsessed,” prompting Eminem to respond with this track as a Shade 45 radio single.
- The song was later added to the Pandora streaming service, available exclusively through Eminem Radio (random play).
Rumours began to spread about the pair dating and, when asked in interviews, Eminem claimed them to be true, while Carey denied it, stating, “I’ve spoken to him a few times, but in terms of me having an intimate relationship with men, I can count them on one hand, and he ain’t on the hand.”
Eminem then referenced his relationship with Carey on the finished version of “Superman” and “When The Music Stops,” both from The Eminem Show. Carey responded with the song “Clown,” and possibly “You Had Your Chance,” both from her 2002 album Charmbracelet.