Berzerk (song) Last updated September 12, 2025 Composition Rick Rubin produced "Berzerk". The song,produced by Rick Rubin,samples Billy Squier 's "The Stroke ",the Beastie Boys ' "Fight for Your Right ",taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill and also produced by Rubin,and Naughty by Nature 's "Feel Me Flow ". [ 3] Writing credits are given to Eminem,Rubin,Squier,Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys,and Anthony Criss ,Vincent Brown ,and Kier Gist of Naughty by Nature ,Ziggy Modeliste ,Art Neville ,Cyril Neville ,Leo Nocentelli and George 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 to Yahoo! Music critic Craig Rosen. [ 5] The song samples the "Kick it!" part of "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) ",performed by Ad-Rock . [ 3] [ 6] According to Billboard ' sJoan Jett &the Blackhearts ' I Love Rock 'n' Roll and Licensed to Ill -era Beastie Boys." [ 7]
"Berzerk" sold 362,000 downloads in its first week in the US,debuting at number three on the Billboard Hot 100Katy Perry 's Roar and Robin Thicke 's Blurred Lines ) becoming Eminem's 15th Top 10 hit on the Hot 100. [ 16] The song has peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [ 17] When the R&B component of the chart is removed,the song debuted at number one on the Rap Songs chart. [ 16] "Berzerk"'s debut is just below the debut of the lead single for Recovery ,"Not Afraid ",which sold 379,000 copies in its first week. [ 18] It has sold over a million copies in the US as of October 2013. [ 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] It was Eminem's best one week download total ever in the country,until it was surpassed by the 54,000 downloads sold for Eminem's later single,"The Monster ". [ 21] The song was certified Double Platinum in Digital downloads in Canada on November 1,2013. [ 22]
The song debuted at number one on the UK R&B Chart [ 23] and was replaced on the chart by his single "Rap God ". [ 24]
Critical reception Will Hermes of Rolling Stone gave the song 4 out of 5 stars,highlighting its goal to "celebrate old-school hip-hop". [ 25] Robert Copsey of 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 to Beastie 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]
Track listing Digital download [ 28] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Berzerk" Rick Rubin 3 :58
CD release Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Berzerk" (explicit) Rick Rubin 3 :59 2. "Berzerk" (edited) Rick Rubin 3 :58 Total length: 7 :57
Radio and release history References ↑ " . Fact . September 9, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2014 . [ permanent dead link ] ↑ Lopez, Korina (September 9, 2013). "Is Eminem's 'Berzerk' worth the wait?" . USA Today . Retrieved February 18, 2014 . 1 2 Berzerk Aftermath . 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2016 . {{cite AV media notes }}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link ) ↑ "ACE Repertory – Berzerk" . ASCAP . Retrieved October 28, 2021 . 1 2 3 Rosen, Craig (August 27, 2013). "Shady's Back — Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' Sampling the Beasties and Billy Squier" . Yahoo! Music . Retrieved August 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 . Retrieved August 29, 2013 . ↑ Brandle, Lars (August 26, 2013). "Eminem Goes 'Berzerk' For New Single: Listen" . Billboard . Retrieved August 29, 2013 . ↑ Eminem, Explains Berzerk | Complex ↑ "Eminem "Berzerk" Music Video Preview" . Complex . Retrieved September 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 . Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013 . ↑ "2014 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations: Get The Full List" . MTV. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014 . ↑ Gleckman, Alexander (August 26, 2013). "Listen: Eminem "Berzerk" (Prod. By Rick Rubin)" . Complex . Retrieved August 27, 2013 . ↑ Coulehan, Erin (August 25, 2013). "Eminem Announces New Album 'MMLP2' . Rolling Stone . Wenner Media LLC . Retrieved August 26, 2013 . ↑ Humes, Michael (September 5, 2013). "Saturday Night Football Goes "Berzerk" with Eminem" . ESPN . Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2013 . 1 2 "Katy Perry Dethrones Robin Thicke Atop Hot 100" . Billboard . September 4, 2013. ↑ "Eminem – Chart history | Billboard" . Billboard . Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2013 . ↑ "Eminem's 'Berzerk' Selling Strong, Heading for Big Debut" . Billboard . August 30, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 . ↑ Grein, Paul. "Week Ending Oct. 6, 2013. Songs: Adele Reaches A Milestone" . Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013 . ↑ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD SCORES FIRST NUMBER ONE ALBUM" (PDF) . Retrieved September 15, 2013 . [ permanent dead link ] ↑ "ARCADE FIRE SCORES THIRD CHART-TOPPING ALBUM Arcade" (PDF) . Retrieved November 8, 2013 . [ permanent dead link ] ↑ "Gold Platinum Database: Eminem – Berzerk" . Music Canada . Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013 . ↑ "2013-10-19 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive" . Official Charts Company . October 19, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014 . ↑ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Singles Archive" . Official Charts Company . October 26, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014 . ↑ "Eminem's "Berzerk" review on Rolling Stone " . Rolling Stone . September 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. ↑ "Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Single review – Music Singles Review – Digital Spy" . Digitalspy.ca. September 2, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013 . ↑ Berzerk | Vh1 India 1 2 "Berzerk – Single by Eminem" . iTunes Store (US) . Apple . August 27, 2013. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 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 from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 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 from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 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 from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 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 from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2013 . ↑ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100" . Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013 . ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 17, 2020 . ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" . GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved July 17, 2020 . ↑ "End of Year 2013" (PDF) . UKChartsPlus . Retrieved April 12, 2020 . ↑ "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs" . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved December 13, 2013 . ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2013 . ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs" . Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2013 . ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014" . Billboard . Retrieved September 12, 2019 . ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved June 29, 2024 . ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved December 16, 2024 . ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved June 13, 2024 . ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" . Music Canada . ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eminem; ' ' (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved April 17, 2018 . ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" . Radioscope. Retrieved December 18, 2024 . Type Berzerk in the "Search:" field. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Eminem" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved March 10, 2022 . ↑ "British single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 20, 2024 . ↑ "American single certifications – Eminem – Berzerk" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 1, 2022 . ↑ "Eminem – Berzerk (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. August 27, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013 . ↑ "blitz" . Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014 . ↑ "CHR – Available for Airplay" . FMQB . September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013 . ↑ Corner, Lewis (September 11, 2013). "Eminem: 'Berzerk' – Music video" . Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved October 15, 2013 .
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