THE ORIGIN STORY
According to a fictional XXL Magazine interview, the idea for “Bad Days” started after Tom MacDonald sent Eminem a late-night DM in 2024 saying:
“I don’t want to make a hit… I want to make history.”
Eminem agreed — but insisted it had to be honest, heavy, and personal. They brought in Merkules for his aggressive delivery, Jelly Roll for his soulful grit, Adam Calhoun for his unapologetic storytelling, and Dax for his poetic intensity.
THE SOUND
The beat, produced by a fictional collab between Dr. Dre and Tom MacDonald’s in-house team, blends ominous piano, thundering 808s, and eerie guitar riffs.
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Eminem opens with a blistering verse about fighting through depression while under the microscope of fame.
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Tom MacDonald spits a fiery middle finger to cancel culture and the pressure of public opinion.
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Merkules comes in like a freight train, rapping about loyalty and betrayal.
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Jelly Roll slows it down with a soaring, emotional hook:
“Even on my bad days, I’m still here breathing
Pain in my chest, but my heart’s still beating.”
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Adam Calhoun drops a hard-hitting verse about growing up rough and building a legacy against all odds.
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Dax closes with a spoken-word-meets-rap outro, turning the song into an anthem of survival.
THE MUSIC VIDEO
Set in a rain-drenched alley lit by flickering street lamps, the video shows each artist performing in different corners of the city before uniting under one massive bridge for the final chorus — the kind of shot that feels destined for hip-hop history.
