Released on Oct. 29, 2013, "The Monster" by Eminem featuring Rihanna is from the Detroit rapper's eighth studio album "The Marshall Mathers LP 2." Eminem co-wrote the song with Jon Bellion and Bebe Rexha, who recently revealed that she was broke when before the song became a hit.
Originally titled "Monster under My Bed," "The Monster" was initially recorded by Rexha and was intended to be included in her debut solo album. She believed at the time it had the potential to be a hit song but others did not think so.
"At the time I only had like, $200 in my account," Manila Bulletin quoted Rexha as saying during an interview with the media when she was in Manila, Philippines, for the annual "MTV Music Evolution Manila" concert. "And my father was like, 'You have to get a job or you have to go back to school. You cannot live like this.'"
Rexha revealed that she shopped "The Monster" to all the record labels in the United States and nobody thought the song was a hit. However, Eminem knew there was something about the song when he heard it and wanted it immediately, the singer-songwriter revealed.
"The Monster" charted not only in the Billboard Hot 100. The song also dominated the charts in other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland and Ireland.
Eminem put out the song, which eventually became four-time platinum. Because of the song's success, Rexha was "definitely not broke anymore after," the singer-songwriter recalled.
On the other hand, Rexha pointed out that when it comes to songwriting, she has no formula. She said she never tried to write a hit song, but instead, she writes whenever she is inspired and it always comes from the heart.
The new issue of Entertainment Weekly features Rexha. The singer-songwriter shared to the magazine her journey from being a kid in New York City to transforming into a songwriter who has worked with successful rappers like Eminem and Iggy Azalea.
At this point, Rexha is proud of her work and how far she has come. Watch the music video of "The Monster" by Eminem and Rihanna here: