Detroit, Michigan rapper Eminem spoils one of the most tragic deaths in The Wire with a lyric in a popular song. Marshall Mathers, better known by his rap name, "Eminem", is one of the most acclaimed and influential rappers of all time. Transgressive, impossibly quick with a line, humorous and darkly serious in equal measure, and with a work ethic that's paralleled by few others, Eminem has well and truly earned his Academy Award, Emmy, and 15 Grammy Awards. Rapping professionally since the late 80s, Eminem has been a part of pop culture for decades.

Eminem has also had a respectable career in the movie and TV industries. From his pop culture breakout in 8 Mile to his hilarious cameo in The Interview, Eminem is someone who is extremely comfortable in his own skin, knows who he is, and isn't afraid to poke a little fun at himself while still being a rapper other musicians would dread getting into a beef with. Every one of his songs is lyrically rich, his rapid-fire delivery leaving plenty of room for clever and thoughtful wordplay. However, one of these clever lines inadvertently spoils a major The Wire moment.

Eminem's "Drop The Bomb on 'Em" Spoils Omar's Fate In The Wire

Omar And His Killer Are Mentioned In The Song

"Drop the Bomb on 'Em" is a track on Eminem's 2009 album, Relapse: Refill, which is a re-release of his sixth studio album, Relapse. Relapse: Refill includes seven extra songs, the last of which is "Drop the Bomb on 'Em". This song has Eminem assuming a Jamaican accent with plenty of slang words from the island thrown in. A chest-pounding beat that's at home during a workout session or in a dance hall, "Drop the Bomb on 'Em" is a solid if unremarkable addition to Relapse. It also includes the lyrics,

"I'm hard as Kenard, the little boy

Who shot Omar in The Wire"

This is, of course, a reference to Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) in The Wire. In season 5, Kenard (Thuliso Dingwall), who's barely 10 at the time, approaches an unaware Omar in a convenience store and shoots the legendary stick-up man in the head. It's a shocking and tragic moment that a lot of viewers didn't see coming, unless they heard "Drop the Bomb on 'Em" first, of course.

Omar's Death Is One Of The Wire's Most Tragic Moments

Omar Helped Perpetuate The Cycle Of Violence, Which Ended Up Killing Him

Omar Little's death is one of the most shocking in The Wire. One of the baddest men to walk the streets of Baltimore, Omar took on the Barksdales and Marlo's crew, and came out on top each time, avoiding death and making his enemies pay for hurting his friends. He's a legendary figure, so it's a complete surprise that his death comes unceremoniously at the hands of a youth whose hands are barely big enough to hold up the gun he's wielding.

Omar always lived "one day at a time", so it's not as if he expected to survive until old age, but this turn of events would likely even shock him. Omar was nearly out of the game, only returning from Puerto Rico for revenge after Marlo (Jamie Hector) tortured and killed Butchie (S. Robert Morgan). Omar was a criminal, but he tried to be moral, only killing when he had to. For all his efforts to be an honorable criminal, he was killed by a child. It's a horrible type of violence that Omar inspired, intentionally or not.

Eminem Is One Of Many Creators To Have Been Inspired By The Wire

Rappers Like Lil Wayne And Pusha T Have Lyrics Referencing The Show

The Wire is frequently ranked among the best shows of all time, and it generally circles the top three of most people's lists, along with Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. As a critical piece of American art, it has inspired other artists beyond Eminem. Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Childish Gambino, Gym Class Heroes, Mac Miller, and French Montana are just a few of the musicians to make The Wire references in their songs.

Shows like Community, Euphoria, and Bosch have also referenced The Wire. It's a show so embedded in popular culture, it's difficult to make any project about drug trafficking, police brutality, or bureaucracy without bringing up the beloved series. Hopefully, however, these projects avoid spoiling big parts of the series in the way of Eminem.