With the release of “Houdini,” the first song from his upcoming 12th album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce),” Eminem is giving his fans a preview of what to expect this summer. The song opens with a famous Eminem line, in which he calls on his longtime manager Paul Rosenberg to voice his dislike for the upcoming album. “Hi Em, this is Paul. I was taking in the album when… Rosenberg begins, “Good fucking luck, you’re on your own,” laying forth the groundwork for what is to come.
“Houdini” serves as a callback to Eminem’s 2002 single “Without Me,” starting with the singsong rhymes, “Guess who’s back, back again / Shady’s back, tell a friend.” The song, produced by Eminem and his longtime collaborator Luis Resto, features a chorus that cites Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra” and includes a line referencing the shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion. “If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me / Would I really have a shot at a feat? I don’t know, but I’m glad to be, back,” he raps, blending humor with topical references.
In true Eminem fashion, he doesn’t shy away from controversy in “Houdini.” The lyrics address transgender individuals, RuPaul, and even take shots at his own children, calling them “brats.” He provocatively raps, “Cancel me, what? Okay, that’s it, go ahead Paul, quit / Snake ass prick, you male cross dresser, fake ass bitch / And I’ll probably get shit for that (watch) / But you can all suck my dick, in fact, fuck them/ Fuck Dre, fuck Jimmy, fuck me, fuck you / Fuck my own kids, they’re brats (fuck ’em) / They can screw off, them and you all (yeah) / You too, Paul, got two balls, big as RuPaul’s.” This aggressive and unfiltered style continues to be a hallmark of his music, ensuring he remains a polarizing figure in the rap world.
In the “Houdini” music video, Eminem enters a portal that takes him back to the year that the original song was released, paying respect to “Without Me.” Among the celebrities who make cameos in the comic strip-styled video are 50 Cent, Pete Davidson, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Alchemist. It is reminiscent of the “Without Me” video. It features two different Eminems—one from 2002 and the other from the present—rapping simultaneously, producing a visually arresting yet nostalgic effect.
Since Eminem announced the album last month, there haven’t been many details released regarding “The Death of Slim Shady.” Longtime partner Dr. Dre made an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in March, during which he disclosed that Eminem was working on a new CD and had contributed to multiple tracks. To add to the excitement, Dre revealed that he was going to hear the album for the first time the day after his TV interview.
Eminem teased “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)” before the NFL Draft in April, implying that the project would be the last for his alter ego, Slim Shady. The teaser featured a scene from Detroit Murder Files, a crime drama. He published a phony obituary in the Detroit Free a few weeks ago Press, bidding adieu to Slim Shady, further building the narrative around the album.
