The Death of Slim Shady - Eminem returns with twelfth studio album
Eminem (51), with the civilian name Marshall Bruce Mathers, is back with a new work. The US Rapper is releasing his twelfth studio album "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)" (in English: "The Death of Slim Shady (Grace Shot)"). He generated buzz for the new record with two single releases, which in the lead-up provided a morbid preview.
Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and raised in Detroit in the suburb of Warren, the musician references his Alter Ego Slim Shady on his new album. He created this character through his EP "Slim Shady EP" from 1997 and his second studio album "The Slim Shady EP" from 1999, which he produced with Dr. Dre (59). Slim Shady served as an outlet for his frustration and anger towards the world. The album brought him hits like "My Name Is".
Celebrity Cameos and a Chainsaw
In the song "Houdini", which he released at the end of May with an extravagantly produced video featuring Cameos from 50 Cent (49), Dr. Dre, or Snoop Dogg (52), Eminem seemingly takes leave of his Alter Ego from the 1990s and uses the opportunity to dishing out harsh lines against music colleagues and the rest of the world. However, his statements turn out to be so enigmatic and contradictory that their true meaning usually remains unclear. And who is delivering the diss tracks - Eminem or Slim Shady? The self-deprecating and humorous aspects of the diss tracks won over fans. "Houdini" debuted at number one on the Billboard Global 200 and Streaming Songs Charts, while it reached number two on the Hot 100.
The second pre-release single "Tobey" was first teased on Eminem's social media on June 29th with a short teaser video showing the return of Slim Shady's Hockey Mask. "Tobey" featuring Big Sean & Babytron was released on July 2nd. In the video by Cole Bennett (28), Eminem misses his Slim-Shady-Alter-Ego a bloody end with a chainsaw.
Horror Clip and Emotional Tones
The album announcement was also bloody. In a short Horror Clip, a seemingly lifeless baby is born in a delivery room. Only after several harsh slaps on the bottom from the doctor does it come to life. The mother is happy and says to the baby in her arms, "You're the little devil baby with the forked tongue, that always bullied me." The baby opens its pitch-black eyes, and horns and sharp, demonic teeth grow from its head. The clip seems to represent the lyrics "little devil baby with the forked tongue, that hangs out" from the single "Houdini".
The album consists of 19 tracks and offers, in addition to the two pre-release singles, tracks with meaningful titles such as "Evil", "Lucifer", or "Antichrist". Eminem announced publicly on a recent Thursday, "Public Service Announcement: 'The Death of Slim Shady' is a concept album, so it might make no sense if you don't listen to the songs in the correct order." On the album, there is also a continuation of "Guilty Conscience" from 1999 with Dr. Dre from the album "The Slim Shady EP". "Guilty Conscience 2" is not a feature, but Eminem enlisted other artists such as Skylar Grey (38), Jelly Roll (39), or Bizarre (48) from D12 for various songs.
Eminem also sings more emotional tones and dedicates songs like "Temporary" or "Somebody Save Me" to his relationship with daughter Hailie Jade (28). "USA Today" assesses "Temporary," which features recordings of his little daughter at the time: "It's the most memorable song on 'The Death of Slim Shady' because it allows Eminem to put aside his facade and show his vulnerability - something seldom heard elsewhere on the album."
- Eminem's comeback album, "The Death of Slim Shady," features a collaboration with US-Rapper Snoop Dogg in the song "Houdini."
- Snoop Dogg, along with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, makes a cameo in Eminem's extravagantly produced video for "Houdini."
- Eminem's studio album, released in his hometown Detroit, delves into his Alter Ego Slim Shady, which he first introduced in his second studio album "The Slim Shady LP" from 1999.
- The album's second single, "Tobey," features Big Sean & Babytron and pays tribute to Slim Shady with a graphic music video that includes a chainsaw.
- In the horror clip announcing "The Death of Slim Shady," a baby is born lifeless and transforms into a demonic figure, a nod to the lyrics in the single "Houdini."
- The album's emotional tones are highlighted by songs like "Temporary" and "Somebody Save Me," both of which dedicate to Eminem's relationship with his daughter Hailie Jade, as noted by "USA Today."
- The Death of Slim Shady, a concept album by Eminem, includes tracks such as "Evil," "Lucifer," and "Antichrist," while featuring collaborations with artists like Skylar Grey, Jelly Roll, and Bizarre from D12.
