Iconic rap sensation Eminem surprised fans at midnight on Friday by releasing the first single from his highly anticipated album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace). The track, titled Houdini, is a catchy blend of bounce and grit, with a catchy melody taken from the Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit, Abracadabra, which has echoes of Eminem’s own 2002 hit, Without Me. (Also read: ‘‘I’m going to make my career disappear’, Eminem teases new single ‘Houdini’ ahead of album release,
Houdini is now available
In Houdini, Eminem displays his trademark wit and candour, delivering a fiery performance that takes listeners on a journey through his past and present. With a cameo-filled video to complement the performance, the track sees the rap maestro in top form, offering a humorous yet scathing commentary on his life in the 90s versus the contemporary landscape.
Eminem, who calls himself a “lyrical technician,” says, “Sometimes I wonder what the old me would say if I could see what’s happening today,” and then without holding back, launches into a scathing commentary that’s both amusing and provocative. Never one to hold back from taking digs at fellow musicians, he pulls no punches when it comes to insulting his listeners, industry stars like Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and even his own children.
The rapper also took a dig at fellow hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion and rapped, “If I ask Megan Thee Stallion if she’ll collaborate with me, would I really have a chance of making something happen?”
Fans are excited about the release, with comments such as “What a way to keep Kendrick and Drake out of the limelight” and “This feels like the early 2000s” being posted on social media.
about the new album
Eminem introduced his upcoming album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) during the NFL Draft in April with an amusing teaser reminiscent of the Detroit Murder Files crime show. The announcement signaled the imminent end of his iconic second persona. Furthermore, a few weeks earlier, he published a fake obituary in the Detroit Free Press, taking a bold and unconventional step to bid farewell to Slim Shady.
The rapper has created some of the most influential songs in hip-hop history, including Lose Yourself, Without Me, Rap God, The Real Slim Shady, and Stan (with Dido). Although the release date of his upcoming album is uncertain, fans think The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) is his way of announcing his retirement from music.
