Who's Slim Shady? It depends who you ask, and when

death of slim shady

Death of Slim Shady is coming as Eminem releases his new song "Houdini", a single aimed at making his "career" disappear.

Slim Shady is dead, long live Eminem says single Houdini! The Detroit rapper said goodbye to his evil alter ego by publishing an obituary in an American newspaper last May. He also announced the imminent release of his new album, “The Death of Slim Shady”. These two clues suggest that Eminem wants to redefine his career with a new style.

Eminem shared this controversial new single "Houdini" on May 31 and the track references the 2020 shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion.

In 2022, Tory Lanez – real name Daystar Peterson – was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in both feet in 2020. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and began serving his sentence the following August .

In his latest song, "Houdini," Eminem references the incident, rapping,

"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 like-"

Elsewhere, there are more controversial lyrics where he references transgender people, Ru Paul and Cancel Culture. 

"Well, look what the stork brung (What?)
Little baby devil with the forked tongue
And it's stickin' out, yeah, like a sore thumb (Blah)
With a forehead that it grew horns from, still a White jerk"

raps Eminem in the opening verse, before he adds, 

"Pullin' up in a Chrysler to the cypher
With the Vics, percs and a Bud Light shirt"

The video concludes with the announcement of the release of the single “Houdini” on May 31, 2024. This title recalls that of singer Dua Lipa, who also released a song called “Houdini” a few months ago. In addition, Kate Bush titled one of her songs “Houdini” in 1982. This character, Harry Houdini, inspired many artists thanks to his feats of conjuring and his incredible escape techniques. Houdini, an American magician of Hungarian origin, marked the beginning of the 20th century, not only through his talents as a magician, but also through his links with the spiritualist circles that were very popular at the time. This is the meaning of Death of Slim Shady

Eminem told David Blaine in a teaser video on Tuesday — and by name-checking the magician and escape artist who died at age 52. Marshall Mathers himself turns 52 in October.