It really is that time. Today is crucial for Eminem fans, and will determine Eminem’s debated relevance within the current climate of rap.
The anticipation finally comes to an end as the veil is lifted off the project — a conceptual one at that, and one that was often teased throughout Em’s career in subtle ways. The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) is now out now on all streaming platforms for the audience to judge, and we are very keen to see how this affects the Shady legacy.
Public service announcement: the “death of slim shady” is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense. Enjoy.
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) July 11, 2024
In the time leading up to the drop, Eminem’s promotional run has left mixed feelings. The music videos have evoked successful nostalgia, sure, but the lyrical content is arguably nothing new, at least thematically, for Eminem. Perhaps it is the curse of having so many groundbreaking moments early in one’s discography that deems anything less than world-changing concepts seem ineffective. Or it is just because the album is in a certain order, and there was less context for the singles that preceded the album. Whatever be the case, one thing is for sure — the Eminem fans will be here for the nostalgia, if nothing else, and hopefully come to appreciate the album concept with time. Hopefully, now the tracks make more sense.
“It feels so empty without him” HAWK TUAH
#TheDeathOfSlimShady 7/12 pic.twitter.com/VG1USGfGnp — Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) July 10, 2024
We also got a funny Eminem play on the popular ‘Hawk Tuah’ meme in the promotions for the album, which is something that was totally unpredictable but believably in line with the persona of Slim Shady. The trailer also featured a hand coming out the grave, which sets a curious precedent for the album’s concept. How does the death of Slim Shady transform this zombie persona? And more importantly, what does Eminem have planned next? Fan or not, it certainly is a phenomenon worth witnessing. Check out the project below!