Current:Home > reviewsEminem takes aim at Megan Thee Stallion, Dr. Dre and himself with new song 'Houdini' -CapitalTrack
Eminem takes aim at Megan Thee Stallion, Dr. Dre and himself with new song 'Houdini'
View
Date:2025-04-16 18:58:37
Shady’s back, but for how long?
Eminem dropped the first single from his upcoming “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” album at midnight Friday, the bouncy, grouchy “Houdini.”
The track, anchored by the melody of the Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit “Abracadabra” with shades of his 2002 hit "Without Me," finds our hapless antihero (watch the cameo-rich video) in fresh, ribald form as he blasts through a typically amusing, primed to offend diatribe about his life in the ‘90s compared to the present.
The self-proclaimed “lyrical technician” offers “sometimes I wonder what the old me would say if he could see how (expletive) is today” while eventually telling listeners they – as well as Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre and his own kids – can F-off.
The guy famous for cutting down peers in his songs over the years hasn’t lost his venomous touch, roping in a double entendre with “If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me, would I really have a shot at a feat?” – a mean, if clever, reference to her being shot in the feet by Tory Lanez in 2020.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
How did Eminem announce his new album?
Eminem, 51, has crafted an elaborate rollout for his 12th studio album. During the NFL draft in April, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rapper took advantage of the location – his Detroit hometown – to announce his new album, which he teased in a video styled as an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries.”
“Who killed Slim Shady?” it asked, while the host pointed to “rude and controversial antics” as one of the reasons for his demise. Eminem's pal 50 Cent also appears, though he claims, "He's not a friend. He's a psychopath."
Did Eminem write his own obituary?
On May 13, a faux obituary for Slim Shady appeared in the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, along with a photo of Eminem in overalls and a hockey mask. References were made to his music spiraling from “playfully deranged” to exposing fans to his “nihilistic worldview.”
The obit closes with: “Ultimately, the very things that seemed to be the tools he used became calling cards that defined an existence that could only come to a sudden and horrific end. His complex and tortured existence has come to a close, and the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which this character departed the world.”
“The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” is expected to be released this summer.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Matt Damon Shares How Wife Luciana Helped Him Through Depression
- Kylie Jenner Debuts New Photos of “Big Boy” Aire Webster That Will Have You on Cloud 9
- Climate Change Wiped Out Thousands of the West’s Most Iconic Cactus. Can Planting More Help a Species that Takes a Century to Mature?
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Banks Say They’re Acting on Climate, But Continue to Finance Fossil Fuel Expansion
- Washington’s Treasured Cherry Blossoms Prompt Reflection on Local Climate Change
- Cocaine sharks may be exposed to drugs in the Florida Keys, researchers say
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- New US Car and Truck Emissions Standards Will Make or Break Biden’s Climate Legacy
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- California, Battered by Atmospheric Rivers, Faces a Big Melt This Spring
- Shell Refinery Unit Had History of Malfunctions Before Fire
- These 8 habits could add up to 24 years to your life, study finds
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- You Must See the New Items Lululemon Just Added to Their We Made Too Much Page
- Will Smith, Glenn Close and other celebs support for Jamie Foxx after he speaks out on medical condition
- How Willie Geist Celebrated His 300th Episode of Sunday TODAY With a Full Circle Moment
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
A ‘Rights of Nature’ Fact-Finding Panel to Investigate Mexico’s Tren Maya Railroad for Possible Environmental Violations
John Cena’s Barbie Role Finally Revealed in Shirtless First Look Photo
3 dead in Serbia after a 2nd deadly storm rips through the Balkans this week
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
Tiffany Chen Shares How Partner Robert De Niro Supported Her Amid Bell's Palsy Diagnosis
Scientists Examine Dangerous Global Warming ‘Accelerators’
‘Green Steel’ Would Curb Carbon Emissions, Spur Economic Revival in Southwest Pennsylvania, Study Says