Guess who’s back? Eminem’s new single takes over the world!

Eminem makes a major comeback with a preview of his eagerly-awaited twelfth album, The Death of Slim Shady: Coup De Grace, due for release this summer. His first single, Houdini, evokes the era of 2002 with sounds and visuals from the video for the mega-success Without Me, a period when his alter ego Slim Shady dominated the scene.

Step thru the portal… Houdini video out now https://t.co/owimviNGM2 pic.twitter.com/evSRR2bS7M

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) June 1, 2024

Since Eminem announced The Death of Slim Shady, there haven’t been many hints about the album. Houdini opens with a voicemail from Eminem’s long-time manager Paul Rosenberg, who tells him he’s listened to his album and adds:

“Good f***ing luck, you’re on your own“.

This message certainly sets the tone for the rest of the song, while in the video, we see Slim Shady emerging from a 2002 portal.

The single Houdini and its music video are captivating, as Eminem reconnects with his roots through a razor-sharp narrative and a video style reminiscent of superhero comics. The clip features two versions of Eminem, one from 2002 in CGI with bleached blond hair, and the other of a present-day Eminem with brown hair and a beard.

Long-time Eminem fans will appreciate the rapper’s incisive lyrics, which evoke various personalities. He alludes to the Megan Thee Stallion shooting in 2020, mocks R. Kelly and RuPaul, and hilariously blasts Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and his three kids!

The video is also packed with celebrities such as Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Snoop Dog and Pete Davidson. With Houdini, Eminem proves that his talent and propensity for provoking controversy are still intact.