Shady’s again, inform a buddy. Eminem returned with “Houdini,” his first single of 2024 on Friday (Could 31).
Em tried to show the clock again with the one and his early 2000s Slim Shady alter ego. “Houdini” serves as the beginning of the rollout for the Detroit legend heading into his The Demise of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) album, which will probably be launched this summer season.
The challenge will function his twelfth album and follows 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Em initially introduced plans for the album shortly after his look on the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. He teased his personal model of an Unsolved Mysteries episode that includes a cameo from 50 Cent. Nonetheless, it was really Dr. Dre who revealed the small print about Eminem’s upcoming album throughout a late-night look on Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! in March.
Eminem additionally dropped an accompanying superhero-themed visible for “Houdini” on Friday, and the clip is a star-studded affair whereas trying to create Em’s 2002 “With out Me.” 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Pete Davidson, Snoop Dogg and the rapper’s three youngsters all make cameos within the video.
From Britney Spears to Christina Aguilera, Eminem hasn’t been shy about sparking controversy and name-dropping his movie star friends all through his profession.
Em tends to lean into the shock worth and that’s nonetheless the case on “Houdini,” because the provocateur mentions pop-culture personalities similar to RuPaul and hip-hop staples like Megan Thee Stallion and Dr. Dre.
Discover our full checklist that includes all of the celebrities Eminem references on “Houdini” beneath.
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Megan Thee Stallion
Lyric: “If I used to be to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me/ Would I actually have a shot at a feat?”
Eminem and Megan Thee Stallion have but to collaborate, and a function request taking part in off of her 2020 Tory Lanez capturing is a weird strategy to ask. Lanez ended up being sentenced to a decade behind bars and the Houston rapper has been weak in regards to the despair and psychological well being points she’s endured within the years since.
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R. Kelly
Lyric: “Within the coupe leaning again my seat/ Bumpin’ R. Kelly’s favourite group the black man pees”
R. Kelly and Eminem by no means collaborated all through their careers. Right here, Em makes use of wordplay evaluating the disgraced singer’s alleged fetish of peeing on ladies throughout intercourse to his favourite group being the Black Eyed Peas.
It’s not Slim Shady’s first time dissing Kells both. On the 2009 Relapse observe “Previous Occasions Sake,” Em brings up R. Kelly and his alleged fetish as soon as once more. “And it’s given me wings, I consider I can fly/ Whereas I pee on a woman, you gained’t catch me CSI,” he raps.
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Paul Rosenberg
Lyric: “Cancel me what? Okay that’s it go forward Paul give up/ Snake a– p—okay”
Eminem and Paul Rosenberg met in 1996 through the infancy phases of Em’s profession and he turned Slim’s supervisor shortly after. Rosenberg took over Def Jam Information when he was named CEO/chairman in 2017, however ended up leaving the label in 2020 and refocusing on administration duties.
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Jimmy Iovine
Lyric: “F–okay them, f–okay Dre, f–okay Jimmy, f–okay me, f–okay you, f–okay my very own youngsters they’re brats”
Jimmy Iovine is a co-founder of Interscope Information. Because the story goes, Iovine reportedly performed Em’s Slim Shady EP for Dr. Dre and urged Dre to signal the Detroit rapper to his Aftermath label. Iovine and Eminem stay near this present day as Em pulled as much as the famed exec’s seventieth birthday celebration final 12 months.
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Dr. Dre
Lyric: “F–okay them f–okay Dre, f–okay Jimmy, f–okay me, f–okay you, f–okay my very own youngsters they’re brats”
Dr. Dre has lengthy been a mentor determine for Eminem and signed him to his Aftermath document label. From producing Em’s “My Identify Is” in 1999 to “Forgot About Dre” and plenty of extra, Dr. Dre stays an integral a part of Slim Shady’s inventive course of as they type probably the most dynamic duos in all of rap. Dre seems within the “Houdini” music video and revealed in March that he’s contributed to Eminem’s upcoming The Demise of Slim Shady album.
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RuPaul
Lyric: “Received two balls, large as RuPaul’s, what you thought you noticed/ Ain’t what you noticed”
There seems to be no historical past between RuPaul and Eminem previous to name-dropping him on “Houdini.” RuPaul is named the “Queen of Drag” whereas producing his acclaimed actuality collection RuPaul’s Drag Race. The 63-year-old multi-hyphenate has gained a pair of Billboard Music Awards, a Tony and 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.
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Sherri Papini
Lyric: “Caught sleepin’ and see the kidnappin’ by no means did occur/ Like Sherri Papini”
Eminem has referenced infamous serial killers and different weird circumstances and diabolical criminals seen in American historical past all through his lyrics up to now. In the course of the remaining verse of “Houdini,” Em mentions Sherri Papini, who was arrested for orchestrating her personal kidnapping hoax in 2016.
Papini, 34 on the time, claimed she was kidnapped for 3 weeks earlier than being launched in November 2016. The mom of two stood by her story when questioned by federal brokers. The California resident was ultimately arrested in 2022 and agreed to a plea deal. She ended up being sentenced to 18 months in jail and fined $300,000 on costs of mail fraud and mendacity to a federal agent.
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Harry Houdini
Lyric: “Harry Houdini, I vanish into skinny air as I’m leaving”
Harry Houdini was an escape artist and stuntman that turned a famend performer within the early 1900s. His otherworldly stunts seem like an inspiration behind Em’s new single bearing his title heading into The Demise of Slim Shady. Houdini died on the age of 52 in 1926.
