Eminem returns to the forefront with a new album, “The Death of Slim Shady”. While denouncing “cancel culture”, he seems to bury for good Slim Shady, his provocative character from the 90s which made him successful.
Eminem, one of the best-selling rappers of all time, is far from gone. His old albums still have billions of plays on streaming platforms. This summer, he released a new album called “The Death of Slim Shady,” marked by a catchy title track, “Houdini.” This song uses a sample of “Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band, released in 1982.
This musical nod is reminiscent of the hit by Dua Lipa, reinforcing the way Eminem likes to interact with current artists.
“Cancel culture” in the viewfinder
In “Houdini”, Eminem remains faithful to his style: provocative, critical of society and his contemporaries. The rapper attacks in particular “cancel culture”, this tendency to erase everything that is disturbing in the past. The singer was also a victim himself, for his words deemed offensive towards women and homosexuals.
This criticism is fully embodied in the title of his new album, “The Death of Slim Shady.” Slim Shady is Eminem’s alter ego, a character invented at the end of the 90s, identifiable by his peroxide blonde hair and his provocative attitude. This character caused a sensation with songs like “My Name Is” or “The Real Slim Shady”.
The end of a controversial era
Slim Shady, this misogynistic and homophobic character, not only earned Eminem criticism, it also allowed him to experience dazzling success. It is in fact this era which saw the birth of his greatest hits. But today, the rapper seems to want to break away, to bury once and for all this evil double who has stuck to his skin.
For many, this “death” of Slim Shady is good news, in a world where misogynistic and homophobic discourse no longer finds its place. However, Eminem’s most loyal fans often argue that his words were not to be taken at face value. Behind the vulgarity of Slim Shady, they saw a counterpoint, a way for the rapper to denounce these same behaviors and to promote positive values.
Eminem’s double game
It is this second degree which, according to Eminem, would have been understood by the majority of his young listeners. However, his detractors at the time believed that his songs had a harmful influence on adolescents. But for others, like those who have followed him since his beginnings, his texts often conveyed a more complex message.
A striking example is the famous song “Stan”, his duet with Dido. This song tells the fictional story of an unhinged fan, Stan, who sends letters to Eminem, hoping for a response that never arrives. Desperate, Stan ends up committing suicide. Contrary to what some might believe, this song does not glorify fanatical extremism, but rather denounces it. It invites us to reflect on the dangers of idolatry and fanaticism.
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