The rapper demonstrates once again that he masters the technical aspect of his art like no other, but his words make people cringe even to the gums.
In the movie 8 MileTHE battle rapper B-Rabbit, played by Eminem, wins the final confrontation by listing each of his flaws, leaving his opponent speechless.
The real Eminem uses a similar method on The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)his 12e solo album and first since 2020. The Detroit MC embraces his provocative side and anticipates criticism in such a way that he wards off the inevitable backlash from political correctness advocates. And he blames his alter ego Slim Shady.
Despite the 51-year-old artist’s strategy, it’s not considered futile to write about what doesn’t work with this new offering.
The video of the first extract, Houdiniwell illustrates the concept of The Death of Slim Shady. His arrogance and outspokenness allowed Marshall Mathers, Eminem’s real name, to achieve a string of successes at the turn of the 2000s. My Name Is, Role Model, The Real Slim Shady, Without Me and others have marked the era with their humor and irreverence. The catchy choruses and the driving rhythms also have a lot to do with it.
A rapper of immense talent, Eminem gradually moved away from the Slim Shady persona in favor of more refined writing. Family and consumer issues also had an impact on his work, particularly on records Relapse And Recovery. After a series of uneven, even disappointing albums, Marshall Mathers has chosen to bring Shady and Eminem together again. Or rather, to merge them, as in the video forHoudini.
The result is 19 songs packed with verbal prowess, flows inimitable, sincere emotions, but also gross impertinence, juvenile mockery and gratuitous insults.
Unjustified relentlessness
Example on Road Rage : “I walk around more confused than my aunt Linda’s man-friend/A black transgender Klan member/Who’s a Caitlyn Jenner fan and a/Member of Grindr and Tinder.”
Eminem’s obsession with trans people, particularly Caitlyn Jenner, mentioned a dozen times, is disturbing – his obsession with Christopher Reeve, who died nearly 20 years ago, too. Little people and the disabled are not spared.
In English, we use the expression rage-baitinga ploy to purposely cause outrage. Some of the rapper’s salvos elicit satisfying reactions and occasional smiles—especially what he says about Diddy—but most of his targets have never asked for or even received the attention he gives them. Eminem would probably be one of those angry people on the internet if he didn’t have a microphone.
Those with whom he shares it on The Death of Slim Shady don’t break the house, except for JID on FuelA success, the bouncy track co-produced by Mr. Porter and Eminem ends with one of the latter’s best recent verses.
He also co-signs almost all of the beats… for the most part rather boring. Certainly, by their simplicity Eminem has all the space to express himself, but more variety would have been beneficial.
Somebody Save Me is partly what we hoped for, but it comes after more than an hour of music. The heartfelt lyrics about the people he’s neglected, the powerful chorus of Jelly Roll and the country-rock-tinged track polished by Benny Blanco, Emile Haynie and the lead artist come together for a moment of grace.
Extract of Somebody Save Me
More of those might have saved the album. But there are questions about Eminem’s desire to make adult rap. His previous attempts haven’t always been well-received, and his loyal fans seem to prefer the idiocy of Slim Shady. So expect him to be resurrected.
Rap
The Death of Slim Shady
(Coup de Grace)
Eminem
Shady Records