Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Shady’s back, tell a friend! Marshall Mathers, better known as the iconic rapper Eminem, graced listeners of all ages with his 12th and final studio album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace),” in July. 

Prior to Eminem kicking off the summer with a single, he teased his album as early as April with a spoof of an “Unsolved Mysteries” episode asking audiences ‘who killed Slim Shady?’ Later on in May, the rapper released an obituary for Shady in “The Detroit Free Press.” At the end of the month, the first single from the album was released. “Houdini” revives Eminem’s infamous bleached blond alter-ego, Slim Shady, who remains present for the majority of the album. The song uses a sample from The Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit “Abracadabra” for the chorus, as well as the hook from one of Shady’s most iconic songs, “Without Me.” 

“Houdini” served as an excellent precursor to the album as a whole, despite being the eleventh track. It sets the scene for Eminem as he sets off to catch his alter-ego, who has stepped through a portal from 2002 and is determined to wreak havoc on the pop culture of today. The two pieces of Mathers mock each other, with Shady claiming Eminem has gone soft because he is worried he will get canceled by today’s ‘woke’ society while Eminem retaliates, determined to cancel himself and Shady before Gen Z has the chance.

As a whole, the album could be considered among his greatest due to the smooth-flowing lyrics and sharp rhymes, reminiscent of the composition in his earlier days. His humorous, often raunchy sense of humor shines through as he jests at the ‘woke’ individuals through clever allusions to celebrities, scandals and current issues plaguing America. 

The album itself is the best Eminem has released in years. With catchy beats and theatrical execution, it opens strongly with “Renaissance,” featuring a modern beat behind darkly comedic and occasionally offensive language- the style of lyrics that got him famous- full of genius metaphors about his career while highlighting people who claim they are fans of his all while criticizing his work. Eminem has proved to be self-reflective in the past, but “The Death of Slim Shady” by far includes some of the more reflective lyrics throughout. He acknowledges his past drug addictions, feuds and overall controversy. The strongest examples come consecutively starting with the fifth track, “Evil,” followed by “Lucifer,” “Antichrist” and “Fuel,” all of which feature an impressive roster of guest artists: White Gold, Sly Pyper, Bizarre, JID, Dem Jointz, Ez Mil and Big Sean. Later on, Eminem’s long-time collaborator Skylar Grey appears on “Temporary,” which follows the rapper as he reflects on his relationship with his oldest daughter and muse, Hallie Jade. Hallie Jade, 28, is heard through clips in the song taken from home movies shot by the rapper as she was growing up. This is not the first time she has made an appearance in her father’s music, iconically appearing in “My Dad’s Gone Crazy.” 

Eminem closes out the album by singing directly to his three children, Hallie Jade, Alaina and Stevie Laine Mathers in both “Temporary” and “Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll).” The latter of the two pieces also features voice clips of his middle daughter, Alaina Mathers. In both the rapper reflects on his 2007 drug overdose, which nearly resulted in his death. He speaks to his children as his own ghost, had he passed away. The songs are emotionally charged tributes to them as Mathers takes a step back from the drama of Slim Shady and grapples with the difficult reality of his addiction while pursuing his alter-ego.

Image by FMR Remix from Youtube