Eminem Set to Kill Off Slim Shady Alter Ego with New Album “The Death of Slim Shady”
Rapper Eminem has announced his highly-anticipated first album since 2020, titled “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”. The album is set for release sometime this summer and was introduced with a gripping trailer that hinted at the demise of the iconic character.
In the trailer, a crime reporter takes center stage and declares, “Through his complex and oft-criticized tongue-twisting rhymes, the anti-hero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies… rude lyrics and controversial antics may have ultimately led to his demise.” The trailer also features appearances by 50 Cent, who mockingly describes Slim Shady as a psychopath, and Eminem himself, who concludes with the statement, “I knew it was only a matter of time for Slim.”
For those unfamiliar, Eminem created the character Slim Shady in 1997 to reignite his career after the failure of his debut album the previous year. Slim Shady quickly gained popularity with his outrageous and provocative lyrics, embodying an alter ego that was foul-mouthed, horny, and cartoonishly disgusting. Hits like “My Name Is,” “Without Me,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Just Lose It” propelled Eminem to mainstream success.
Slim Shady became known for his controversial lines about celebrities such as Christina Aguilera and his explicit storytelling filled with violence and crude humor. Eminem also utilized different personas, with Slim Shady representing the more provocative side of his artistry, while Marshall Mathers and Eminem himself showcased a more introspective and sober perspective. Over the years, these personas have blurred, with Eminem stating, “Slim, Em, and Marshall are always in the mix when I’m writing now. I’ve found a way to morph the styles so that it’s sort of all me.”
In recent albums like “Kamikaze” (2018) and “Music to Be Murdered By” (2020), Eminem has revisited the more provocative side of his artistry, garnering both critical acclaim and controversy. On the latter album, he caused a stir with the track “Unaccommodating,” in which he compared himself to the terrorist responsible for the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena in 201