Eminem dropped his brand new song Houdini on Thursday night along with a star-studded music video that included cameos from Pete Davidson, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Dr.Dre.
Houdini serves as the lead single off the 51-year-old rapper’s upcoming 12th studio album The Death of Slim Shady, which will be released in ‘summer 2024.’
Eminem name-drops a slew of high-profile figures, including Megan Thee Stallion and her 2020 shooting incident that saw Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Lanez was found guilty of shooting Megan in the foot during an altercation in a car that took place after they left a party at Kylie Jenner’s house in July 2020.
In Houdini, Eminem uses clever word play as he muses about a potential collaboration between himself and the WAP hitmaker in the future.
He raps: ‘If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me / Would I really have a shot at a feat? I don’t know, but I’m glad to be, back’.
The Detroit-born MC also takes aim at famous drag queen RuPaul, Sherri Papini, who is accused of faking her own kidnapping and the disgraced R. Kelly. He slams the three kids his shares with ex-wife Kim Scott as ‘brats’ – just days after sharing the first dance with his eldest Hailie Jade Scott, 28, at her wedding. Hailie and her siblings Alaina Scott and Stevie Laine Scott appear via FaceTime call as they react to their dad’s jab with exaggerated disgust.
The Houdini music video pays homage to Eminem’s 2002 hit Without Me.
He plays multiple versions of his past self—including his iconic bleach blond buzzcut Slim Shady era in the near shot-for-shot remake. It sees Eminem and Dr. Dre back as Batman and Robin as they ride around Gotham in a yellow Lamborghini.
A blonde Pete Davidson resembles a young Eminem in one memorable scene that pokes fun at the SNL alum’s repeat 2023 car wrecks – one of which saw him charged with reckless driving.
He was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and 12 hours of traffic school in order to avoid a criminal offense for crashing his Mercedes into a home in Beverly Hills in March 2023.
Pete checked himself into an in-patient treatment facility that July to address mental health issues.
In the music video, Pete reassures Eminem that he’s ‘a great driver’ as he takes over the wheel from Dr. Dre. ‘Don’t worry. I just got my license back!’ he say before slamming his foot on the gas.
Eminem looks fearful as Pete takes his hands off the wheel, head bangs and then swerves into traffic before slamming into several cars. 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg appear via selfie footage as they ‘call in’ to Eminem at the start of the music video.
Eminem sent social media ablaze last Wednesday when he teased his new musical era. He did so by sharing a cryptic post that left questioning whether the bizarre clip he posted could mean Slim Shady’s 12th studio album will also be his last.
Posting to his official accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, the 15-time Grammy winner uploaded a mysterious video of an open iMessage chat, dated Friday May 31 at 12am.
Addressed to ‘All Contacts,’ the message was initially blurred before it came together to read: ‘…and for my last trick!’ The profile picture of the contact was an emoji-style cartoon of a rabbit wearing a top hat and the rap star also changed his own social media profile pictures to the same опе. In April, Eminem announced his 12th studio album, which will be titled The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace).
