Artist: Eminem
Album: The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Release Date: July 12, 2024
Label: Shady Records
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap/Conceptual
I’ve always said that Eminem and Slim Shady’s dynamic is comparable with The Hulk and Bruce Banner. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry (or Shady in Em’s case). There’s this rage monster inside that Eminem can never fully let go of, even as he grows old. He’s always been able to keep a lid on the situation. Sometimes, Eminem allows Slim to come out and put one hand on the wheel. However, with The Death Of Slim Shady Coup DeGrâce, Eminem seems to be tied up in the trunk and Slim is driving off a bridge. It’s not because he’s on a thousand downers, or because he’s drowsy. It’s because Slim wants to pull Eminem back to the dark (or Shady) side, even if this means totally cancelling them both.
Now in the second half of the album, it’s revealed that this was all just a nightmare Eminem was having. At the end of Guilty Conscience 2, we hear Marshall wake up in cold sweats. He immediately calls Paul and tells him of this crazy dream he had, where Slim Shady was back, and it’s like he was back to the way he used to be. Here’s where things get interesting. I believe Slim Shady is a metaphor for Eminem’s addictions; all his demons from his past. “The Death Of Slim Shady“, truly refers to Eminem being sober. He killed his addiction – totally got rid of it. I think Eminem’s nightmare is actually implying that he was dreaming that he never got sober. That’s why he’s so terrified when he wakes up. You see, drugs and alcohol really destroyed his life and nearly killed him. The ironic part is, he also credits his addictions for giving him what he needed to become famous, and maybe even saved his life. He was dirt poor and had a family to raise. Shady is bad for him, but he needs him to stay rich and relevant. Never make a deal with a devil, because there’s always a catch.
Once we get to the mid section of the album, we get the final showdown between Eminem and his alter ego (Guilty Conscience 2). Slim Shady has won. Em is cancelled and Slim is in full control. The mixing on this song is absolutely incredible. It really feels like 2 tactical MC’s rap battling on this track. It reminds me of that super bowl ad a few years ago. Look it up. There’s points where old Slim and new Em’s vocals are layered on top of each other. It’s astonishing that they pulled this off. There’s production tricks and little clever ad libs that strengthen the concept throughout the entire album. If you listen closely, you’ll even hear little turntable skips every time his voice changes back. There’s so much attention to detail. Sometimes you hear the Slim Shady voice filtered through this eerie, ghost-like effect. Again, the mixing is just pure black magic. Dre is a perfectionist.
At this point, Marshall has taken the mic. Shady is dead along with all the evil demons and addictions that come along with him. Head Honcho with Ez Mil introduces this half of the album. Eminem’s verse is a total flex about how he’s still been able to maintain his No. 1 spot in hip-hop, despite kicking Slim Shady to the curb. It’s a victory lap after defeating him. This is a way to rub it in his alter ego’s face, but it’s also his way to give a middle finger to his haters.
Circling back to the main theme of the album with Temporary. This is one of the most beautiful, yet saddest songs Eminem has ever put out. It might as well be called “Mockingbird 2”. Clips from real home videos from Hailie’s childhood play behind the instrumental. We hear all these sweet moments happening as Skylar Grey sings through it with her heavenly hook. Eminem starts the song off by asking himself if he’s afraid of death (a reference to “I Still Don’t Give A F*ck” from The Slim Shady LP album). In this song he twists the phrase to give it new meaning. He answers the question by telling us that he’s more afraid of dying without telling his daughter everything he wants to say before it’s too late. Before his first verse he dedicates the song to Hailie. This song is Eminem imaging a reality where he died before saying his final goodbyes to his kids. I swear a tear comes to my eye every time I hear this track.
While Temporary shows how Eminem was able to work well with Slim Shady in the beginning, Somebody Save Me shows how addiction swallowed his life. The contrast between these two songs is a really smart way to show how easy it is to lose yourself, but not realising it until it’s too late. Somebody Save Me opens with Alaina, one of Eminem’s other daughters trying to get him to come eat. A barely conscious, drugged out Eminem slurs his words into a sentence telling her to go away and close the door. This obviously implies that his only concerns were the drugs at a certain time. This intro paints the scene that’s followed up by painful words. As he pours his heart out, he begs for forgiveness from his kids. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an artist sound so genuinely ashamed for their actions in a song before. There’s nothing he can do to get the time back that he lost with his kids over drugs and it kills him. I’m not crying, you’re crying! Also, shout out to Jelly Roll for delivering such a powerful hook that compliments all the emotions happening within the verses.
To sum up my thoughts on this album, it is very difficult. I’m just trying to decide if I want to tell you it’s my album of the year, or my album of the decade. As much as I’ve said here, I’m only scratching the surface. The rhyming and absolute alien level wordplay is out of this world. Even for Eminem, this is some of his sharpest work ever. The maliciously mixed production should be impossible. These people went over every detail of the album with a fine tooth comb and didn’t stop until every aspect was perfect.
If I had to complain about something, I might bring up the features. None of them were bad here, it just seems like there are some big names missing that I thought were a sure thing.
The order of the tracklist can be a little weird sometimes. Why is there a Ken Kaniff skit right before one of the most emotionally beautiful songs I’ve ever heard? I think Temporary should have led directly into Somebody Save Me. Instead we get some really crazy bangers. As amazing as Head Honcho, Tobey, and Bad One are, they’re really interrupting something special.
If this is Eminem’s last album, I really do think it’s a good place to stop. It’s filled to the brim with fan service through deep cut easter eggs and classic references. As sad as I’d be for this to be the last one, this is everything I’ve ever wanted from him.
Final Score 9.86/10
Written By CeaTee_Reviews
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- Renaissance (10/10)
- Habits (10/10)
- Trouble (10/10)
- Brand New Dance (9.5/10)
- Evil (10/10)
- All You Got (skit) (10/10)
- Lucifer (10/10)
- Antichrist (10/10)
- Fuel (10/10)
- Road Rage (10/10)
- Houdini (10/10)
- Breaking News (skit) (10/10)
- Guilty Conscience 2 (10/10)
- Head Honcho (9/10)
- Temporary (10/10)
- Bad One (9/10)
- Tobey (featuring Big Sean and BabyTron) (9/10)
- Guess Who’s Back (skit) (10/10)
- Somebody Save Me (10/10)