Eminem Reconnects with Old-School Slim Shady Vibe on New Single 'Houdini'

Eminem has taken a nostalgic, self-aware step back in time with his much-awaited new single, “Houdini.” Released overnight, the track is a catchy throwback built atop the Steve Miller Band’s 1982 chart-topper “Abracadabra” and Eminem’s own “Without Me.” The song features a breezy lyrical flow that hasn't been heard from the Detroit rapper in quite some time.

Serving as the prelude to his forthcoming album “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” the four-minute track delivers vintage Eminem with a hearty side of Shady: silly, self-deprecating, politically incorrect for shock value, and spiced with clever, multilayered wordplay. Midway through, Eminem raps, “‘Cause I have zero doubts / That this whole world's about / To turn into some Girl Scouts / That censorship bureau's out to shut me down.”

The “Houdini” music video, also released early Friday, embraces its retro flavors, featuring appearances by the blond-haired, white-shirted Slim Shady of old, acting as a foil to the current-day, 51-year-old Marshall Mathers. The video is packed with references to Eminem’s previous work, including the comic book-styled “Without Me” video from 2002, with Dr. Dre making a return. The colorful clip also features cameos by comics Shane Gillis and Pete Davidson, along with Eminem’s three children.

“The Death of Slim Shady,” announced in an April commercial aired during the NFL Draft in Detroit, is set for release this summer. This will be Eminem's first album since 2020’s "Music to Be Murdered By