I feel like I’m experiencing déjà vu. That’s the point, though, of Eminem’s new single “Houdini,” where the now 51-year-old rapper dives back into his 2002-era bag of tricks. In the 13 hours since its release, the song has amassed nearly seven million views on YouTube. Eminem is back.
With frequent collaborator Dr. Dre in tow, Eminem channels his classic style, dropping a single designed to stir controversy. He takes shots at pop stars, comments on how he’s still a polarizing figure, and pushes the boundaries of appropriateness while delivering social commentary about his place in the world.
This approach was groundbreaking in 2002, when Eminem truly had a target on his back. Back then, he was often cited as an example of how music could lead the youth astray. His 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became a classic partly because it highlighted society’s tendency to blame art for personal and parental failings.
But it’s no longer 2000. While Eminem remains a talented wordsmith and a chart-topping artist, he’s no longer the cultural boogeyman he once was. His best work emerged when he felt under attack, much like Ice Cube’s art flourished amid controversy. Over the years, even his harshest critics have moved on, yet Eminem’s fan base remains immense, propelling even his less acclaimed releases to commercial success.
Eminem, notorious for his relentless work ethic, has produced at least 10 commercially successful studio albums. Financially, the haters don’t matter. But it seems Eminem has been listening, and Slim Shady—his most outrageous and obnoxious alter ego—has one last run in him.
In “Houdini,” Eminem proves he still has the ability to captivate and provoke, reminding the world that while times have changed, his knack for stirring the pot has not.
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