Eminem tapped into his Slim Shady persona for the music video for his new single “Houdini,” and he has now shared some behind-the-scenes shots with his longtime mentor Dr. Dre.
In a carousel shared on Instagram on Tuesday (June 4), Em shared a few images from the set that are reminiscent of his earlier videos like “Without Me” and “The Real Slim Shady.”
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“Why is he still dressing like that?” Em wrote in the caption. “Check out the full #Houdini gallery now! #TheDeathofSlimShady 📸 @jeremydeputat”
Check out the pics below:
Eminem’s “Houdini,” which samples his own classic hit “Without Me,” features the Slim Shady character making light of Megan Thee Stallion’s 2020 shooting at the hands of Tory Lanez, which left her with bullet fragments in her feet.
Rapping over a cartoonish beat that also samples the Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra,” he spits: “If I was to ask for Megan Thee/ Stallion if she would collab with me/ Would I really have a shot at a feat?”
The wordplay continues when he later makes a joke about R. Kelly and the leaked sex tape that allegedly showed him urinating on a minor.
“In the coupe, leaning back my seat/ Bumpin’ R. Kelly’s favorite group, the black guy pees,” he quips, playing on the name of the Black Eyes Peas.
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The 51-year-old rap legend also takes shots at modern society, including cancel culture and gender identity with the bars: “My shit may not be age-appropriate/ But I will hit an eight-year-old in the face with a participation trophy/ ‘Cause I have zero doubts that this whole world’s ’bout to turn into some girl scouts/ That censorship bureau’s out to (shut me down).”
He adds: “My transgender cat’s Siamese/ Identifies as black, but acts Chinese.”
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The video for the single features Eminem donning his Robin-inspired Rap Boy superhero outfit from the aforentioned “Without Me” visual and battling his Slim Shady alter ego, who has teleported to the present day from 2002.
When the two face off in comic book style, things spiral further out of control as they combine to create a hybrid “monster” who is even more controversial and unfiltered.
In addition to Dre, the visual also boasts cameos from 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Royce Da 5’9″, The Alchemist, Jimmy Iovine, manager Paul Rosenberg and Shady Records signee Westside Boogie.
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Towards the end of the clip, actor and comedian Pete Davidson pops up and rides in a car with Eminem while the rapper’s three children are also seen briefly after they’re referenced in the lyrics.
“Houdini” serves as the lead single from Em’s upcoming 12th album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which is due out this summer.
