Eminem – The Death Of Slim Shady (Album Review)

In “The Death of Slim Shady,” Eminem takes listeners on one final psychological journey.

Honorable Mention. Head Honcho (Ft. Ez Mil)

I really like this track a lot.

It’s fascinating to hear the parallels between Ez Mil and Eminem, especially on their collaboration “Head Honcho”. On this track, Ez sounds like an early, hungry version of Eminem, delivering his verses with tons of grit and confidence. On the other hand, Eminem seems almost fatherly, showing pride as he shares the track with Ez. Em also uses the opportunity to criticize rappers who don’t measure up to his standards and critics who demand constant reinvention. Despite Eminem’s dynamic rapping style, there’s a calmness to his tone that I find a little odd (When crazy people are calm, I get scared).

Honorable. Guilty Conscience 2 (Ft. Dr. Dre)

Oh, how the tables have turned.

In “Guilty Conscience 2,” Slim Shady confronts Eminem and asks him why he no longer addresses various controversial topics. He also implores him to continue dissing Christopher Reeves, MGK, Will Smith, and Ja Rule. The song escalates to a scenario where Eminem and Slim Shady get involved in a violent altercation over a gun that ends with Eminem shooting Slim. Despite the twist that it was all just a dream, the narrative hints at a commentary on Eminem’s approach to resolving his past feuds and controversies… I think.

5. Fuel (Ft. JID)

Please pass the baton to JID, Eminem.

In “Fuel,” JID raps like he’s owed several months’ rent. His two impressive flows, especially one that’s so relentless it could crash your iPhone, will amaze the hell out of you. Eminem, on the other hand, goes wild on the track with various intense flows, poking fun at the likes of Diddy, randomly lying about his height, and referencing Alec Baldwin’s unfortunate shooting incident. Since Em’s words are delivered through pretty high-flowing punchlines, these people can’t be offended, right?

4. Houdini

A whole generation of people don’t know what they just heard (remember, “Without Me” came out in 2002).

In “Houdini,” Eminem sounds like his old, playful self. In the track, he talks about how he wouldn’t care if he got canceled and wants to collaborate with Megan Thee Stallion to “give her a chance” (ouch). He also sends “fuck you” to Paul Rosenberg (his manager), Dr. Dre, and his kids. Yeah, he’s totally nuts there.

I know a lot of you so-called hip-hop fans want to hear Eminem smash heads, but I like his approach to this track. “Houdini” is driven by a fun-loving, “Without Me” style beat that is very nostalgic. Although Em’s lyrics are all over the place (especially in the first verse), he flows well and pulls off a pretty hypnotic chorus. Everything else in the background is crazy.

3. Evil

“Evil” reminds me of the filler tracks from Eminem’s earlier works.

In “Evil,” Eminem discusses topics such as meth addiction, violence against his stepfather, battling inner demons, and more. While I don’t condone evil in any way (I’m trying to get to heaven, folks), the track’s cool old-school hip-hop beat captures the attention, with DJ scratches reminiscent of Eminem’s previous work. Additionally, Eminem’s succinct but increasingly intense rapping style throughout the song, along with a mesmerizing hook, adds to the track’s haunting appeal, almost suggesting a possessed presence.

2. Habits (Ft. White Gold)

N***a, get your ass to rehab.

In “Habits,” Eminem lets his unrestrained spirit run wild and pokes fun at various groups, calling people dwarves, mocking people with Down syndrome, giving critics the middle finger, and confronting LGBTQ people. He also openly acknowledges his addiction to controversy.

The track rides on a starry/dark beat that is reminiscent of the Slim Shady LP era. Eminem’s performance oscillates between sounding like a delicate yet provocative child scientist and an emotionless machine. The way he dissects the beat slowly and with complex flows is also impressive. As for White Gold, its hook stands out as one of the album’s highlights, giving Eminem the power to embody his boldest persona yet.

1. Tobey (Ft. Big Sean & BabyTron)

Is Tobey the best Spider-Man (I prefer Andrew Garfield)?

Tobey Maguire can officially be called the GOAT since Eminem named a track after him. Still, this track, driven by a graceful hip-hop beat that I love, is definitely on rap superhero stuff. First off, it features a slick, clever verse and hook from BabyTron where he finds numerous ways to assert that he’s the real deal. And Big Sean delivers an aggressive verse where he talks about his unwavering mentality and massive influence. And finally, there’s a surprisingly cool verse from Eminem where he warns his competition not to diss him, talks about his resilience, and plays with a complex flow that will make your head spin. Overall, I like the trio’s chemistry.

(C+) (79%)

The final act of Slim Shady is funny and wild.

Eminem is one of those rappers who is so versatile that you can choose which version of him you want to hear. Although I prefer the light-hearted version of Em, I don’t mind hearing the serious side every now and then where he talks about how much he hates his mother and loves his daughter. In The death of Slim Shadywe get to hear every Slim Shady we’ve ever known, and as someone who’s followed him over the years, it’s pretty damn awesome to witness.

Before we get into Eminem’s rap performances on this album, it’s important to commend the production team for capturing the essence of Slim Shady in different eras – from his playful demeanor to his darker and more reflective moments. Eminem’s involvement in the production deserves applause for reviving these themes.

Lyrically, Slim Shady is on steroids on this album. On “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce),” he lets the R-words, F-words and B-words fly (thankfully he doesn’t drop the N-word) and tackles controversial topics with characteristic boldness. His attacks range from Christopher Reeves and Caitlin Jenner to personal topics involving his parents.

From a technical standpoint, Eminem’s rapping is outstanding. His verses are full of punch lines that effortlessly balance corny humor and sharp wit. They also feature incredible wordplay, eerie flows, and remarkable animations. It’s fair to say that Eminem delivered one of his most impressive performances ever on this project.

Eminem definitely imposes his so-called “evil Slim Shady” persona on this album, reminiscent of an uncle trying to prove he’s still relevant through youthful antics. But despite any reservations, Eminem’s distinctive sound and infectious energy make this album a truly eyebrow-raising listen.

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on the beach, and eating spaghetti that makes him feel good.