Eminem’s album “The Death of Slim Shady” is a mixed bag, critics say

Guess who’s back, back again?

Eminem’s latest album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” has been released and has received mixed reviews from critics.

On the US rapper’s 12th album, his alter ego Slim Shady is killed – the artwork shows Shady in a body bag, in the music video for Tobey, Eminem attacks him with a chainsaw.

Clash called the album “a mixed bag” and described it as “both an effective piece of fan service and a record that disappoints.”

“It doesn’t quite feel like an ending, but it doesn’t quite feel like a sequel either,” wrote Robin Murray.

“It’s a mixed, often convoluted album that features Eminem on some of the best rap of the last decade – those fast, bouncy yet intricate flows will keep you hooked – but his pen is often blunt.”

Before the release, Eminem told his fans that it was a “concept album” and that the songs should be listened to in the correct order.

The 19 tracks include the previously released singles “Tobey” and “Houdini” as well as a sequel to his 1999 hit “Guilty Conscience” with Dr. Dre.

“At one point, Slim Shady accuses Marshall of creating him as an alter ego to stir up controversy and essentially serve as a shield to say shocking things he didn’t really have the courage to stand by,” wrote Michael Saponara.

USA Today said the 51-year-old is “a lyrical boxer throughout, except when he turns into a moist-eyed father rapping about his daughter Hailie Jade.”

His song “Temporary” begins with old recordings of a conversation between the rapper and his daughter as children.

Melissa Ruggieri said it was the most memorable song on the album “because it gives Eminem permission to forgo the slapstick and show his vulnerability – which is not often expressed on the album.”

Eminem tells his 28-year-old daughter to “be strong” and that he will always be her rock.

In his song Fuel, Eminem refers to the numerous allegations of sexual assault against his fellow rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.

“I’m like a MANAGER/I got so many S-As/S-As/Wait, he didn’t just write the word rapper and leave out a ‘P’, did he?” the lyrics go.

Pitchfork said Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers III, “reckons his controversies while striving to create new ones.”

The track “Antichrist” “strives to be as offensive as possible,” with references to pronouns, woke society, and “the harrowing video of Diddy’s attack on his then-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel in 2016.”

Mr Combs, one of rap’s most successful moguls, apologized for his “inexcusable” behavior in the video and denied all allegations of sexual assault.