It appears Eminem has taken the title of his upcoming album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace), quite literally by running a fake obituary for his alter ego in the Detroit Free Press.
Earlier this week, photos of the “obituary,” titled “Slim Shady Made Lasting Impressions,” surfaced on social media. Accompanied by a picture of Eminem in a hockey mask, the piece features the subheading “Fans Will ‘Never Forget’ Controversial Rapper” and begins by paying tribute to the Detroit rapper’s early career in the “underground rap scene of the mid to late 1990s.”
“Shady first became a household name in 1999 with the debut of his playfully deranged single ‘My Name Is,’ which — along with its uniquely eye catching video — exposed the young artist and his lyrics to a wider audience,” the obituary reads. “That audience was soon exposed to the extreme darkness of the muse/rapper, as he led millions of music fans down a road that glorified a demonstrably nihilistic worldview.”
It continues, “Ultimately, the very things that seemed to be the tools he used became calling cards that defined an existence that could only come to a sudden and horrific end. His complex and tortured existence has come to a close, and the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which this character departed this world. May he truly find the peace in an afterlife that he could not find on Earth.”
Eminem announced The Death of Slim Shady in late April during the NFL Draft. The album doesn’t have a specific release date, but is slated to arrive sometime this summer.
Dr. Dre first revealed the new album during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in March. Eminem’s last full-length, Music to Be Murdered By, was released in 2020.
Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out our list of Eminem’s 20 best songs.
