Released overnight, “Houdini” is a catchy throwback built on the foundation of the Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit “Abracadabra” and Eminem’s own “Without Me.” The track showcases a breezy lyrical flow we haven’t heard from the Detroit rapper in a while.
Serving as a prelude to his upcoming album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” the four-minute song delivers classic Eminem with a hefty dose of Shady: silly, self-deprecating, politically incorrect for shock value, and spiced with clever, multilayered wordplay.
“’Cause I have zero doubts / That this whole world’s about / To turn into some Girl Scouts / That censorship bureau’s out to shut me down,” he raps midway through the track.
The “Houdini” music video, released early Friday, brings its own retro vibes, featuring appearances by the blond-haired, white-shirted Slim Shady of old, acting as a foil to the present-day, 51-year-old Marshall Mathers.
Much like the song, the video is packed with references to Eminem’s previous work, including the comic book-styled “Without Me” video from 2002, with Dr. Dre at his side once again. The colorful clip also features cameos by comedians Shane Gillis and Pete Davidson, along with Eminem’s three children.
Announced in an April commercial aired during the NFL Draft in Detroit, “The Death of Slim Shady” is set for release this summer, marking Eminem’s first album since 2020’s “Music to Be Murdered By.”
