Will the real Slim Shady please confirm he’s alive?
A fake obituary for Eminem’s alter ego showed up in Monday’s issue of the Detroit Free Press newspaper as promotion for the 51-year-old rapper’s upcoming album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce),” per Complex.
The obituary features a picture of Eminem — who grew up in Michigan — wearing overalls and a hockey mask as his Slim Shady persona.
The headline reads: “Slime Shady Made Lasting Impressions.”
“Fans ‘Will Never Forget’ Controversial Rapper” is written in the subhead.
The faux obituary touts Eminem’s alter ego’s success in the music industry.
“A product of Detroit who began his career there as a rogue splinter in the flourishing 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.
“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 his 12th studio album shortly after appearing at the NFL draft in April. He confirmed that “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” will come out this summer.
A trailer for the new album tells the story of “Who killed Slim Shady?” in the style of true crime shows.
“Through his complex and oft-criticized, tongue-twisting rhymes, the antihero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies,” a reporter says in the video.
Fellow rapper 50 Cent also appears in the video, saying: “He’s not a friend, he’s a psychopath.”
The reporter then says, “The same rude lyrics and controversial antics may have ultimately led to his demise. Join me as we re-create the events that led to the murder of Slim Shady.”
“I knew it was only a matter of time for Slim,” the “Lose Yourself” rapper adds.
Eminem’s mentor, Dr. Dre, teased the album on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in March.
“He said it was OK for me to make an announcement right here on the show,” Dr. Dre, 59, said at the time. “I’m actually going to get the entire album for the first time tomorrow … I haven’t even heard anything complete that I’ve done, but I’m going to hear it, and he’s putting out an album in 2024.”
This will be Eminem’s follow-up to his surprise album drop, 2020’s “Music To Be Murdered By,” which landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and had the hit single “Godzilla” featuring Juice Wrld, which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.
“The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” does not yet have an exact release date.