On May 31, 2024, Eminem released the first single titled “Houdini” from his upcoming album, “The Death of Slim Shady,” which is slated for release this summer (2024), on July 12.
The song, along with its music video, continues the ultra-popular “Without Me,” released in June 2009 and now boasting nearly two billion views on YouTube.
It’s evident that the music video for “Houdini” follows the aesthetic of “Without Me” on all levels, with many nods to the classic hit.
To interpret the lyrics and the details in the “Houdini” music video, which is rich with countless references to Eminem’s history and brutally honest messages about the deviations of the modern world in 2024, requires a different format than this article. Therefore, I will simply express my opinion here: this music video, along with Eminem’s new single “Houdini,” is a masterpiece in the realm of popular hip-hop music and music videos.
One layer of the story in the music video also explores Eminem’s personal struggles, both from two decades ago and today. It portrays a mental battle that emerges within every individual after gaining experiences and insights that transform their personal views on many aspects of life. Eminem’s 2024 fight with Slim Shady from 2002, who travels through a time portal into the future, is vividly depicted in the music video.
In this context, I’d like to highlight a well-executed local realization of a similar concept. Macedonian hip-hop artist Tonyo San employs a similar approach in his single “Duma” and its music video, which has been available on YouTube since September 2022.
I’m eagerly anticipating the moment when 2009’s Mr. Hyde bursts into the present-day well-established Slatkaristika, producing a single and music video in a style similar to Eminem’s “Houdini.”
Maybe that song and music video won’t be as commercially successful as “Kazna” (English translation: Punishment) from Kaliopi’s recently released album titled “Album,” in which Slatkaristika plays a part, but it will resonate with those who have critical views of today’s trends – where, for example, trophies are given just for participation in a competition that should be about skill and quality.
Perhaps this song and music video by Eminem will serve as additional inspiration for one of Slatkaristika‘s future songs, where the heart will speak much more and MS Excel less.
As of June 5, 2024, just five days after its release, the YouTube music video for Eminem’s “Houdini” has garnered over 42 million views. If this trend continues, certainly, the view count will eventually reach the billions.
