There will never be another Slim Shady.
Recently, a fake obituary for Eminem’s famous alter ego appeared in the Detroit Free Press, declaring Slim Shady “dead.” This was all part of the lead-up to Eminem’s 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), set to release this summer.
The Birth of Slim Shady
Eminem, now 51, first introduced Slim Shady in 1997. But it was his 1999 album, The Slim Shady LP, that truly made him a star. The album, released on February 23, 1999, earned him his first two Grammy Awards, thanks to the hit single “My Name Is.”
At the time, reactions to Eminem were mixed. Magazines like PEOPLE and Teen PEOPLE covered his rise to fame, interviewing neighbors who praised his talent while warning that his music wasn’t for everyone. Despite the controversy, he was even named Teen PEOPLE’s “Sexiest Rapper” in 2000.
However, Eminem also faced criticism for his controversial lyrics, which targeted celebrities like Christina Aguilera and made offensive remarks about the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the backlash, The Slim Shady LP peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, proving that Eminem’s raw and unapologetic style resonated with fans.
“The kids listening to my music get the joke,” Eminem told Rolling Stone in 2000. “They can tell when I’m serious and when I’m not. They can tell the entertainment of it.”
The Iconic 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Performance
One of Eminem’s most legendary moments came at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. Fresh off the release of The Marshall Mathers LP, he opened the show with a performance of “The Real Slim Shady”—accompanied by a huge group of lookalikes, all dressed in his signature white T-shirt and bleach-blond hair.
Former MTV president Van Toffler later reflected on the performance, saying:
“Eminem made great videos that were probably the most popular on TRL and MTV at the time. The challenge was, how do we recreate that mayhem in a live performance?”
To bring the Slim Shady army to life, the show’s producers hired 100 lookalikes. Eminem was shocked when he saw them at rehearsal, but Dr. Dre, who helped come up with the idea, had the best reaction.
“Oh my God! It’s my worst nightmare!” Dre joked.
By the time the live show started, Eminem had fully embraced the moment. VMAs executive producer Dave Sirulnick recalled:
“During the show, he owned every second of that performance. He was as good as you will ever see a performer on television.”
The End of Slim Shady?
Over time, Eminem moved away from his Slim Shady persona, evolving as an artist. However, in May 2024, the fake obituary for Slim Shady marked the official end of the era, leading fans to wonder if The Death of Slim Shady might be Eminem’s final album.
The obituary read:
“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.”
It ended with:
“May he truly find the peace in an afterlife that he could not find on Earth.”
Whether The Death of Slim Shady is truly the end for Eminem remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—there will never be another Slim Shady.
