At 52 years old, Eminem is still proving why he’s one of the biggest names in hip-hop. The rap legend opened the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Wednesday, September 11, with a powerful performance that took fans on an emotional ride.
A Throwback to Slim Shady
Eminem kicked off the show with “Houdini,” the first televised performance from his latest album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). The album, released in July 2024, reflects on his iconic alter ego, Slim Shady.
For the performance, Eminem wore a white wig, just like the Slim Shady of the early 2000s, while a group of lookalikes followed him on stage. LL Cool J and Taylor Swift were spotted in the crowd dancing along to the beat.
A Heartfelt Tribute to Hailie
After the high-energy opener, Eminem slowed things down for “Temporary,” a song dedicated to his daughter, Hailie. He was joined by Jelly Roll, who performed his song “Save Me” as an introduction to the emotional track. To end the performance, Eminem sat in a sofa chair, watching home videos of Hailie on the big screen—a touching moment that moved the audience.
VMAs Host and Eminem’s Nominations
The event took place at New York’s UBS Arena, with Megan Thee Stallion as the host. Interestingly, Eminem even name-dropped Megan in “Houdini.”
Aside from opening the show, Eminem was also a top nominee with eight nominations, including:
- Video of the Year
- Best Hip-Hop
- Best Direction
- Best Editing
- Best Visual Effects
- Song of the Summer for Houdini
- Artist of the Year, competing against Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, and Taylor Swift
- Most Iconic Performance, for his 2000 VMAs mash-up of The Real Slim Shady and The Way I Am
Eminem’s Record-Breaking VMAs Legacy
Even though Taylor Swift led this year’s nominations with 10 nods, Eminem holds a record of his own. He is tied with Peter Gabriel for the most Moon Person awards (13 trophies) and remains the most-awarded rapper in VMAs history, with 67 career nominations.
A Look Back at Eminem’s VMAs History
- 2010: Last time he opened the VMAs, performing “Not Afraid” and “Love the Way You Lie” with Rihanna
- 2012: Surprise guest during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s performance of Forgot About Dre and Still D.R.E.
- 2022: Teamed up with Snoop Dogg for From the D 2 the LBC
Eminem’s Latest Album Success
This summer, Eminem released his 12th album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. His single “Houdini” also became a major hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eminem’s 2024 VMAs performance was a perfect blend of nostalgia, energy, and emotion, proving once again why he remains one of the greatest rappers of all time.
