Eminem’s ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ Album: All Tracks Ranked

Yes, he has returned. Shady is back, let your friends know. Eminem came back on Friday (July 12) to release his long-awaited album titled The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce).

Em's latest album is his first release since 2020's Music to Be Murdered By. He is aiming for his 10th consecutive number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

Just hours before the release of the project, Eminem shared that TDOSS is more than just an album - it's a carefully thought-out concept. He encouraged fans to listen to the project in the order he intended, without jumping around to their favorite tracks.

"Attention everyone: 'The end of Slim Shady' is a themed album, so if you don't listen to the songs in order, you may not understand them," he stated. "Have fun."

Em began The Death of Slim Shady's release with the song "Houdini," which reached the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest charting song of the decade. He later released "Tobey" featuring Big Sean and BabyTron in July, which entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 95.

In his latest project, Eminem included a variety of collaborations with guest appearances from Jelly Roll, J.I.D, Skylar Grey, Bizarre, Ez Mil, and other artists.

At 51 years old, Em continues to dominate the music industry and is considered one of the top voices in hip-hop. He has achieved great success and is highly respected in his field, with a career that rivals that of any of his contemporaries.

When Slim Shady releases new music, everyone focuses on him and the culture eagerly pays attention. Billboard reviewed all 19 songs from The Death of Slim Shady and ranked the entire album, excluding skits.

Beginning with a vibe akin to The Eminem Show's "Square Dance," Dr. Dre brings his signature magic to the fresh beat. Eminem seizes the opportunity to fire back at conservative commentator Candace Owens, who questioned his sexuality last year. With lines like, "And Candace O, I ain't angry at her/ I won't bring up the fact she forgot her roots/ Mock her, like the racists she supports," Eminem unleashes his fiery response.

Don Cannon provides the dark and foreboding beats for Eminem to delve deep into his twisted thoughts. Despite believing he has left his wicked ways behind, Eminem acknowledges that his evil tendencies always resurface. He confesses, "I believed I had changed my ways. But now I realize I am just like you, because I am still filled with darkness."

The album contains numerous mentions of Caitlin Jenner, which some may find excessive. Picture yourself driving in Michigan and getting into a heated argument with none other than Eminem. He believes that bullying can actually benefit individuals in certain situations and is tired of society treating overweight people with excessive care.

"Let's rejoice in developing diabetes instead of trying to eat healthier. How about we have a competition to see who can eat the most pies? And let's focus on being overly kind instead of being honest. Who needs to exercise when you can just find clothing in a size XXXL? Let's push for society to change instead of making changes ourselves," Em expresses with frustration. "Road Rage" is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

"Chief" Featuring Ez Mil

Ez Mil had an impressive debut, stepping up while Eminem takes a back seat. Eminem is still haunted by the memory of his tricycle being stolen when he was young, as mentioned in his song "Leaving Heaven" in 2020. The legendary rapper believes fans expect him to completely change his sound, but really all we want is for him to try new approaches and take different paths in his music journey instead of sticking to the same old formula.

Eminem brought fans back in time to 2004 with his latest music release. New York Yankee fans might not be pleased by this trip down memory lane. In his song "Guilty Conscience 2," Eminem reveals that "Brand New Dance" is a revamped track from his 2004 album Encore, which was originally titled "Christopher Reeves" but didn't make the final cut. It's always nice to see some nostalgia for Eminem fans, and it's quite impressive that he can incorporate something from 20 years ago into a new project. Not many artists can successfully do that.

Stay alert because Eminem comes alive in the third verse. He feels regret for helping create the stereotype of the white rapper. Eminem is still prepared to battle Machine Gun Kelly, and it seems like he's ready for another round of diss tracks. "But I have to keep attacking Kelly like Tyson in the ring/ I already destroyed him twice/ That guy is back making subtle insults like a food fight in the deli," he criticizes.

"Trouble" should last more than 41 seconds. But then again, maybe it doesn't have to because Eminem tries to stir up controversy in a short amount of time by targeting various marginalized groups. He shows a level of understanding and acknowledgement of the "Gen Z is trying to cancel Eminem" trend, proving he is socially aware despite what some may think.

Afterwards, he recognizes that Marshall is always there to take care of Slim Shady's problems. He realizes that the two personas rely on each other to exist. It's like having an angel and a devil whispering in his ears.

Discussing one song in just five minutes can be overwhelming, especially considering the intricate rhymes of Em. Eminem has faced many struggles with addiction over the years, but this time he is focusing on his tendency to embrace his alter ego, Slim Shady, and stir up controversy while overcoming criticism.

This time, the focus is on the LGBTQ+ and intellectually disabled groups and Em is concerned about facing backlash like DaBaby did after making homophobic comments at a 2021 Rolling Loud event. But, upon thinking about his upbringing in Detroit, Em emphasizes that despite his past experiences, he is still a caring father to his children. He raps, "Accusing Shady of being misogynistic/ While raising three daughters, two of whom graduated from college with honors."

"Tobey" Featuring Big Sean & Babytron

The BabyTron solo track turned into a collaboration with Big Sean and Eminem from Detroit. Eminem loved the track so much that he decided to include it on his album. It was like a dream come true for all the artists involved.

Batting third, Slim still carries a strong feeling of being underestimated, like he's in a rap battle from 8 Mile, while he criticizes Billboard for ranking him as the fifth greatest rapper of all time. "I can't believe that rappers I've already surpassed are ranked higher than me on this list. I may be number five, but deep down, I find it funny,"

Remembering the past can be a powerful thing. Eminem started his album by going back to his Slim Shady persona from the late ’90s/early 2000s, which really meant a lot to his devoted fans. In typical Slim Shady style, Em stirred things up by mentioning Megan Thee Stallion's shooting and bringing up R. Kelly. But it was his final move that really caught people's attention - a catchy chorus that gave hope that Eminem might be making a comeback.

For those who can handle it, Eminem goes back in time and rap fast and aggressive against his enemies. A young child adds a nice touch to the chorus on the standout track "The Death of Slim Shady". Eminem declares himself the ultimate bad guy, and fans of Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj wonder why their idols were mentioned one after the other in the song.

This song was probably recorded recently because Em mentions Diddy mistreating Cassie in 2016, without directly naming anyone. Em warns that the next person who questions him will face consequences worse than what Diddy did.

An ominous start to The Death of Slim Shady. Em skillfully tackles the piano-driven beats and calls out the critics pretending to be fans of hip-hop who criticize every album, even ones from legendary artists like Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and Ye. Only after you are gone do they appreciate your talent. "You nerdy critics would always find faults in 36 Chambers/ So why do they only focus on the negative aspects of great artists like Picasso and make excuses to hate," he raps.

The follow-up to the first "Guilty Conscience" released in 1999. Em sparks his rivalry with Ja Rule again, calling the "New York" rapper a "midget." It's a gentle dig compared to the harsh tone of 2002's "Bump Heads" diss track. Slim Shady and Marshall clash and challenge each other in the same verse while Em takes on both roles.

Progress is important, and Eminem is finally putting an end to some of his long-lasting conflicts. Eminem is calling a truce with Machine Gun Kelly, Christopher Reeves, Nick Cannon, Limp Bizkit, Will Smith, Canibus, Lord Jamar, and Ja Rule. It may not be the same as before, but the new song "Guilty Conscience 2" is a great follow-up.

At some stage, Slim Shady calls out Marshall for inventing him as a alter-ego to generate controversy and essentially act as a shield to express provocative things that he didn't actually have the bravery to stand behind.

Skylar Grey Featured In "Temporary"

In Skylar Grey's soothing vocals bring a gentle touch to add variety to the long album. Eminem transitions from a sinister figure to a thoughtful writer in just a short amount of time. "Temporary" is a heartfelt dedication to his daughter Hailey, following in the footsteps of beloved songs like "Mockingbird" and "When I'm Gone" that explore the bond between father and daughter.

Challenging yourself and trying new things is how you improve. Em brings in the rising star J.I.D. who absolutely dominates the impressive production, pushing Eminem to elevate his performance on the standout track of the album.

Eminem raps continuously for almost two minutes. During his flow, Em shows respect to The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, and hints that Diddy may have been involved in their deaths. Em also suggests that he doesn't want to start any conflicts with Diddy because he might retaliate like Keefe D did with 2Pac.

Help Me, Featuring Jelly Roll

Someone is crying, bringing an emotional end to The Death of Slim Shady saga. Eminem is filled with remorse for not being the parent he wanted to be and missing out on so much in a heartfelt apology letter to his children. Jelly Roll, who only recently met Eminem, seems to have a deep connection with him. The singer from Nashville provides a beautiful chorus that helps Eminem find peace as he is laid to rest.

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