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Eminem’s “The Death of Slim Shady” and its Impact in Pinoy Hip-hop
Eminem’s new album just came out. Here’s a quick review plus a discussion on its significance in the local scene.
Raymond Antonio
July 17, 2024
Legendary emcee Eminem released his much-awaited album “The Death of Slim Shady” on July 12, 2024. It’s his 12th solo LP, with the last one being “Music to be Murdered By”, which came out in January 2020. Months before the release, many are already speculating the content of the record. Some predicted that Eminem is indeed going to kill off his most famous “persona” while others claimed it’s just a trick and that he will unleash a much more sinister version of Slim Shady. What we got is an unforgettable journey through the mind of a complex artist.
Quick review:
“The Death of Slim Shady, as Em stated on his social media, is a concept album. You need to listen to its entirety to understand the message. As for the Slim Shady character, it’s alive and well here and he targeted rappers, critics, and certain demographics that will surely cause outrage, especially among those who are unfamiliar with the emcee’s body of work. Eminem is nothing new to controversy and it has been one of the huge factors in his global popularity.
In the new album, yes, Slim Shady is full effect, but surprisingly, it’s not as harsh as the previous iterations. The shock factor is still there, but instead of the usual crass and in-your-face approach, Eminem chose the “writer’s route” here. He focused on constructing intricate rhyme schemes and showcasing diverse flows while keeping the concepts riveting. You could say that what we heard is a “matured” version of Slim Shady. Some of the producers here include Dr. Dre, Fredwreck, Dem Jointz, Mr. Porter, and Em himself. Production-wise, the album features solid boom bap and trap beats. It’s arguably the best sounding album since “The Eminem Show”. Each instrumental has a distinct flavor and helps the rapper paint the portraits.
There are some dark and twisted songs that will satisfy horrorcore fans but like a critically-acclaimed Eminem album, it also has commercially viable bangers and tracks that put a spotlight on the rapper’s more vulnerable side. This mixture made “The Death of Slim Shady” a more exciting listen. Once again, we encourage you to listen to it as a whole. You will understand why he said certain things and when it's finished, you will have a deeper appreciation for Marshall Mathers III and his art.
The impact it made in Pinoy hip-hop:
Eminem has been a household name in the Philippines for more than two decades now, so it’s obvious “The Death of Slim Shady” will be an instant success here. However, what we didn’t expect is the track “Head Honcho”. It features Fil-am rapper Ez Mil, who first gained popularity in early 2021 with his song “Panalo”. In July 2023, it was announced that he has officially signed with Shady Records. We patiently waited for his debut in the label and now it’s here. Not only did Ez spit a masterful verse, he also represented us by rapping six bars in Tagalog. It’s short but still iconic because he incorporated quality multis and vivid imagery. Two years ago, no one ever thought we would see a Filipino rapper collaborate with one of the GOATs. Congratulations to Ez Mil! We’re looking forward to your next project.
A message to our local emcees:
Ez Mil didn’t achieve this because he was relaxed or half-hearted. He worked hard for it and continued evolving lyrically and musically. His success didn’t happen overnight. He actually started making music in 2017 and only achieved fame in 2021. So if you’re really passionate about your music, then keep doing your thing. Don’t be afraid of mistakes and be open to criticism from your peers in the scene. Once you put your heart to it, it will certainly be a masterpiece.
