Eminem has left fans in awe with the intricate details embedded in his latest album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). The buzz centers around an Easter egg that cleverly references his classic track, “When I’m Gone.”
A viral social media post on Monday (July 29) drew attention to an old interview clip where Eminem explains that the 2005 song “marks the death of Slim Shady” and symbolizes him “putting this persona to bed.”
In “Guilty Conscience 2,” a track from The Death of Slim Shady, Eminem metaphorically shoots his alter ego and then awakens from a dream. During this sequence, a brief snippet of “When I’m Gone” plays in the background.
Fans have also speculated that the song alludes to the Relapse track “My Darling,” where the Detroit rap legend grapples with Slim Shady for control over his mind.
Em’s lyrics on “Guilty Conscience 2” add to the intrigue: “What shot is this? First, second — it’s your third,” seemingly referencing both “When I’m Gone” and “My Darling.”
Debate swirls around whether the Slim Shady persona is truly deceased or if the entire scenario exists within a dream.
Interesting Fact: Eminem initially hinted at the death of Slim Shady back in 2005 on his track “When I’m Gone,” explaining that the song was meant to retire the persona.
While fans dissect the Easter eggs, one person won’t be rushing to uncover them: Joe Budden. Speaking on his self-titled podcast, the former Shady Records signee admitted he hasn’t yet listened to the album. He explained, “I didn’t feel that urgency with this. It has nothing to do with him or with music.”
Despite Budden’s indifference, The Death of Slim Shady achieved immediate commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and ending Taylor Swift’s 12-week reign at the top of the chart. Notably, the album boasts the highest Hip Hop sales tally of 2024 so far, moving nearly 300,000 equivalent units without a physical release.
