"Houdini" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024). It was released as the album's lead single on May 31, 2024, by Aftermath, Shady, and Interscope Records. Eminem co-wrote it with Jeff Bass, Anne Dudley, Steve Miller, Trevor Horn, Kevin Bell, Malcom McLaren, with production handled by himself and Luis Resto. The beginning of the track features vocals from his manager Paul Rosenberg.
The track heavily samples "Abracadabra" by the Steve Miller Band and contains an interpolation from "Without Me". The title references Harry Houdini—the famous escape artist—symbolizing Eminem's return to form and "reappearance" in the rap game.
The cover artwork was designed by Mike Saputo, who also did the album artwork for The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Revival, Kamikaze, Music to Be Murdered By, and The Death of Slim Shady.
Music video[]
The accompanying music video was released the same day as the single's release. Directed by Rich Lee, it includes cameos from fellow rappers 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Royce da 5'9", Denaun Porter, along with Westside Boogie, Grip, and Ez Mil, signed at the time to Eminem's record label Shady Records, record producer the Alchemist, comedians Shane Gillis and Pete Davidson, adult film actresses Samantha Mack and Ryan Keely, Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg, Interscope Records co-founder and executive Jimmy Iovine, and Eminem's own children. Within its first 24 hours, "Houdini" gained over 10 million YouTube views, making it one of Eminem's most viral recent releases.
In the music video, Eminem, dressed as his "Rap Boy" persona from "Without Me," and Dr. Dre drive around a Gotham City-esque city while tracking down and battling his alter ego Slim Shady, who time traveled through a portal from 2002 to the events of the music video.
| Video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | May 31, 2024 | |
| Director | Rich Lee | |
| Producer | Justin Diener • Kathy Angstadt • Lisa Arianna | |
| Prod. Company | Synapse | |
| Cinematographer | Chris Probst | |
| Editor | Flawless Post | |
| Length | 4:56 | |
Personnel[]
- Andre "Dr. Dre" Young – mixing
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- Luis Resto – writing, additional production, keyboards
- Marshall "Eminem" Mathers – vocals, writing, production
- Mike Strange – recording
- Quentin "Q" Gilkey – recording
- Steve Miller – additional vocals
- Tony Campana – recording
Lyrics[]
[Skit: Paul Rosenberg]
Hey, Em, it's Paul
Uh, I was listening to the album
Good fucking luck, you're on your own
[Intro: Eminem]
Guess who's back, back again?
Shady's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back, guess who's back
Guess who's back, guess who's back
Guess who's back, guess who's back
Guess who's back
(Da-da-da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da-da-da, da, da, da, da)
[Verse 1: Eminem]
Well, look what the stork brung
(What?) Little baby devil with the forked tongue
And it's stickin' out, yeah, like a sore thumb
(Bleah) With a forehead that it grew horns from
Still a white jerk
Pullin' up in a Chrysler to the cypher with the vic's, percs and a Bud Light shirt
Lyrical technician, an electrician y'all light work
And I don't gotta play pretend, it's you I make believe
And you know I'm here to stay 'cause me
If I was to ever take a leave, It would be aspirin to break a feve
If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me
Would I really have a shot at a feat? (Ha!)
I don't know, but I'm glad to be back, like
[Chorus: Eminem]
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick) I'm 'bout to reach in my bag, bruh
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick, poof) Just like that and I'm back, bruh
[Verse 2: Eminem]
Now back in the days of old me
(When) Right around the time I became a dope fiend
Ate some codeine, as a way of coping taste of opiates, case of O.E
Turned me into smiley face emoji
My shit may not be age appropri—
Ate but I will hit an eight year old in the face with a participation trophy
'Cause I have zero doubts
That this whole world's 'bout to turn into some girl scouts
That censorship bureau's out
To shut me down so when I started this verse
It did start off light-hearted at first
But it feels like I'm targeted
Mind bogglin' how my profit has skyrocketed, look what I pocketed
Yeah, the shit is just like y'all have been light joggin' and I've been running at full speed
And that's why I'm ahead like my noggin, and I'm the fight y'all get in
When you debate who the best but ops I'm white-chalkin' when
I step up to that mic, cock it then
"Oh my god, it's him... not again!"
[Chorus: Eminem]
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick) I'm 'bout to reach in my bag, bruh
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick, poof) Just like that and I'm back, bruh
[Bridge: Eminem]
Sometimes I wonder what the old me'd say
(If what?) If he could see the way shit is today
(Look at this shit, man) He'd probably say that everything is gay
(Like happy!) What's my name, what's my name?
[Verse 3: Eminem]
So, how many little kids still wanna act like me?
I'm a bigger prick than cacti be
And that's why these words sting, just like you were being attacked by bees
In the coupe leaning back my seat
Bumpin' R. Kelly's favorite group, the black guy pee's
In my Air Max 90's
White T's walkin' parental advisory
My transgender cat's Siamese
Identifies as black, but acts Chinese
Like a motherfuckin' hacky sack I treat the whole world, 'cause I got it at my feet
How can I explain to you?
That even myself, I'm a danger too
I hop on tracks like a kangaroo
And say a few things or two to anger you
But fuck that, if I think that shit, I'ma say that shit
Cancel me what? Okay, that's it, go ahead, Paul, quit
Snake-ass prick, you male crossdresser, fake-ass bitch
And I'll probably get shit for that
(Watch) But you can all suck my dick, in fact
Fuck them, fuck Dre, fuck Jimmy, fuck me, fuck you, fuck my own kids they're brats (Fuck 'em)
They can screw-off, them and you all
You too, Paul, got two balls, big as RuPaul's, what you thought you saw ain't what you saw
'Cause you're never gon' see me
Caught sleepin' and see the kidnappin' never did happen
Like Sherri Papini, Harry Houdini, I vanish into the thin air as I'm leaving, like
[Chorus: Eminem]
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick) I'm 'bout to reach in my bag, bruh
Abra-abracadabra
(And for my last trick, poof) Just like that and I'm back, bruh
| The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) | |||
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