Eminem Brings ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ to 2024 VMAs With Performance of “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me”
Think back, if you can, to the year 2010. The MTV Video Music Awards, that year hosted by Chelsea Handler, kicked off with a two-song performance from Eminem, then fresh off the release of his Recovery album. Em gave the Los Angeles audience a live take on “Not Afraid” and the Rihanna-featuring “Love the Way You Lie,” both of which peaked in the top spot on the Hot 100. Fast forward 14 years, and Em is in a different state of mind, this time opening the VMAs with a taste of The Death of Slim Shady.
Wednesday, Em opened the Megan Thee Stallion-hosted 2024 edition of the ceremony with a Slim clones-assisted performance of the Steve Miller Band-sampling “Houdini,” followed by the Death closer “Somebody Save Me” with help from the rightfully ubiquitous Jelly Roll.
Em’s history with the VMAs is extensive, dating back to his breakthrough year in 1999. At that year’s ceremony, i.e. the same year fellow MTV darlings blink-182 gave fans two Enema of the State cuts during pre-show festivities, Em was joined by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for a medley that included “My Name Is” and “Guilty Conscience,” the latter of which just got a sequel on The Death of Slim Shady.
Key to Slim’s Death rollout, of course, was a Complex cover story from the mind of Chief Content Officer Noah Callahan-Bever. Revisit that here. The concept album, as expected, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The aforementioned “Somebody Save Me,” a highlight from the collection that makes good use of Jelly’s undeniable charisma, is the latest Death track to have been given the official video treatment. See that below by way of director Emil Nava.
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