Getty Image / Michel Linssen/Redferns
Pour one out for Slim Shady because Eminem‘s most popular alter ego has been killed off forever, or so it seems.
The Detroit rapper ran a fake obituary in the Detroit Free Press (FREEP) this week announcing the end of Slim Shady with the title ‘Slim Shady Made Lasting Impressions.’ A subheading went on to claim that “fans ‘will never forget’ controversial rapper” which is certainly true.
After an image of Eminem‘s Slim Shady obituary from the Monday edition of the newspaper was shared far and wide across social media, an article by Brian McCollum shed some light on what was going on. The faux obit is all part of the hype building up to Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace), which is set to be released this Summer.
The "Will Never Forget" is really something. This is turning out to be a deeply conceptual album. Writing your own obituary and shit. Something only Eminem could pull off.#TheDeathOfSlimShady pic.twitter.com/KzhSK4V6PB
— Shady (@whoisshadyxv) May 14, 2024
Obviously, that is marked with ‘advertisement’ and according to FREEP the ad was purchased by an agency through Michigan.com. What’s not so obvious, necessarily, is that’s Slim Shady himself wearing the ‘Jason’ ski mask in the picture, as confirmed by FREEP.
Eminem presumably writing his own obituary for his alter ego is some extreme Eminem behavior. All signs indicate that he’s going deep for this one and thus the obituary image was shared far and wide across social media by his fans.
This is the second time that Eminem has turned to the local newspaper to promote an upcoming album. He did so back in 2017 with a ‘REVIVAL’ ad that looked like a pharmaceutical company ad but was actually intended to promote his album of the same name.
Both of these ads ran in the newspaper’s Sports section which might seem like odd placement but my hunch is the Sports section readers are likely more discerning to content that might seem out of place and are thus able to catch on quicker. But that’s just my two cents.
The release date of the album is not yet know. As of now, there is no track list. All we really know is Eminem’s new album will be coming this Summer and Slim Shady is no longer with us. Stay tuned for more.