Eminem’s Album “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”: Commercial Success, Critical Failure

Last week, the Billboard 200 chart saw a significant shake-up with four new albums entering the top 10. Notably, one album finally dethroned Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department from the No.1 spot after a 12-week reign: Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).

According to Luminate, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) debuted with 281,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. for the week ending July 18, making it the rap album with the highest unit week of 2024.

Confident and Versatile Vocals, But…

Out of the 281,000 units, streams accounted for 164,500 (equivalent to 220.08 million official on-demand streams of the album’s tracks), securing the album’s No.1 spot on the Top Streaming Albums chart. Album sales reached 114,000 units, all from digital downloads since the physical version has yet to be released.

The first-week sales of The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) mark the biggest week for a rap album in 2024. It also achieved the second-largest digital download week for an album this year, following The Tortured Poets Department by Swift, which sold 274,000 downloads in its first week.

The album is available in both clean and explicit versions, with three exclusive versions sold on Eminem’s official website, each featuring unique bonus tracks. CD and vinyl versions are slated for release on September 13 and October 25, respectively.

With this latest release, Eminem now has 11 No.1 albums on the Billboard 200, tying him with Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, and Kanye West for the fifth-most No.1 albums. Ahead of him are The Beatles (with a record 19 No.1 albums), Jay-Z and Taylor Swift (each with 14), and Drake (13).

Outside the U.S., The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) also hit No.1 in 15 other countries, including the UK.

Eminem’s 12th studio album, released on July 12, 2024, through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, features 19 tracks with contributions from White Gold, Sly Pyper, Bizarre, JID, Dem Jointz, Ez Mil, Skylar Grey, Big Sean, Moe Men-E, BabyTron, and Jelly Roll. The album boasts an impressive production team including Eminem, Dem Jointz, Fredwreck, Cubeatz, Cole Bennett, DJ Premier, longtime collaborator Dr. Dre, and Luis Resto, among others.

Three singles preceded the album: “Houdini” (released May 31, peaking at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Tobey” (featuring Big Sean and BabyTron, released July 2, peaking at No.27), and “Somebody Save Me” (released July 19, peaking at No.27). Currently, 16 out of the album’s 19 tracks are on the Hot 100.

Despite its strong performance, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) received mixed reviews, earning the lowest Metacritic score of Eminem’s career at 46/100, based on 16 reputable sources.

While praised for some strong rap segments, tight production, clever wordplay, and confident, versatile vocals, the album overall gives the impression that Eminem, now in his 50s, hasn’t outgrown his adolescent views and grievances. This leaves The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) feeling like a poor imitation of the 1999 The Slim Shady album.

Opening a New Era

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in 1972 in Missouri, USA, had a difficult upbringing after his parents, both musicians, separated, leaving him in a tough situation throughout his youth.

He developed a love for music early on, particularly storytelling, and began rapping at 14, forming groups, releasing music, and performing at small venues. At 20, he landed his first music contract.

However, his debut album Infinite (1996) was not successful. With the birth of his daughter Hailie, Eminem struggled even more, juggling music with cooking and dishwashing jobs, working up to 60 hours a week to support his family.

Eminem’s career gained momentum when he created the character Slim Shady, an alter ego that allowed him to channel his intense inner thoughts on stage with his iconic bleach-blonde hair.

Despite the controversies, Eminem is now considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and representing the underprivileged in the U.S. His global success also broke racial barriers for white rappers in mainstream music.

Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of over 220 million records. He was the best-selling music artist in the U.S. in the 2000s and the best-selling male artist in the U.S. in the 2010s, third overall.

To date, Eminem has released 12 studio albums, winning numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an MTV Europe Music Global Icon Award.

Billboard named him the Artist of the Decade (2000-2009), and Rolling Stone included him in their lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), as the name suggests, marks the end of the Slim Shady character. “Ultimately, what started as a tool became the very thing defining an existence,” Eminem acknowledged, adding that Slim Shady’s end had to be sudden.

With Slim Shady, Eminem achieved the impossible in an ever-changing industry: every time he releases an album, it shoots to No.1. While 281,000 units in the first week may not be overwhelming, it’s worth noting that Eminem has sustained success for 25 years, dethroned Taylor Swift, and released the biggest rap album of the year so far.

What has kept Eminem at the top of his game? According to Billboard commentators, it’s his musical talent, ability to retain old fans while attracting new listeners, and staying true to his brand without becoming oversaturated.

Now, with Slim Shady retired, what can we expect from Eminem in this new era? It would be exciting to see him try something completely new, with fresh collaborators and an unexpected aesthetic. And if possible, let’s hope for a Slim Shady revival!

Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200 Chart Last Week:

The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) – Eminem
Romance: Untold – ENHYPEN
The Great American Bar Scene – Zach Bryan
The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift
One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Hit Me Hard And Soft – Billie Eilish
The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan
Charm – Clairo
Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
Stick Season – Noah Kahan