Sophia Michaels
The essence of the second song on Eminem’s latest album, known as “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” is encapsulated in the title “Habits” — focusing on entrenched behaviors that are hard to shake. Eminem, on his Twitter account, urged his fans to listen to the record from start to finish, implying a cohesive narrative about the downfall of his caustic alter ego. Placing “Habits” early on the album signaled Slim Shady’s vigor and brash lyricism.
In collaboration with White Gold, Eminem revisits his past antics to provoke his detractors. He incorporates controversial language, reminisces on past controversies, and acknowledges the uproar his offensive language once incited. The chorus by White Gold touches on Marshall Mathers’ reluctance to abandon the behaviors that defined him, singing, “You got an addiction, man / I know you can’t get rid of me forever.” Eminem even reflects on himself, confessing, “I really, really gotta quit / Something’s wrong with me, my God, old habits die hard.”
Eminem’s Persistence in Targeting Caitlyn Jenner
Eminem references Caitlyn Jenner in six tracks on “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” notably in “Guilty Conscience 2” towards the latter part of the album. He suggests that his past offensive remarks were merely a fictional scenario before retracting that statement.
In an era saturated with online provocations, Eminem’s earlier provocative persona fails to elicit the same impact. Internet trolls, akin to modern-day Slim Shadys, have exposed audiences to more severe transphobic comments. The cliché of exploiting the trans community for shock value has been exhaustively utilized by comedian Dave Chappelle, leading to mixed reactions. Chappelle is even referenced in Eminem’s verse in “Habits,” where Eminem contends that having two educated daughters exempts him from misogyny accusations.
Some individuals on Twitter criticized Eminem’s repetitive use of Caitlyn Jenner as a punchline, suggesting an excessive focus on her. Perhaps Eminem is Jenner’s most fervent admirer?
