Real Slim Shady stands up: Eminem channels 2000 performance in VMAs 2024 opener

Shady’s back. Tell a friend!

Eminem made his TV debut for his 12th studio album, “The Death of Slim Shady,” at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards in New York on Wednesday.

The rapper channeled his 2000 VMAs performance of “The Real Slim Shady,” taking the stage with an army of bleach-blond-wigged doppelgangers -—an homage to his early aughts look — to perform “Houdini,” his latest single, which references his 2003 track “Without Me.”

He left the stage momentarily to ditch the wig before reemerging to to sing “Somebody Save Me” with pre-taped footage from his collaborator Jelly Roll, who is on tour and couldn’t make the ceremony.

Taylor Swift was among the audience members who enjoyed the performance, dancing to the beat and lighting up social media.

Eminem is up for eight awards at the ceremony, which is taking place at the UBS Arena.

The rapper is no stranger to the VMAs stage. The 51-year-old, born Marshal Mathers, made his VMAs performance debut in 1999, rocking the stage with songs “My Name Is” and “Guilty Conscience.”

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Throughout the decades, Eminem gave some iconic VMAs performances , including opening the 2010 ceremony with “Not Afraid” and “Love The Way You Lie” with singer/songwriter Rihanna, and making a surprise appearance in 2022 to perform “From the D 2 The LBC” with Snoop Dogg.

in 2012, the artist also surprised the audience during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s performance of “Forgot About Dre” and “Still D.R.E.”

The “Mockingbird” rapper released his latest album on July 12, his first new music since “Music To Be Murdered By” in 2020, which made it on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100.

“The Death of Slim Shady” made it to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and the lead single, “Houdini,” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The rapper surprised by performing “Houdini” at “Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central” on June 6. Closing the event, Eminem performed a medley of his music and later brought out Jelly Roll for the single “Sing For the Moment.”

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The album’s trailer received mixed reviews, with one fan writing “We are ready, boss,” and another asking, “Wtf is happening, dude?”

The trailer tells the story of “Who Killed Slim Shady” in the style of a true-crime show.

“Through his complex and oft-criticized, tongue-twisting rhymes, the antihero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies,” a reporter says in the video.

50 Cent makes a cameo in the video, saying: “He’s not a friend, he’s a psychopath.”

The reporter continues : “The same rude lyrics and controversial antics may have ultimately led to his demise. Join me as we recreate the events that led to the murder of Slim Shady.”

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“I knew it was only a matter of time for Slim,” Eminem chimes in.

The trailer sparked rumors that the “8 Mile” actor was headed for retirement.

The album features 19 songs, some in collaboration with artists such as Jelly Roll, J.I.D, Skylar Grey and Big Sean, along with three bonus tracks.

The “Lose Yourself” rapper urged fans to listen to the album in order, saying: “Public service announcement: the ‘death of Slim Shady’ is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense.”

The tracks include love letters to his eldest daughter , Hailie Mathers, 28, reference artists such as Megan Thee Stallion, Steve Miller Band and Nicki Minaj, and call out Sean “Diddy” Combs and Alec Baldwin.

Eminem was nominated for eight awards for this year’s VMAs; Video of the Year, Best Hip-Hop, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Song of the Summer, Artist of the Year, and VMA’s Most Iconic Performance ( for his mash-up of “The Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am” at the 2000 ceremony).

Before Wednesday’s show, Eminem had won 13 VMA awards, including Best New Artist (1999), Best Male Video (2010) and Video of the Year (2002).

If Eminem wins just one more statue, he will surpass Peter Gabriel’s 13 wins and be the most decorated VMAs male artist.

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