SUMMARY
  • Eminem's The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) is out now.
  • The Rap God once again name drops late Superman actor Christopher Reeve in two tracks of his new album.
  • Jelly Roll express his gratitude for having the opportunity to work with Eminem.

Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Eminem’s twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), was released on July 12, 2024. The album features artists including Big Sean, Jelly Roll, White Gold, Skylar Grey, and more. Houdini was released on May 31st, 2024, as the lead single of the album, accompanied by a music video.

Eminem
Eminem in Houdini music video | Eminem’s YouTube

On July 11, 2024, the rapper posted an announcement on his social media, urging fans to listen to the songs in order. Eminem explained that it’s because the album is conceptual. Upon release, the album has received mixed reviews from critics, while fans have a different response. But one thing that caught up to them was the fact that the rapper could not stop mocking the late actor Christopher Reeve.

Eminem name-drops Superman actor Christopher Reeve in The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)

The Rap God released his 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), featuring several artists, and decided to name-drop a lot of people in the lyrics. One of those people is the late actor Christopher Reeve, famously known for playing Superman in 1978. The 19-track album is said to focus on the rapper’s darker alter ego, Slim Shady. Eminem mocks the late actor in two of his songs, including Brand New Dance and Trouble.

In his Brand New Dance lyrics, he sings, ‘Get Up/Everybody on the dance floor, come on/That means you too, Chris’. During the chorus of the song, Eminem sings, ‘On the count of three, everybody does the Christopher Reeve’. In the song Trouble, he sings, ‘So do cripples, dumb quadriplegic f***s With Christopher Reeve’s luck/Shady Jesus, what the f**k?’

This is not the first time the rapper has mocked the late actor, who suffered paralysis from the neck below after being thrown off a horse in 1995. He required a ventilator and a wheelchair to live, and despite all the hardship, he continued to work. He passed away in 2004 due to cardiac arrest after a reaction to an antibiotic.

Eminem mocks Superman actor Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve as Superman | Warner Bros.

Back in 2000, Eminem released his album The Marshall Mathers LP, in which he mentioned the actor in two songs, Who Knew and I’m Back. Em has also mocked or name-dropped the actor in other songs, including Purple Pills, My First Single, and Rain Man.

In his song Rain Man, Eminem clarified that he does not have any sort of feud with the actor, saying, ‘And let’s clear this up too; I ain’t got no beef with him either/ He used to be like a hero to me.’ According to The Things, Eminem has dissed the late actor about 44 times, and the reason is simple: ‘shock value’. In his song Medicine Ball, Eminem admits that he has used Reeve’s name because it rhymes with so many different worlds. Reports also suggest that Eminem found it pretty ironic that the actor who played Superman on screen became quadriplegic in real life.

However, the majority of Eminem’s fans do not feel the same way, as they expressed that the album is a complete 10/10 project. A user stated that the album is truly genius, adding that the King is back.

Jelly Roll describes Eminem as a ‘Childhood Hero’

Eminem is not only known as one of the greatest artists but is also a hero or an inspiration to a lot of rappers, and one of them is Jelly Roll. The music artist collaborated with Em on his recent album for a song, ‘Somebody Save Me’. He shared on his social media,

I always say my childhood heroes lived somewhere between Willie Nelson and Eminem. As a teenager and still today, I could recite every song on the Slim Shady album, the Marshal Mather album, and the Eminem Show. When I bonded out of jail at 17 years old and was sneaking into cyphers and battles in Nashville, they would also play the ‘Lose Yourself’ beat when I came out on stage at the freestyle battles.

Eminem
Jelly Roll thanks Eminem for Somebody Save Me Collab | Eminem’s YouTube

The rapper added that he related to every word Eminem wrote and could understand him, adding that somewhere he felt like Em understood him as well. Jelly Roll added that when he got the call that the Rap God would be sampling his song Save Me to explore what would have happened if he allowed his demons to win, it made him emotional.

Roll urged fans to listen to Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), and thank Paul Rosenberg for treating him like family and for the opportunities. Jelly Roll didn’t forget to express his gratitude for everything.

The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) is out now to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

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