Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace), includes a shocking rap about Alec Baldwin’s shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The 51-year-old rapper dropped the conceptual album based around his alter ego earlier this week.
The 19-song tracklist has already secured him his biggest-ever album debut on Spotify with 63.5 million streams and counting.
The album release happened to coincide with Hollywood star Alec’s trial for involuntary manslaughter after cinematographer Halyna was fatally shot by a gun he was holding on the set of Rust in October 2021.
The trial took a surprise turn after the judge officially dismissed the case on Friday, moving The Departed actor, 66, to tears.
As the spotlight shifts from the closed trial, however, keen-eared fans have pointed out that Eminem has rapped about the fatal incident in his ninth album track Fuel.
‘But it’s in a holster, I proceed to bust it/ F**k around and get popped like Halyna Hutchins / Like I’m Alec Baldwin, what I mean is buckin’ you down, coup de grâce then,’ Eminem – real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III – says.
There has been the stirrings of backlash to the provocative lyrics online.
‘I was just gonna checkout Eminem’s new album. But hearing him bring up Halyna as a Mockery. Been rocking with dude since the 90’s, but he literally is the most Miserable mofo on the Planet. Let them losers stream his s**t,’ @gumpster1987 wrote on X.
‘”F**k around and get popped like Halyna Hutchins / Like I’m Alec Baldwin, what I mean is buckin’ you down, coup de grâce then,” he raps. Eminem is disgusting,’ @Icanpooptwicea1 added.
‘Bro i love eminem but was this s**t necessary??? like halyna didn’t need to be mentioned …,’ @penelopingz echoed.
In April, the weapons handler on the set of the Western, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
This is far from Eminem’s only cultural reference on the album. At various points, he mentions Megan Thee Stallion, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Candace Owens, Kanye West and Jeffrey Epstein, to name a few.
During one of his multiple nods to the disgraced music artist Diddy, he alludes to recently uncovered surveillance footage of him physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
The Antichrist lyrics read: ‘Next idiot ask me is gettin’ his ass beat worse than Diddy did / But on the real, though / She prolly ran out the room with his f***in’ dildo / He tried to field goal punt her, she said to chill / Now put it back in my ass and get the steel toe.’
Meanwhile, in his song Habit, he discusses his track record of controversial lyrics, slamming anyone who wants to censor him.
‘This my s**t, I’m gonna spit it how I wanna spit it / Whoever gets offended, suck a d**k and f**k a critic,’ he raps during one verse.
Despite the more controversial aspects of the album, many fans have also been moved by some of the songs. Especially the closing track, Somebody Save Me, which one fan described as an ’emotional gut punch’.
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) is now available to stream.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Sarah Michelle Gellar reveals emotional struggles after close friend Shannen Doherty’s death
MORE : Luke Littler can topple Michael Van Gerwen in World Matchplay darts thriller
MORE : This ‘ain’t Texas, but it is a Beyoncé-approved alternative for a Wild West adventure
Share this with