Comedian Pete Davidson has unexpectedly appeared in Eminem’s latest music video, “Houdini”. The video is part of the rapper’s upcoming album, “The Death of Slim Shady,” which is set to be the grand finale for the artist’s alter-ego, Slim Shady.
Pete Davidson appears in Eminem’s “Houdini” music video. PIC.TWITTER.COM/FGB1RVJJ52
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) MAY 31, 2024
Eminem, known for his sharp and often controversial lyrics, has again stirred the pot with his latest track. The 51-year-old rapper opened the song with his iconic melody, “Guess who’s back, back again? Shady’s back, tell a friend.” This line has repeatedly become a signature of the artist’s style.
Even the lyrics to “Houdini” are rather eye-raising, as Eminem seems to take aim at almost everyone close to him, including his children. Not even Dr. Dre, record executive Jimmy Iovine, or fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion are spared from the lyrical disses Eminem throws at them. Those statements have sent a flurry of debate across social media and are reminiscent of some of Shakespeare’s work.
The video begins with Eminem picking up the phone. On the other end, we find Dr. Dre, whose voice reminds us of the opening of Eminem’s 2002 video, “Without Me.” He tells the rapper that he has found the portal, which should be open to 2002, and here’s Eminem back in 2024, with bleached-blonde hair and everything.
This continues with cartoonish pictures, not much unlike the video for “Without Me.” It’s funny to see young and old Eminem side by side on the video screen, rapping about their polarised views on life. Along the way, cameos by 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and comedian Shane Gillis appear. The younger Eminem baits his older self into a confrontation, and both worlds merge.
In walks Pete Davidson with his bleach-blonde hair. He hopped in Em’s ride and said, “I just got my license back.”
Fans said they didn’t even realize he was in the video. One user tweeted, “Why the f*** is Pete Davidson in the new #Eminem music video? Love it.” Another shot back, “@Eminem’s new song felt like an SNL parody, and then Pete Davidson showed up.” Also, everybody just wanted to know the same thing: “Why is Pete Davidson everywhere?”
The question at that point may lie in Davidson’s not-too-distant history. The comedian faced a charge for reckless driving back in 2023 when he even crashed his car into a house in Beverly Hills. In what can only be described as an almost precognitive irony relating to another crash, Davidson’s car collided with another in October of that year. This has left fans with raised eyebrows at his statement in the video that he was a great driver.
Album art for “Houdini” is equally brash. It includes a magician wearing a Jason Voorhees hockey mask, and the cover charges with an electrified, floating microphone. The lyrics are no less cocky with lines like “Abra-abracadabra (And for my last trick)/I’m ’bout to reach in my bag, bruh.”.
What Eminem did is take these most profound, darkest thoughts and make them accessible to the public in his way, so in a way, he bares himself. The inclusion of Davidson in the video adds to that feeling of making the track more personal to Eminem and certainly is a treat for fans of the rappers who like their lyrics fiercely and their features strange. It seems like a scandal, but perhaps because of it, “Houdini” will be remembered as a feature in “The Death of Slim Shady,” signaling the close of an epoch in Eminem’s career.
While we wait for the album, it seems clear: Slim Shady is going out with an awful racket, and Pete Davidson is along for this wild ride.
