Last week, the Billboard 200 chart experienced a notable resurgence with 4 new albums entering the top 10. Most notably, Eminem’s album *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* finally dethroned Taylor Swift’s *The Tortured Poets Department* from the No. 1 spot after 12 weeks at the top.

According to Luminate, in the U.S., for the week ending July 18, *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* debuted with 281,000 equivalent album units, making it the highest-grossing rap album of the year 2024 in terms of units sold in its first week.

The album’s confident and versatile vocals, however…

Out of the 281,000 units, 164,500 were from streams (equivalent to 220.08 million official on-demand streams for the songs in the album’s streaming version; this also allowed the album to debut at No. 1 on the Top Streaming Albums chart), while album sales accounted for 114,000 (all from digital downloads since the album was not yet available in physical format).

The first-week sales of *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* mark the biggest sales week of the year 2024 for a rap album. It also achieved the second-largest weekly sales for a digital download album this year, just behind the first week of Swift’s *The Tortured Poets Department* (with 274,000 downloads).

The album is now available in both clean and original versions. Additionally, there are 3 exclusive versions sold on Eminem’s official website, each featuring exclusive music. The CD and vinyl versions are expected to be released on September 13 and October 25, respectively.

Overall, Eminem now has 11 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. He is tied for the 5th most No. 1 albums with Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, and Kanye West. Above him are The Beatles (with a record 19 No. 1s), Jay-Z and Taylor Swift (each with 14), and Drake (with 13).

Outside the U.S., *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* also reached No. 1 in 15 other countries, including the UK.

The album, Eminem’s 12th studio release, was released on July 12, 2024, through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. Featuring 19 tracks, it includes contributions from White Gold, Sly Pyper, Bizarre, JID, Dem Jointz, Ez Mil, Skylar Grey, Big Sean, Moe Men-E, BabyTron, and Jelly Roll. The production team is also substantial, including Eminem, Dem Jointz, Fredwreck, Cubeatz, Cole Bennett, DJ Premier, longtime collaborator Dr. Dre, Luis Resto, and many others.

Three singles paved the way for the album: *Houdini* (released May 31, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100), *Tobey* (featuring Big Sean and BabyTron, released July 2, reaching No. 27), and *Somebody Save Me* (released July 19, reaching No. 27). Currently, 16 of the album’s 19 tracks are on the Hot 100.

Despite its success, *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* has received mixed reviews, with the lowest Metacritic score of Eminem’s albums, achieving only 46/100 based on 16 reputable sources.

The album has been praised for some excellent rapping, tight production, clever wordplay, and confident, versatile vocals. However, overall, it gives the impression that Eminem, despite being over 50, remains unchanged from his teenage years, clinging to old viewpoints and complaints. This makes *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* seem like a poorly executed imitation of his 1999 album *The Slim Shady LP*.

Overall, the album gives the impression that Eminem, despite being over 50, remains unchanged from his teenage years, with the same old viewpoints and grievances.

**A New Era Dawns**

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, was born in 1972 in Missouri, USA. His parents, both musicians, separated early, leaving Eminem in difficult circumstances throughout his youth.

He developed a love for music early on and was particularly fond of storytelling. He began rapping at age 14, forming his own group, releasing music, and performing at small venues. At 20, he secured his first music deal.

However, his debut album *Infinite* (1996) was not successful. With the birth of his daughter Hailie, Eminem’s life became even more strained. He juggled music with working in kitchens, washing dishes, and working up to 60 hours a week to support his family.

Eminem’s career began to gain traction with the development of his Slim Shady persona—an alter ego that represented his on-stage image with bleached hair, reflecting his intense inner fantasies.

Despite generating controversy, Eminem has become one of the greatest rappers of all time, recognized for popularizing hip hop in Middle America and representing the underclass in the U.S. His global success also broke racial barriers for the acceptance of white rappers in mainstream music.

Eminem is now one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated global sales of over 220 million records. He was also the best-selling music artist in the U.S. in the 2000s and the best-selling male artist in the 2010s, ranking third overall.

To date, Eminem has released 12 studio albums, won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, 1 Primetime Emmy Award, and 1 MTV Europe Music Award for Global Icon.

Billboard named him Artist of the Decade (2000-2009), and Rolling Stone listed him among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

*The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)*, true to its name, marks the end of the Slim Shady character’s journey. “Ultimately, what were once just tools have become the defining business cards for an existence,” Eminem reflects on his character, adding that Slim Shady could only end in such an abrupt manner.

With Slim Shady, Eminem established an unchanging standard in an ever-evolving industry: whenever he releases an album, it goes straight to No. 1. Though 281,000 units in the first week may not seem overwhelming, consider that Eminem has sustained success for 25 years, surpassing Taylor Swift, and delivering the biggest rap album of the year so far.

What keeps Eminem at the peak of his career? According to Billboard commentators, it is his musical talent, the ability to retain old fans while attracting new listeners, and a consistent brand without oversaturation.

But now that Eminem has retired his branded character, what can we expect from him in this new era? It would be exciting to see him try something entirely new, with fresh collaborators and an unexpected aesthetic. And if possible, let’s hope Slim Shady makes a comeback!

**Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200 Last Week**

1. *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)* – Eminem
2. *Romance: Untold* – ENHYPEN
3. *The Great American Bar Scene* – Zach Bryan
4. *The Tortured Poets Department* – Taylor Swift
5. *One Thing At A Time* – Morgan Wallen
6. *Hit Me Hard And Soft* – Billie Eilish
7. *The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess* – Chappell Roan
8. *Charm* – Clairo
9. *Am I Okay?* – Megan Moroney
10. *Stick Season* – Noah Kahan