Initial Thoughts On Eminem’s “Houdini” 

We just want GOOD music. That’s all.

Bruh the production was ass, and the jokes were meh, the hook was ass, the beat was trash. This does not compare to prime slim shady.

@@MrDeftones122755thank you

@@Yo-Ah-Kim28:24

​@@MrDeftones122755agreed

Yes....now they want new😂😂😂

The problem with Eminem's music is less to do with the content, although that is an issue, and more to do with the fact that the songs aren't good.

@@DukeBluedevil70 that's subjective so you're entitled to feel that way but he has a whole catalogue full of amazing songs to me

@@TheWaveClub It’s not subjective but to be fair I should have specified. I meant his music post Relapse. The modern Eminem era, if you will.

@@DukeBluedevil70 it is subjective because millions and millions and millions of people like that music that you dont. MMLP 2 and Recovery are great albums. Kamikaze and TDOSS are solid, good albums. to ME... because art is subjective

You nailed it. Way too self-referential, even for a guy like Eminem. The song relies far too much on meta elements and doesn't stand up on its own as a good song.

Same here! Pleasantly surprised. It sounded like he was just rapping and having fun again. That's when Eminem raps the best! (Although there was still a hint of that chopped up flow he's been using these last ten years...)

@@christopher399to me the light hearted funny aspect Em kinda felt forced…it didn’t feel genuine it felt like an act…i can tell he was having fun there was some funny bars here & there but overall i didn’t like it…beat was weak…hook was weak…the flows were choppy…no matter how much he tries to sound like the young Em it still feels like a middle aged guy that can rap well tryna sound like the old Em…IMO

@@giovannidejoie8618 He can still rap the way he used to. He's not just going to wake up and forget how to rap. It's a creative choice. He obviously likes the choppy flow. I don't... But it wasn't as prominent on this one.

@@christopher399 i never said he can’t…of course Em can rap….but his taste has changed…to me it’s been so long i don’t think he could rap like the old Em…because it feels like he doesn’t remember what made his stuff good in the first place…the light hearted comedy type Em felt like a young rebel…Em is so far removed from that…he can make it sound like he’s a rebel but he’s just not anymore…which is fine i’m not expecting him to sound like the old Em…problem is on this track he sticks so close to the old Em single formula (The real slim shady , without me) kind of vibe that i can’t help but to compare…& to me it doesn’t hold a candle to those tracks…Em has never been the best at making hooks but the hook on houdini was very weak IMO…beat sounds super dated…it’s ok to go back to an old vibe but atleast bring something new to that vibe…not just copy paste his old stuff…because Em is so different now it’s never gonna hit the same…so might as well do something new with the slim shady vibe than just recreating the same formula from 20 years ago…i feel like there’s much more he could do with the slim shady persona so that’s why i still look forward to the album…but houdini i didn’t like cause it just feels like new Em tryna sound like the old Em….& the rapping ability is still there but his flows have changed , his attitude has changed , his tastes have changed so i don’t see the point in going back to the old Em single formula….it just doesn’t work for me…i feel like there’s a way to bring the slim shady funny vibes or the eminem show serious vibes…but he has to bring something new to those vibes…not just trying to recreate those old songs…that’s not original…& it’s never gonna hit the same because time passed we want something new…not the old stuff again

@@giovannidejoie8618 I don't agree. I'm all for some nostalgia! If he wants to make an album full of Slim Shady songs that sounds as if they could've been an album he made in the early 2000's, I'm all for it. I'm all for trying new things, but I don't mind throwback music either, Early 2000's hip hop was, in my opinion, peak level production value. (Not peak level content or lyricism. That belongs to the 90's. And the rappers sounded the coolest in the 80's. But as far production value? The melodic beats from the 2000's were insane! I want more melodic hip hop, but with better lyricism than in the 2000's.)

Do you think this single is at the level of his old stuff?

Just because someone reaches back to their old sound doesn’t make it good. Sounds more like an imitation than a genuine return. Sounded stiff af rapping too and has for a while now.

No matter what sound eminem picks we just want a great song shit even a mid song atp, this is not that-- its just wack and dated as hell.

The sad thing about new em is its releases like this from him that personally made me actually think if he was ever good, but he dropped that chloraseptic remix like 2 years ago so he's still got it.... but for some reason just voluntarily releases wack shit like this to pander to old fans when he doesn't have to.

I think they want more of a Lose Yourself Demo ‘Em. A mature borderline esoteric Em. Maybe that’s next project. I’m happy tho. His voice and flows were nostalgic

he just doesnt like his voice . all these people who used to like eminem just miss the nostalgia and his higher nasal pitch . idk why most people like that have that sentiment because i prefer eminems deeper heftier vocal octane and i like when he breaks words down with the stop start flow ITS FRESH i DONT WANT the same flows from eminem show or marshall mather lp it doesnt fit his new voice

Ken seems to not like anything that isn't by a black artist. So, I'm not surprised

​@@jjan4858what's this nonsense, these guys loved Eminem's kamikaze, diss tracks, even his recent response to melle Mel etc... stop being unable to take criticism

@@pgback3620 I specifically said Ken. I didn't mention the other guys. Ken has been like that recently, not exclusive to Eminem.

@@jjan4858 this is simply not true, and I'm sure there isn't evidence to back up this claim 'Ken seems to not like anything that isn't by a black artist'

In what universe does this song suck?

​@@AgentLemmonthis one

@@user-fs7zm6zc7s You must live in a parallel universe

Seriously. Eminem hasn't been actually offensive in years. Listening to the entire album was embarrassing. It was like hearing 2016s hottest takes 8 years later. Nothing compared to the old Eminem.

Probably cause revival was ass

Mature em was also recovery but I see that this album is gonna get pushed by the narrative that its trash cuz its too pop

@@user-fs7zm6zc7slike this. The idea that because Revival had a message means that we should automatically give it flowers is bullshit. It was a bad album.

Eminem wouldnt have gone down this career path if Revival was executed well.

True. I think the video is a 10/10 but the song by itself is like a 5/10. It’s just meh

Bro remind me what Album cover your DP belongs to? I feel like I knew at one point, but I've forgotten.

​@@AkshayArora-xl8cvflylos cosmogramma. Was just about to compliment it. Legendary shit

@@juancharley3203 Isn't 5/10 good? It's average. It's ok.

That’s what we call “mid” my guy. Although it’s vastly overused now

Em stans stay doing the most schizophrenic projecting possible. The song sucks get over it

Hate on him "for some reason"? Have you heard his music? It's so wack it's painful. Maybe that's the reason?

@@nathanmartin455 you're no better than his stans. Equally extreme and delusional.

@@nathanmartin455 Lmao thanks for proving my point 😂 Ever thought that music was subjective? And what’s wack to you is dope to someone else? Are you capable of comprehending that? If you are then go look at his numbers and then you’ll realize you’re in the minority. It doesn’t mean you’re wrong it means you have a different opinion and he doesn’t make music for you - he makes music for the millions that support him 🤷‍♂️

@@edg810I think we can acknowledge that some people find the em track as mid or trash along with that cole and drake track. Big numbers don’t equate to quality

@@dominiquesmith7680 100% big numbers don’t equal quality. That wasn’t my point though.

factual

Agreed. Shock value generally comes across as cheap.

It's the Dave Chappelle complex you're a snowflake if you think the new stuff sucks, even though you think his even more offensive old stuff was good

Nah definitely soft

No it’s definitely the first one. Plenty of creative funny jokes lead to outrage too. Em was successful because he was creative and funny. If creativity was the problem people wouldn’t be so emotional about it. There’s plenty of not good comedy that people don’t make noise about.

Eminem fans like Eminem music 😱😱😱😱 Unbelievable 😱😱

​@shocka2435 honestly it is kinda unbelievable

@@shocka2435 That's a ridiculous strawman of what OP is referring to. You're either being intellectually obtuse on purpose or legitimately brainded. Fans with a modicum of sense should be capable of criticising their favorite artists, especially when they have the skill set, but seem not to understand how to deliver something as good as their past catalogues.

@@In.New.York.I.Milly.Rock. It’s all subjective though. They genuinely could believe he still delivers stuff well. I personally still like a lot of his new music. Critiques/haters can be just as bad as the Stans, pushing their opinion as gospel.

​​@@shocka2435Nobody here is pushing their critiques as gospel. You just upset that they don't like the song and are critical of Em. Something his Stans absolutely hate. You're being super dishonest with this response

Of course we will lol. He's 52 and still raps better than the youth. Stan's are always right, u sound like a kid looking at the other kids enjoy greatness, Jealous ass, u tuning in to hear them talk about Eminem. Thats funny to me

I agree. 6.5 is accurate. But it's still a catchy song. I guarantee it's gonna bump in the club.

@@jesusisgoat8656bro it got played at a party I was at last night. I’m NOT kidding with you. The whole energy just died. The song is shallow asf.

​@@jesusisgoat8656you have never been to the club if you think they are playing this or any Eminem in any club

2Pac, Kendrick and Jay-Z fans are worse than Eminem fans

😂

Best song of 2024 🤣🤣

The fuck? What are you listening to? Taylor Swift?

wtf do any of those artist have to do with this review🤣

There were pictures of him in the studio with Alchemist Royce and dre. I think this is just the funny first single

Compared to Nas output over the last few years, Eminem doesn't deserve a seat at the same table as Nas. It's a disgrace that Eminem has access to more resources probably than any rapper. Yet, Eminem gets a pass. Eminem is overrated. He said all that he had to say his first three albums.

@@BlackMusicGenrelol that’s not true. Black people just hate on em bcuz he’s white. If drake released the shit Ems released the last 5 years everyone woulda been dancing. But since it’s Em it’s corny

@@kinnyboy That's not true. You have to remember Black Americans hold the co-sign in Hip-Hop. So if it wasn't for black people, Eminem wouldn't gotten the stamp of legitimacy. He would've still had the Vanilla Ice stigma of the white rapper on him. So black people helped more than hurt Eminem.

@@BlackMusicGenre yea he got it in the 90s and EARLY early 2000s, that is true…. Bcuz in that era the rap fans moreso were entertained by thoughtful/complex bars. But By the mid 2010s the then black 15-25 year olds were saying he was lame, corny, etc… then you ask them which songs/bars were corny and they can’t name one. Just “man ion listen to that old white man lyrical miracle spiritual rap” And it’s just continuing thru the 2020s

@@kinnyboy Like I said. Eminem had to get his stamp of legitimacy from black folks. If it wasn't for black people Eminem wouldn't be where he is. Eminem had to get the stamp from black people in order for him to be sold back to whyte people.

To me, Slim Shady was always the best part. I'm hoping he's bringing back the character and is just going to go all crazy for the next few albums. Yes, he's 52... but who cares? It's entertainment. No one is saying anything about Tarantino making violent films in his 60's. People understand that he's not a violent person in real life. He's just someone who knows how to make good entertainment. Why should it be different for rappers?

Plus...and as a Jay Z fan I can say this...Jay went an entire decade where he didn't put out a great album. In fact some of them were actually not good during that time. But ppl forget so quickly. I'm not mad it at but why can't Em get the same grace? Yes, Encore was a miss but then he came back with 3 in a row that got good to great reception. Ppl have gotten too comfortable with that narrative that Em hasn't put out anything good since the Eminem Show and it's arguably false.

@@Kiki-xx3fj exactly the majority of ppl I think would say Jay last best album was American Gangster, and that was 2007, and dropped 444 in 2017. For me Eminem last two albums was fire. I know they didn’t like recovery, or MMLP2, but those two was good albums that did very well.

It worked for him from 99-2003 after that Eminem been more trash for every year gone by.

Of course you’re white lmao

Really? This just sounded like the movie tracks he’s been making with slightly edgier lyrics

What’s weird is his life story is fairly interesting, so it’s not like he has a lack of experiences to pull from. If he did like a memoir style album over some quality (not corny) beats and wasn’t so concerned with pop appeal I would probably eat it up. Something in the vein of “Rock Bottom.” I love the picture he paints in that song.

For a guy who always screamed at the top of his lungs how much he didn't give a fuck he cares A LOT what people think of him. He is always trying to win everyone over. His day 1s, his new fans, his youngest fans, black, white...And it'd be better if he just focused on one. Which would be to cater to his HIP HOP fans. Which aren't the Stans. Because Eminem himself loves hip hop hop. If he just made a whole album of only rapping without trying to make a hit song then it'd bring out his best traits.

That sounds so sexual 😅

I think this is one of those situations where the fan theories will be more interesting than the album itself. That conservative radio host idea could be cool, but I doubt he's going for that. Guess we'll see.

I saw Skye's video on it as well, and I'm in the same camp with you. If this song and video are just a bait and switch tactic, and the album is a huge twist it could be awesome for Em. As a huge Eminem fan I don't want a whole album in the style of Houdini from him at this point in his career. I thought MTBMB was an awesome late career album for him, but most people didn't even listen or give it a chance. I would love to see him continue on that kind of level or approach. The album title really gives me hope there is a bigger plot and plan in play. He's said himself in interviews in the past he likes to release the cheesy single ahead of the album release and have all the darker and more serious stuff in the rest of the album because that strategy works best for him. Fingers crossed that's all this is.

I doubt it. That is far too high-concept for an Eminem album.

So versatile, he sucks at all of them equally!

I love Nas, but all 6 of those albums sound the same, and they are praising it, but I know good and well they don’t return to those last 6 albums like that because a few of them said it when they did the Nas bracket… Eminem gives a different sound and style to every single album and a new way to rhyme. They don’t like mature Eminem. They don’t like “lose yourself” they don’t ever mention his songs like “toy soldiers, when I’m gone, mockingbird” they don’t like “recovery” they shitted on “revival”, so they don’t want a mature Eminem. They like SSLP and MMLP, but when he gives a song that like that “he’s too old for this”. They’ve boxed Eminem in and nothing he raps about will interest them no matter what.

People have different tastes in music.

Excuses? Lol, look at his views, Haters make excuses to give any other artist a chance. He's 52 and still doing numbers. I see why u hate

If anything, Em gets more hate than any rapper in history.

Wayne and somewhat Ye get a lot of passing in the Hip-Hop community than Eminem if you want to be serious. Wayne can release an album like Funeral and Rebirth, and although he receives some criticism (not as much as Eminem), he is still respected, as he should be. On the other hand, if someone doesn't like Eminem's new music, he not only faces harsh criticism but also disrespect towards his legacy. Keep in mind, that Eminem's last album, in my opinion, was better than Wayne and YE's most recent efforts.

I like the song = toxic Stan

@@dollaron LMAO!!!! Good ONE!!

Butthurt eminem fan lmao I love it

Aw the eminem Stan got hurt, look at how cute it is when it's sad! Just go back to nursing your mountain due and wrap up in this confederate flag to get warm

@@nathanmartin455 Im Canadian and Eminem politically leans left you might need to educate yourself a bit more young one also don’t forget to take your vitamins ☺️

Coping by mentioning how much views "Houdini" got wont make the song any better

yeah ride another mans numbers get that shit bbg

@@yeetboiii7798 you are so right it’s much more productive to bitch and moan about something I want him to do or go back to just to then bitch and moan about that exact thing. U are right and a genius 😂😂😂

😂👍

Revival was trash.Wtf are you talking about?

Detroit is all the way sat down for this 💀 I love Em, but this ain’t it

@@kylerwilliams4629 kylerwilliams4629 is sat down for this. dont speak for detroit

@@kylerwilliams4629bruh🤣

Em is corny. We don’t listen to him. Get over it

@@CarlClinto Not what I said at all. I’ll add reading comprehension to the list of things that are regular here

They both have two completely different audiences and at the end of the day, they're both different types of rappers. I can enjoy both of them without comparing them.

⁠@@dougiedoug899427:48 Seems like DEHH and the chat agree with my take here. That sounds to me that the audience seems to be in unity and no separate.

⁠@@dougiedoug8994also two different types of rappers, they are both lyrical rappers. They couldn’t be more in the same lane in the rap game😂 only thing different in type is their skin tone my man

​@@WilkyWay30000Just because they're both lyrical rappers, that doesn't mean they're the same musically. They're two different artists who cater to two different audiences. Eminem is a lyrical rapper who caters musically to the pop audience that likes mainstream rap mostly only, while Nas caters to a more mature hip-hop audience. I like both lol

@@dougiedoug8994 like I said lad. DEHH crew and the chat agree with the take. Audience being “separate” ain’t an excuse

Get off your knees

​@@Newportnews98 get off my nuts

One of my favorite videos ever! Literally go back to it when I feel like laughing!!

Same here homie. I'm 26 and that's exactly how I feel. Teenage me would've ate it up. Now? Nah.

In my 30s and that’s exactly it. Em made this song before when it was called “just lose it”, and I was 15. And I liked it then-because I was 15. At my age now, yeah I do expect artists that I like to grow up with me. And if they don’t that’s fine to, but I’m not going to sit here and claim shit is goated. This song is coasting hard on nostalgia.