Eminem Debuts 'Houdini' Live at MTV VMAs, Rocks Slim Shady Wig

Eminem electrified the MTV VMAs with a high-energy performance of his new track ‘Houdini’, which opened the awards show at New York's UBS Arena. The rapper also showcased his collaboration with Jelly Roll, ‘Somebody Save Me’, adding a dynamic flair to the event.

Dressed in a Slim Shady wig, Eminem paid homage to the song's music video as he launched into ‘Houdini’. The performance included a clever twist: Eminem removed the wig mid-set, switching to a black baseball cap for the next song. 

Image Courtesy: Pinkvilla

The stage was adorned with video footage of Jelly Roll, who did not attend the show, performing the chorus of "Somebody Save Me."

This performance marked the television debut of tracks from Eminem’s latest album, ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ (Coup de Grâce). Released in July, this album is Eminem’s twelfth studio effort and introduces fresh material to his extensive discography.

In a post on X , Eminem shared insights about the new album, describing it as a concept album. He advised fans, "Public service announcement: the 'death of Slim Shady' is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense. Enjoy."

Eminem’s performance at the VMAs highlighted his innovative approach and continued relevance in the music industry, combining dramatic visuals with new music to captivate the audience.

-Sushmita Sarkar