Eminem opened the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards by drawing inspiration from himself, referencing his performance at the show in 2000.
Just as he did in 2000, the rapper led a massive crew of similarly dressed Eminem singers — in black shirts and dyed hair — to perform “Houdini,” the lead single from his latest album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).” The song was, of course, itself a nod to his 2003 single “Without Me,” providing another nod to his earlier work. Eminem left the stage and reappeared for an emotional “Somebody Save Me” with pre-recorded footage of Jelly Roll, who is currently on tour and was unable to appear in person.
Eminem, who tied Peter Gabriel for the most wins by a solo artist in VMA history, returned to the show for the first time since 2022, when he performed with Snoop Dogg. He last opened the show in 2010 with a duet on his hit song “Love the Way You Lie” with Rihanna.
His eight nominations this year include Video of the Year, Best Hip-Hop Song, Song of the Summer, and the most famous performance of his legendary songs “Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am” at the 2000 Video Music Awards, which featured a parade of more than 100 lookalikes dressed like him.
The rapper's performance comes a day after he announced the Expanded Mourner's Edition of his latest album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” which will be released Friday.
Eminem took to X to promote the deluxe release in a video that showed him walking into a convenience store and pulling a carton of milk out of the fridge. He dropped it to the floor, revealing a missing ad on the side of the box featuring his alter ego, Slim Shady. As he exited the store, producer Alchemist jumped out from behind the counter and told him never to come back.
Other performances at the MTV Video Music Awards include Anitta, Karol G, LL Cool J, Shawn Mendes, Sabrina Carpenter, Chapel Rowan, Gloria, Camila Cabello, Raw Alejandro, Benson Bun, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, and Lisa from Blackpink.
