Houdini by Eminem

August 28, 2024

Guess who’s back, back again? 

Y’all, I can’t get this song out of my head, and I’ve got to exorcize this demon. It’s been rattling around in my brain for too many weeks, and it’s Eminem 24/7 around my house now. If you don’t recognize the snippet of a lyric, we’re talking about “Houdini,” Eminem’s first single from his The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) album. He’s released a couple of more singles since “Houdini,” (shout out to betterhelp.com/Eminem) but they aren’t sticking in my head like this one. To be honest, I missed the first wave of Slim Shady – I was chasing a toddler and was out of the pop culture loop back then. By the time I hopped back in, Slim had gone quiet. The Death of Slim Shady is the first thing of his that I ever listened to (an admission I know will demolish my street cred). I knew of him, knew he was controversial and foul-mouthed, derogatory towards almost everybody, but I just didn’t think anything he said would speak to me. In short, I’m embarrassed to say I judged him. I can’t say how sorry I am about that now. He really is a lyrical genius. Had I known how funny and clever and smart he is, I would have joined the bandwagon long ago, so don’t come for me – I ride with Eminem now. 

As I tried to catch up on Eminem’s career, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and found the real wonderland – fan reaction videos to “Houdini.” I am addicted to them. The more I watch, the more pop up on my feed, and I just can’t quit them. They’re just so wholesome! These fans absolutely geek out over the nostalgia of the video, and it’s contagious.

I also took an epic dive on a variety of topics inspired by “Houdini,” – revisiting the rap and hip hop legends and Eminem’s own story; nostalgia and censorship and the generation wars that rage on social media; the importance of nostalgia; lyrical verse and wordplay; superheroes; and so much more! Here are a few of the things I’ve flung up from the deep…

Hip Hop and Rap

These titles gave me a walk down memory lane, a wayfinder if you will to the players and trends and songs I remember from when I was clubbing. They’re a history of rap and hip-hop, how the genre was born and has evolved, and, of course, a peek into the angry blonde legend himself.

Hip-Hop Is History by Questlove

Questlove, is a man of many talents including drummer, DJ, record producer, actor, filmmaker, and his band, The Roots, is the in-house band for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, so he knows everybody. His latest project brings us Hip-Hop is History, celebrating 50 years of the genre. It’s an evolutionary story of hip-hop and the artists and influences that shaped it, and Questlove has the stories and receipts from the inside, both insightful and amusing in his tales. Questlove has stories about everyone who was or is anyone in the hip-hop industry, but from a factual, historical lens, not gossipy or salacious.

Eminem and Rap, Poetry, Race by Scott F. Parker

A variety of academics, writers, poets, and rappers come together in this collection of essays to talk about Eminem’s influence in rap culture. While he wasn’t the first white rapper, he elevated the respect and broke the door down for those who followed him. The essays explore race – is Eminem good and happens to be white or is he only thought to be good because he’s white was the question Eminem had to answer early in his rise, and he has constantly and consistently proven he’s one of the best, maybe even the best, regardless of race. Other essays explore his lyrical mastery or how one might separate the man from the hatred he spews in his various personas. All in all, this is my favorite of this grouping of books. It was published in 2014, and I would love to see a revisit from the editor now that Eminem has musically circled back to his roots.

Villains and Flawed Heroes

The “Houdini” video brings back Rap Boy from Eminem’s “Without Me” video released in 2002. Em (we’re tight like that now, so I can call him that) and Dr. Dre reprise their superhero capers as they chase down Slim Shady. Em is the hero we have, but he may just be the hero we need as he tries to catch up his alter ego. Plus, he’s a comic book hero himself as noted below. If you enjoy morally gray superheroes and villains, I’ve dropped some titles for you. Obviously, I included the real Houdini in this section…

Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

I’ve always had a soft spot for the black hat. One of my favorite superhero books, Soon I Will Be Invincible follows Doctor Impossible, our villain, who is currently rethinking his life choices and Fatale, a half-Cyborg rookie member of the Champions, the heroes who always come to save the day. It’s an interesting take to see the heroes from the viewpoint of their nemesis and their newest member, and it’s a great tale that I won’t spoil here. Also, if Grossman’s name sounds familiar, he’s the twin brother of author Lev Grossman of The Magicians fame. Soon I Will Be Invincible was turned into a musical at one point in Chicago, and me and other fans have been hoping for a book sequel for years. I had the pleasure of speaking with Grossman in person once, and he didn’t rule out the possibility, so here’s hoping.

Nostalgia, Cancel Culture, and Gen X

Of course people have tried to censor Eminem, and him trying to cancel himself is the heart of the concept on TDOSS. However, as all of the YouTube fan reactions geek out (to the point of tears in some cases) over the nostalgia of “Houdini”, they also admit enmasse that Eminem would not have the same career trajectory in 2024 that he had in 1999. He would have been shut down immediately. To be fair, his music in recent years hasn’t been as raw and maybe Gen Z doesn’t know Slim Shady. Those more controversial albums were released long enough ago that he can circle back to offend a whole new generation – this should be fun! Let the Zeesplaining commence about why Em should be canceled. But what do we lose when we let cancel culture prevail? Em takes a few shots at Gen Z in his lyrics to provoke that point. The other thing the fans talk about? Lovingly and jokingly, they call him some version of old. Even Eminem pokes fun at himself in the video. However, one TikTokker unlovingly called him “grandpa geezer-ass rap.” Them’s fighting words! I can’t let my Gen X brother be slandered like that…. Em epitomizes the Gen X mantra of F*ck Around and Find Out. And, if he’s a geezer, then that makes me…(counts on my fingers)   

You know what? F*ck that, here’s some books…

Building Your Lyrical Skills

Eminem has said that he read the dictionary to help build his vocabulary and claims to otherwise not read except for comic books and a biography by LL Cool J ( I’m not sure I believe that – he’s too articulate to not read). However, a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary always come in handy, too, as does the poetry section of your public library or bookstore. Let poems both long or short, modern or classic, epic or succinct inspire your prose and your storytelling. Stories have been told in verse both orally and written for generations, so don’t be afraid to look back in order to look forward. The Jabberwocky, a complete nonsense poem, is a classic, and nobody tells a story in verse like Poe.

Romance with an Edge

Em exudes a certain charm, with Original Gangstas author Ben Westhoff describing him as having a “movie star aura and an R-rated pinup appeal.” If you’re harboring your own little fantasy of the Rap God whispering “Say my name” in your ear or the sexy superhero keeping his mask on when he slips into your room late at night, then here’s a few suggestions to give you sweet, sweet dreams. Honestly, I haven’t read these but one of two just might be on my TBR now. Spice levels may vary, so what you pick can be your little secret… (I also took a peek at some Eminem romance fanfiction online…wow. No judgment! If you go there, though, pack protection and let us know when you return safely!)

Suggested titles:

Grip by Kennedy Ryan

Collaboration by Michelle Lynn

A Rapper’s Delight by Charae Lewis

Romancing the Beat by Abiegail Rose

Hearts Unmasked: A Superhero Romance by Janine O’Neil

Caped and Dangerous by Isabel Jordan

Envy (The Deadly Seven #1) by Lana Pecherczyk

Before You Go…

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! As a bonus, I recommend checking out the “Houdini” fan reaction videos on YouTube that started this whole obsession. Be aware that they are NSFW but absolutely darling in their own way – watch at your own risk and if you’re easily offended, maybe take a pass. I’m not here to hold your feelings, so either suck it up or skip them . (Sorry, I’m still salty over being a geezer.) Warning – the reaction videos are highly addictive, and it’s hard to watch just one!

Whew! Glad I finally purged all of that out of my brain, and I didnt even get to include Detroit or the Steve Miller Band! Now, maybe I can sleep at night. Hope you enjoy the recs and if you think of other related book titles you think I should check out, let me know. If there’s a topic you want me to Geek on, send up a signal (or send an email)!