After more than a decade away, Eminem is set to light up the MTV Awards stage once again with an epic opening performance.
According to Billboard, the “Houdini” rapper is gearing up to kick off the VMAs at the UBS Arena, just outside of NYC. The last time he took the opening stage was in 2010, when he and Rihanna teamed up for a fiery performance of “Love the Way You Lie.”
Em’s upcoming VMAs performance follows the explosive release of The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which shattered records with 63 million streams in just one day. The album claimed Spotify’s 2024 crown for highest single-day streams, dethroning Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You, which previously held the record with 59 million streams in April.
Eminem’s latest album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), has become his biggest streaming debut to date. Released as his 12th studio album under Aftermath/Shady/Interscope, this conceptual project has fans buzzing. On May 1, the rapper officially teased the album with a trailer featuring his longtime collaborator 50 Cent, setting the tone for what was to come.
Just days before its release, Eminem tweeted a PSA, warning fans: “The ‘death of slim shady’ is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense. Enjoy.” In classic Slim Shady fashion, promotion included an obituary in the Detroit Free Press and a wake-themed release party. The album, packed with bars aimed at Diddy and Candace Owens, features collabs with Big Sean, JID, BabyTron, Jelly Roll, Ez Mil, White Gold, and more.
The 2024 VMAs are set to go live on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and it’s shaping up to be a night to remember! Will you be tuning in?