The MTV VMAs 2024 concluded on September 11, 2024, with Eminem emerging as one of the biggest victors. The rapper received one award each in the Best Hip-Hop and Best Visual Effects category for his latest single, Houdini.
Houdini is the lead single to his twelfth album, The Death of Slim Shady, and came out on May 31, 2024, along with a music video. The catchy rap song received critical acclaim and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The MV also impressed fans and received over 154 million views on YouTube.
Eminem who officially opened the 2024 MTV VMAs with a thrilling performance of the latest single was up against Drake's Rich Baby Daddy, GloRilla's Yeah Glo!, Gunna's Fukumean, Megan Thee Stallion's BOA, and Travis Scott's Fe!n.
The hit-maker was nominated for eight awards, including - Best Hip-Hop, Best Visual Effects, Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Direction. He also received nominations for Best Editing, Song of the Summer, and Most Iconic Performance.
Eminem's 2024 MTV VMAs awards and performance
Eminem's second award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards was in the Best Visual Effects category.
The VFX work for Houdini was shared between Synapse Virtual Production, Flawless Post, Louise Lee, Metaphysic, and Rich Lee. The rapper's entry was against Ariana Grande's The Boy Is Mine, Justin Timberlake's Selfish, Megan Thee Stallion's BOA, and Taylor Swift's Fortnight.
The 2024 MTV VMAs marked a historic moment in Eminem's career as he opened the event for the first time since 2010.
Em. opened the set with a quick skit featuring himself as Slim Shady in a blonde wig, and walking towards the stage with over a dozen look-alikes. Mouthing the opening lines of Without Me from The Eminem Show album, he made a fluid switch to the award-winning single, Houdini.
A body-double Slim-Shady impersonator joined him for the electrifying performance that had the crowd cheering and grooving to the beats. Taylor Swift, the biggest victor of the 2024 MTV VMAs with seven awards, was also seen dancing to the song.
Em. quickly changed his outfit for Somebody Save Me ft. Jelly Roll and switched the blonde wig with a black hat. The Slim-Shady impersonators were also replaced by a band that supported the intimate and thought-provoking set.
Jelly Roll, who is featured, on the track began the set by performing virtually as he was not present at the Video Music Awards because of his ongoing tour. Eminem quickly took the reigns of the performance as he started playing the country hip-hop song.
Syncing the pace of the set perfectly with Jelly Roll's parts, the rapper kept moving through the stage and shaking hands with the crowd. Em's 2024 MTV VMAs opening performance concluded with him sitting on a chair as visuals from the Somebody Save Me music video played on the screen.
The 51-year-old released The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) on July 12, 2024. The project had been in the works since 2001 and featured guest appearances from Jelly Roll, White Gold, Dem Jointz, Skylar Grey, and more.
The album was a global success and topped both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums OCC chart. It comprised of 19 tracks, including - Fuel, Houdini, Evil, Toruble, Somebody Save Me, Renaissance, and Habits.
