It’s been 25 years in the game, and Eminem still knows how to make a splash.
His upcoming album, “The Death Of Slim Shady”, has been building hype since late April. On May 31st, the wait finally ended with the release of the first single, “Houdini”. This new, in-your-face track unleashed the classic Shady we know and love, with lyrics guaranteed to get a reaction – both positive and negative.
True to Shady form, “Houdini” isn’t for the faint of heart. Eminem hasn’t lost his edge – the track sparked instant controversy with its lyrics and its heavy sampling of Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra.” But love it or hate it, there’s no denying the song’s impact.
“Houdini” became a streaming monster, racking over 30 million official US streams in just four days. At the moment, it has over 50 million streams on Spotify only. The single also pulled in a staggering 36,000 copies sold in its first four days. In times when people almost stopped buying music, relying on streaming services is an impressive number, even for a legend like Em.
The “Houdini” hype extends beyond the single itself. Eminem’s entire catalogue saw a 38% increase in streams during the same period, with “Without Me” (the song that inspired “Houdini’s” intro) leading the charge with a 56% jump.
“Houdini” is impacting more than just Eminem’s music. The single’s success is creating a ripple effect.
Steve Miller was the first to see a revival, reports Billboard. The original “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band saw its streams double over the same period, another example of Eminem’s power to introduce classic tracks to a new generation.
Even Dua Lipa’s streams got a bump. Her unrelated song “Houdini” saw an 8% increase in streams – proof that the title itself is generating buzz.
The single’s first week is almost over. The first charting news will arrive from the UK on Friday, showing how the excitement we have all been feeling all these days translates into numbers and charting success for Eminem.
