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Eminem has released his first LP since 2020, The Death of Slim Shady, which was first teased earlier this year with a playful obituary in a local newspaper. Within the album, the song ‘Renaissance’ brings Slim Shady’s downfall to its pinnacle while name-dropping a number of contemporaries in an effort to shine some light on those he supports and those he stands against.

Much of the song details Shady’s descent into a fractured psyche, but as it draws to a close, he picks his targets and reveals his views—for better or worse. First on the list is Kendrick Lamar, whose inclusion turns out to be for the better, as Eminem makes it clear he sits firmly on the Compton rapper’s side.

Drifting from his side to that of the fans with ease, he raps: “‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers,” adding, “‘Kendrick’s album was cool but it didn’t have any bangers,'” before mocking others by saying: “‘Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer.'”

This isn’t the first time Eminem has openly praised or sided with Lamar. The two joined forces in 2013 for ‘Love Game’, and the American rapper quickly defended Lamar’s divisive 2022 release Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. “This Kendrick album is f*cking ridiculous. I’m speechless,” he wrote on social media. He has also previously referred to him as a “top tier lyricist.”

The appreciation runs both ways, as Lamar once referred to Eminem as one of his top influences, claiming his coveted 2000 release to be one of his favourites. “The day I heard The Marshall Mathers LP, I was just like, How does that work,” he told GQ in 2016. “His time is impeccable. When he wants to fall off the beat, it’s impeccable. These are [the] things that, through experience and time, I had to learn… I got my clarity just studying Eminem,” he added.

Prior to the release of The Death of Slim Shady, Eminem shared a “Public service announcement” about the album, stating that because it is a concept album, it needs to be listened to in order; otherwise, the tracks “might not make sense.”

The album is a whopping 19 songs long in its entirety, meaning that fans have been quick to try to digest everything the genre prodigy has put down for discovery. ‘Renaissance’ being the opening track means that he likely felt eager to get to the heart of things, using Shady as a necessary conduit for what he feels he needs to say at this moment in time.

Although the album revisits some of his older work, some sequels to older songs adhere to a fresher, more frantic energy, mostly due to the rehashing of the rapper’s alter ego but also because he injects various nods to Satanism and the occult throughout. He also appears immovable in his own self-perception, uttering hard-hitting lines like: “I can show you the ropes ’til you get the hang of it.”

However, whether or not the rapper intends to expand on his thoughts about Lamar’s recent public feud remains to be seen, but for now, it’s safe to say that he intends to support him when it counts the most.

The Death of Slim Shady is currently available to stream on all major digital services.