Hear the 1980s song Eminem interpolated for ‘Houdini’
Earlier this year, Eminem released his twelfth studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Twenty-five years after the release of his major label debut, the Detroit lyricist is still going strong, and the lead single of his most recent project, ‘Houdini’, was particularly interesting.
For the lead single of The Death of Slim Shady, Eminem chose to interpolate and sample a classic song from the 1980s. However, it is not a hip-hop classic, and although many find the song in question is terrible, one classic rocker was very happy with Eminem’s choice.
In the hunt for songs referencing magic, Eminem and the song’s co-producer Lance Nicholas decided to utilise the 1982 rock track ‘Abracadabra’ by the Steve Miller Band. The song was the lead single off an album by the same name. However, it was the band’s first and only chart-topping hit.
Many critics found Eminem’s choice of the song baffling as, arguably, it doesn’t make for a sound hip-hop track. In fact, many rock fans insisted it was not a particularly good song in 1982, let alone in 2024. However, regardless of the naysayers, the Detroit native proceeded to interpolate ‘Abracadabra’ for ‘Houdini’.
Despite all of the outrage and bad reviews the track received from journalists and music publications, one person who was a fan of the song was Steve Miller himself. That said, following ‘Houdini’s’ release, the ‘Abracadabra’ vocalist took to social media to essay a few words about Eminem.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Miller wrote, “There is a long chain of stories, poetry, lyrics, and musical roots that have crossed cultures and generations, inspiring the whole world for hundreds of years, and in all those lines of thought, music, and rhythm, there are special artists who take it all in and create new original ideas from their own feelings and experiences.”
He praised the Detroit lyricist personally as an artist and pioneer, adding, “You are one of those timeless originators building something new on a long musical legacy of original artists.”
Miller even revealed how he was honoured to have been chosen by Em, concluding, “There aren’t many artists who take the time or make the effort to stand up for themselves and credit and respect their influencers at the same time. Marshall Mathers, you are an exception and on my short list of people who respect the art. To be included in your process feels good while I’m still singing and playing the music I love. I’m honoured.”
‘Houdini’ was nowhere near as popular as ‘Abracabra’ was upon its release. However, it is undeniable Eminem has far more number-ones to his name than Steve Miller but the meeting of the two men through music was strange, to say the least.