Was Eminem’s ‘The Death Of Slim Shady’ Designed to Be Played Backwards?

Before the release of his new album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), Eminem explicitly advised his fans to listen to it in order, emphasizing that he had crafted it as a concept album and wanted them to grasp the full story. However, whenever an artist hints at deeper meanings, it’s almost inevitable that some fans will dig further, seeking the meaning behind the meaning.

Unsurprisingly, as with many concept albums before it, some fans are convinced that extra layers of meaning can be uncovered by playing the album back-to-front. This phenomenon is not new; in 2017, Kendrick Lamar confirmed that the story on DAMN. works in reverse. Furthermore, the ’80s saw numerous rock albums accused of containing backmasked messages during the satanic panic. But is Eminem’s latest album designed to be played backwards? These fans certainly think so:

Others, however, believe that the album should be played on repeat instead:

Meanwhile, another segment of the fan base feels that everyone might be overanalyzing, suggesting a more relaxed approach:

It seems the interpretation of the album’s intended listening order is subjective, much like art itself. It likely hinges on whether you’ve been yearning for Eminem to shed his “Slim Shady” persona over the past two decades or if you’re a die-hard Stan who wants “Slim Shady” to live forever, allowing you to avoid learning anyone’s preferred pronouns.