Eminem took his fans way back an April Fools’ Day joke, with a mock-album announcement that referenced his earliest days in the music domain.
On Monday (April 1), Slim Shady posted a video on Instagram that begins with an announcer teasing “the highly anticipated next studio album,” before letting on that things aren’t exactly as they appear.
The caption reads: “Out Now [firework, flame and an infinity emoji].”
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The reason for that last character quickly became obvious as the video states that the upcoming album “is back to where it all started” — that is Em’s pre-fame 1996 LP Infinite.
As the soundtrack shifts to that project’s title track, the announcer promises “even more Infinite.”
All jokes aside, Em’s Infinite LP is not currently available on streaming services, though its title track is. Check it out below:
Despite the above prank, Eminem truly is working on a new album, at least according to Dr. Dre.
During his appearance on Jimmel Kimmel Live! last month, the N.W.A legend took the opportunity to reveal that his protege plans on dropping a new project in 2024. He also told the host he had Em’s blessing to announce the news as he sat next to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.
“Let me tell you something, let me explain something to you right now: Eminem is working on his own album which is coming out this year,” he said.
“And I actually talked to him and he told me it was okay for me to make that announcement right here on this show. So he has an album coming out, I’ve got songs on it and it’s fire. I’m actually gonna hear the entire album for the first time for tomorrow.”
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He concluded: “And he holds his music close to his chest so I haven’t heard everything. I haven’t even heard everything complete that I’ve done, but I’m gonna hear it, and he’s putting out an album this year.”
Eminem released his last album, Music to Be Murdered By, back in 2020. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with roughly 279,000 album-equivalent sales in its first week.
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The deluxe version, Music to Be Murdered By – Side B, dropped later that year, featuring 16 new songs that brought the album back up to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 94,000 units sold the week it was released.
