Eminem‘s latest release has been a blockbuster hit, and its success overseas is a testament to the veteran rapper’s longevity in the game.
On Monday (June 17), Billboard reported that the Detroit native’s “Houdini” has remained at No. 1 on the United Kingdom’s singles tally for yet another week.
This marks the first time a song of his has remained in the top slot of a chart for more than one cycle. Furthermore, it is also his first solo chart-topper in the region since 2005.
The nostalgic joint has also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, Switzerland and Norway.
As for the United States, Em narrowly missed out on landing his first Billboard Hot 100 number one in over a decade thanks to the continued chart dominance of Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.”
The D12 MC’s latest single debuted at No. 2 on the tally, becoming his highest-charting single since 2013. In its first week, “Houdini” generated close to 50 million streams as well as four million radio impressions.
The 51-year-old already has 10 other cuts that previously led the rankings, namely “The Real Slim Shady” (2000), “Stan” (2000), “Without Me” (2002), “Lose Yourself” (2002), “Just Lose It” (2004) and “Like Toy Soldiers” (2005) as a solo artist, plus his cameos on Akon‘s “Smack That” (2006), Rihanna‘s “The Monster” (2013), Ed Sheeran‘s “River” (2017) and Juice WRLD‘s “Godzilla” (2020).
Eminem performed “Houdini” for the first time during a surprise appearance at Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central Station earlier this month. The four-song set also featured “Not Afraid,” “Sing for the Moment” with an assist from Jelly Roll and deep cut “Welcome 2 Detroit” in collaboration with local legend Trick Trick.
Slim Shady’s new track interpolates the 1982 smash “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band, and the group’s leader has been quite pleased with the result.
“Hey EM,” he wrote on social media. “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.
“You are one of those timeless originators building something new on a long musical legacy of original artists. […] 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 Honored.”
