Eminem Opens 2024 MTV VMAs with “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me”

Eminem opened the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards tonight, performing “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me” from his latest album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), at Long Island’s UBS Arena. Eminem recreated his famous set from the 2000 VMAs, when the stage was packed with lookalikes of the rapper during his performance of “The Real Slim Shady.” This time around, Em and his doppelgängers sported ill-fitting blonde wigs and dark beards during “Houdini,” while Jelly Roll appeared onscreen for a virtual duet on “Somebody Save Me.” Watch it happen below.

This marks the Eminem’s second time opening the awards ceremony, following his 2010 set that included “Not Afraid” and the Rihanna duet “Love the Way You Lie.”

Eminem is nominated in eight categories at this year’s VMAs—and winning in just one could break his tie with Phil Collins, making him the artist with the most MoonPerson trophies in VMAs history. Em is up for Video of the Year, Best Hip-Hop, Best Direction, Best Editing, Song of the Summer, and Best Visual Effects for “Houdini.” He also got a nod for Artist of the Year and VMAs Most Iconic Performance.

Eminem has performed at the VMAs multiple times, most recently at the 2022 event, when he appeared alongside Snoop Dogg as an avatar. In 2012, he and Snoop were joined by Dr. Dre for a rendition of “Forgot About Dre” and “Still D.R.E.”

Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.