Eminem shocks with new look

Eminem back in his 8 Mile days. Photo / Getty

WITH his bleached blond hair and clean-shaven face, Eminem's got one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the music industry.

But fans are doing a double take at the rapper's latest social media post, which shows him looking near-unrecognisable thanks to just a few simple changes to his image.

In a new photo with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar and producer Dr Dre, the 44-year-old's bleached-blond crop is gone, replaced with a darker shade. And that eternally boyish face - the one that's beamed out cheekily from album covers and music videos for two decades now - is now covered in thick dark stubble.

What a difference a beard can make:

View this post on Instagram

Just a couple of guys from Compton and one from Detroit. With a beard. #thedefiantones

A post shared by Marshall Mathers (@eminem) on Jun 23, 2017 at 12:53pm PDT

Fans have taken to social media to remark upon Slim Shady's new look. The verdict: They're a little freaked out.

I don't care how many times I see Eminem with a beard I'm not going to get used to it. He looks like the lead singer from Nickelback https://t.co/NKt9qBBZpz

— Trevor Norris (@trevor_norris0) June 25, 2017

Eminem's sometime rap group D12 even got into the fun, tweeting a mocked-up cover of a new single from the rapper, Mocking Beard:

New Eminem single "Mocking Beard" coming soon 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/H1RWMzbrhP

— D12 (@D12) June 25, 2017

The rapper's daughter Hailie has also garnered attention lately for her new look.
She was often referred to in the Grammy-winner's lyrics and was the subject of his tracks including Mockingbird and Hailie's Song.
She's now 21 years old, attends Michigan State University, has a boyfriend, and is developing a seriously enviable Instagram following.

Hailie Jade Scott Mathers - who is known on Instagram as "Hailie Scott" - has more than 595,000 followers, posting fashion shots and selfies.