The Slim Shady LP
Encyclopedia
The Slim Shady LP is the second studio album
by American rapper Eminem
, released on February 23, 1999. It is his major-label debut, and was released under Dr. Dre
's Aftermath Entertainment
, and Web Records
.
The album was met with critical, and commercial success. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200
chart behind TLC
's FanMail
with 283,000 copies sold in its opening week. The album went on to be certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
. To date, it has sold over five million units in the United States, and over nine million units worldwide. "Just Don't Give a Fuck
" was the first, and only underground single
from the album. The first official single was "My Name Is
". The album won the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. It also won Outstanding National Album at the 2000 Detroit Music Awards.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 273 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
, the highest ranking of Eminem's albums on the list.
, was released under their independent label Web Entertainment
. Early in his career, Eminem collaborated with fellow Detroit MC Royce da 5'9" under the stage name Bad Meets Evil
. After the release of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of drugs and alcohol culminated in an unsuccessful suicide attempt.
Jimmy Iovine
, CEO of Interscope Records
, requested a demo tape of Eminem's after Eminem placed second at the 1997 Rap Olympics. Eminem had also won Wake Up Show's "Freestyle Performer of the Year" award, helping him acquire a record deal. Iovine played the tape for record producer Dr. Dre
, founder of Aftermath Entertainment
. The two began recording tracks for The Slim Shady LP, and Eminem made a guest performance on the album Devil Without a Cause
by Kid Rock
. Hip-hop magazine The Source
featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column in March 1998.
" (the album's second single) ends with Eminem, and Dr. Dre
apparently succeeding in encouraging a man to murder his wife and a man having sex with her. In 1997, Eminem recorded "'97 Bonnie & Clyde", in which Eminem raps about a journey by car toward the beach with his daughter, with the purpose of this journey being to dispose of his dead wife's corpse. In an interview, Eminem stated that he made the song to relieve anger that he was facing towards his wife at the time. Most songs feature substantial amounts of swearing, numerous references to sex and drugs, and over-the-top descriptions of violence like in the songs "My Name Is
", "As The World Turns", "Guilty Conscience", and "Brain Damage".
Fans of the album have generally defended it by saying that the lyrics are not to be taken seriously, and the media is equally to blame. Eminem himself has referenced Slim Shady as an exaggerated persona. It is clear that the persona does not accurately represent Eminem's real life, and many lyrics are meant as a joke in contrast to his more serious second effort The Marshall Mathers LP
. There are some connections between "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" and the album cover, which depicts Eminem and his daughter Hailie looking down at a pier, as if looking for a perfect place to drop the corpse (the corpse's legs are visible in the open trunk of the car). A huge view of the moon is shown as well, as if the plot takes place in the middle of the night.
Samples
References
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American rapper Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, released on February 23, 1999. It is his major-label debut, and was released under Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
's Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
, and Web Records
Web Entertainment
Web Entertainment is a Detroit-based record label run by the Bass Brothers. It is best known for producing both of Eminem 's independent albums, Infinite and The Slim Shady EP demo, before he signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and also released The Slim Shady LP and currently Recovery...
.
The album was met with critical, and commercial success. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart behind TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
's FanMail
FanMail
FanMail is the third studio album by American girl group trio TLC, released on February 23, 1999. As with previous album CrazySexyCool , the group re-teamed with Dallas Austin, Babyface, and Jermaine Dupri on the album's production and the album features the computer voice female named Vic-E .The...
with 283,000 copies sold in its opening week. The album went on to be certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. To date, it has sold over five million units in the United States, and over nine million units worldwide. "Just Don't Give a Fuck
Just Don't Give a Fuck
"Just Don't Give a Fuck" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The original version of this track was on Eminem's independent demo release The Slim Shady EP...
" was the first, and only underground single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album. The first official single was "My Name Is
My Name Is
"My Name Is" is a song by Eminem released in 1999. It is the debut single overall from his major label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. The song was ranked at #26 on "VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's". "My Name Is" also was ranked #6 on Q Magazine's "1001 Best Songs Ever"...
". The album won the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. It also won Outstanding National Album at the 2000 Detroit Music Awards.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 273 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
, the highest ranking of Eminem's albums on the list.
Background
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, began rapping at age fourteen. In 1996, his debut album Infinite, which was recorded at the Bassmint, a recording studio owned by the Bass BrothersBass Brothers
Bass Brothers is the professional name for the team of Mark and Jeff Bass, the Detroit producers responsible for grooming megastar Eminem in his early days and collaborating on much of his subsequent music. Before that they worked with George Clinton...
, was released under their independent label Web Entertainment
Web Entertainment
Web Entertainment is a Detroit-based record label run by the Bass Brothers. It is best known for producing both of Eminem 's independent albums, Infinite and The Slim Shady EP demo, before he signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and also released The Slim Shady LP and currently Recovery...
. Early in his career, Eminem collaborated with fellow Detroit MC Royce da 5'9" under the stage name Bad Meets Evil
Bad Meets Evil
Bad Meets Evil is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan that consists of rappers Royce da 5'9" and Eminem . They are best known for collaborating on a self-titled song that appeared on Eminem's major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP in 1999, their early association with Dr...
. After the release of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of drugs and alcohol culminated in an unsuccessful suicide attempt.
Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
, CEO of Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, requested a demo tape of Eminem's after Eminem placed second at the 1997 Rap Olympics. Eminem had also won Wake Up Show's "Freestyle Performer of the Year" award, helping him acquire a record deal. Iovine played the tape for record producer Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, founder of Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
. The two began recording tracks for The Slim Shady LP, and Eminem made a guest performance on the album Devil Without a Cause
Devil Without a Cause
-Tracklisting for clean version:-Demos:-Samples:*"Bawitdaba"**"Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang*"Cowboy"**"Midnight Rider" by The Allman Brothers Band**"L.A...
by Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
. Hip-hop magazine The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column in March 1998.
Music
Upon its release, there were several complaints about The Slim Shady LPs lyrical content. The song "Guilty ConscienceGuilty Conscience
"Guilty Conscience" is a song released in 1999 by rap artist Eminem featuring his mentor, Dr. Dre. It was the third single from his major label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, also released in 1999...
" (the album's second single) ends with Eminem, and Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
apparently succeeding in encouraging a man to murder his wife and a man having sex with her. In 1997, Eminem recorded "'97 Bonnie & Clyde", in which Eminem raps about a journey by car toward the beach with his daughter, with the purpose of this journey being to dispose of his dead wife's corpse. In an interview, Eminem stated that he made the song to relieve anger that he was facing towards his wife at the time. Most songs feature substantial amounts of swearing, numerous references to sex and drugs, and over-the-top descriptions of violence like in the songs "My Name Is
My Name Is
"My Name Is" is a song by Eminem released in 1999. It is the debut single overall from his major label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. The song was ranked at #26 on "VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's". "My Name Is" also was ranked #6 on Q Magazine's "1001 Best Songs Ever"...
", "As The World Turns", "Guilty Conscience", and "Brain Damage".
Fans of the album have generally defended it by saying that the lyrics are not to be taken seriously, and the media is equally to blame. Eminem himself has referenced Slim Shady as an exaggerated persona. It is clear that the persona does not accurately represent Eminem's real life, and many lyrics are meant as a joke in contrast to his more serious second effort The Marshall Mathers LP
The Marshall Mathers LP
The Marshall Mathers LP is the third studio album by American rapper Eminem. Released May 23, 2000, the album sold more than 1.76 million copies in its first week just in the US. In 2001, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and was nominated for Album of the Year...
. There are some connections between "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" and the album cover, which depicts Eminem and his daughter Hailie looking down at a pier, as if looking for a perfect place to drop the corpse (the corpse's legs are visible in the open trunk of the car). A huge view of the moon is shown as well, as if the plot takes place in the middle of the night.
Track listing
Notes- In the clean version of the album, "Bitch", "Cum on Everybody", "Just Don't Give a Fuck" and "Still Don't Give a Fuck" are titled "Zoe", "Come on Everybody", "Just Don't Give" and "Still Don't Give" respectively.
Samples
- "My Name Is" samples "I Got The" by Labi SiffreLabi SiffreLabi Siffre is a British poet, songwriter, musician and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of " So Strong", "It Must Be Love" and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip hop tracks such as Eminem’s breakthrough hit single, "My...
and "I Don't Love You" by Millie JacksonMillie JacksonMildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies.... - "Guilty Conscience" samples "Go Home Pigs" by Ronald SteinRonald SteinRonald Stein was an American film composer.-Biography:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Stein wrote scores for numerous low budget horror and exploitation films during the 1950s and 1960s, many of which were released by American International Pictures...
- "Cum on Everybody" samples "Gimme What You Got" by Le Pamplemouse
- "Bad Meets Evil" samples "Me & My Girlfriend" by 2PacTupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
and "Modaji" by Dave GrusinDave GrusinDavid Grusin is an American composer, arranger and pianist. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys... - "Rock Bottom" samples "Summertime" by Big Brother & The Holding Company
References
- Some say that "If I Had" loosely references the melody to the chorus of "If I Had $1,000,000" by Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
- The chorus of "I'm Shady" is based on "PushermanSuperfly (soundtrack)Super Fly is the third studio album by American soul and funk musician Curtis Mayfield, released in July 1972 on Curtom Records. It was released as the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film of the same name. Widely considered a classic of 1970s soul and funk music, Super Fly was a nearly immediate...
" by Curtis MayfieldCurtis MayfieldCurtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
and the beat is sampled from "Billie JeanBillie Jean"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
" by Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... - "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" is a cut version of "Just the Two of Us" from The Slim Shady EPThe Slim Shady EPThe Slim Shady EP is a debut EP by American rapper Eminem, released on the Detroit-based record label Web Entertainment in 1997. The Slim Shady EP was released on cassette, vinyl, and CD .Eminem first introduced his "Slim Shady" persona on this EP,...
Charts and certifications
| Chart | Provider | Peak position |
Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
49 | Platinum |
| Austria Albums Chart | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... Austria |
12 | |
| Belgium Flanders Albums Chart Special edition |
IFPI Belgium | 27 | |
| Belgium Wallonia Albums Chart Special edition |
IFPI Belgium | 7 | |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
CRIA Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
9 | 2× Platinum |
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
IFPI | — | Platinum |
| Germany Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
IFPI Germany | 51 | |
| Netherlands Albums Chart | NVPI NVPI The NVPI is the Dutch tradeassociation of the entertainment industry... |
Gold | |
| New Zealand Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
23 | Gold |
| Sweden Albums Chart | IFPI Sweden | 40 | |
| Switzerland Albums Charts | IFPI Switzerland | 77 | |
| Switzerland Albums Charts Special edition |
IFPI Switzerland | 25 | |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
12 | 2× Platinum |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
RIAA | 2 | 4× Platinum |
External links
- Popular Opinions - Can It Be It Was All So Shady Then - The Slim Shady LP Revisited, Accessed on February 26, 2010.