The Slim Shady LP

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The Slim Shady LP
Studio album by Eminem
Released February 23, 1999
Recorded December 1996-January 1999
Genre Hip hop
Length 59:39
Label Aftermath, Interscope
Producer Dr. Dre (exec.)
Mark & Jeff Bass (exec.)
Eminem, Mel-Man
Eminem chronology
The Slim Shady EP
(1997)		 The Slim Shady LP
(1999)		 The Marshall Mathers LP
(2000)
Special Edition cover
Singles from The Slim Shady LP
  1. "My Name Is"
    Released: December 27, 1998
  2. "Role Model"
    Released: May 26, 1999
  3. "Guilty Conscience"
    Released: June 8, 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars [1]
Robert Christgau (A-) [2]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars [3]
Melody Maker 4/5 stars [4]
Mixmag 5/5 stars [4]
Muzik 3/5 stars [4]
RapReviews 7.5/10 stars [5]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars [6]
Spin 8/10 stars [4]
Piero Scaruffi 7/10 stars [7]

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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] "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.[8]

In 2003, the album was ranked number 273 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[9] the highest ranking of Eminem's albums on the list.

Contents

[edit] 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 Brothers, was released under their independent label Web Entertainment.[10] Early in his career, Eminem collaborated with fellow Detroit MC Royce da 5'9" under the stage name Bad Meets Evil.[11] After the release of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of drugs and alcohol culminated in an unsuccessful suicide attempt.[12]

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.[13] 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.[12][not in citation given] Hip-hop magazine The Source featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column in March 1998.[14]

[edit] Music

Upon its release, there were several complaints about The Slim Shady LP's lyrical content. The song "Guilty Conscience" (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.

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Public Service Announcement" (skit)     0:33
2. "My Name Is"   Mathers, Young, Siffre Dr. Dre 4:28
3. "Guilty Conscience" (featuring Dr. Dre) Mathers, Young Dr. Dre, Eminem 3:19
4. "Brain Damage"   Mathers, Jeff Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 3:46
5. "Paul" (skit)     0:15
6. "If I Had"   Mathers, J. Bass, Mark Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:05
7. "'97 Bonnie & Clyde"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 5:16
8. "Bitch" (skit)     0:19
9. "Role Model"   Mathers, Young, Melvin Breeden Dr. Dre, Mel-Man 3:25
10. "Lounge" (skit)     0:46
11. "My Fault"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:01
12. "Ken Kaniff" (skit)     1:16
13. "Cum On Everybody"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 3:39
14. "Rock Bottom"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers 3:34
15. "Just Don't Give a Fuck"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:02
16. "Soap" (skit)     0:34
17. "As the World Turns"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:25
18. "I'm Shady"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 3:31
19. "Bad Meets Evil" (featuring Royce da 5'9") Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:13
20. "Still Don't Give a Fuck"   Mathers, J. Bass, M. Bass Bass Brothers, Eminem 4:12
Sample credits
Notes
  • "Bitch", "Cum on Everybody", "Just Don't Give a Fuck" and "Still Don't Give a Fuck" are retitled "Zoe", "Come on Everybody", "Just Don't Give" and "Still Don't Give" on the clean version of the album.
  • "If I Had" loosely references the melody to the chorus of "If I Had $1,000,000" by Barenaked Ladies
  • "''97 Bonnie & Clyde" is a longer version of "Just the Two of Us" from The Slim Shady EP.

[edit] Charts and certifications

Chart Provider Peak
position		 Certifications
Australia Albums Chart[16] ARIA 49 Platinum[17]
Austria Albums Chart[18] IFPI Austria 12
Belgium Flanders Albums Chart[19]
Special edition		 IFPI Belgium 27
Belgium Wallonia Albums Chart[19]
Special edition		 IFPI Belgium 7
Canadian Albums Chart[20] CRIA 9 2× Platinum[21]
European Top 100 Albums IFPI — Platinum[22]
Germany Albums Chart[23] IFPI Germany 51
Netherlands Albums Chart NVPI Gold[24]
New Zealand Albums Chart[25] RIANZ 23 Gold[26]
Sweden Albums Chart[27] IFPI Sweden 40
Switzerland Albums Charts[28] IFPI Switzerland 77
Switzerland Albums Charts[29]
Special edition		 IFPI Switzerland 25
UK Albums Chart[30] BPI 12[31] 2× Platinum[32]
US Billboard 200[33] RIAA 2 4× Platinum[34]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Allmusic review". Allmusic. All Media Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r397821. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  2. ^ "CG: eminem". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=eminem. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  3. ^ "Record Rack - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1993-08-08. http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/21/entertainment/ca-10040. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Music: The Slim Shady LP (CD) by Eminem (Artist)". Tower.com. http://www.tower.com/slim-shady-lp-eminem-cd/wapi/106446631. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  5. ^ "Eminem :: The Slim Shady LP :: Aftermath". Rapreviews.com. 1999-03-09. http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/1999_03_slimshadylp.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  6. ^ [1][dead link]
  7. ^ "The History of Rock Music. Eminem: biography, discography, reviews, links". Scaruffi.com. http://www.scaruffi.com/vol5/eminem.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  8. ^ "Kid Rock, Eminem, Stevie Wonder, and CeCe Winans Among the Winners at the 2000 Detroit Music Awards". NY Rock. 2000-04-17. http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/04_2000/041700b.asp. Retrieved 2012-01-12. 
  9. ^ "500 Greatest Albums: The Slim Shady LP - Eminem | Rolling Stone Music | Lists". Rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/the-slim-shady-lp-eminem-19691231. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  10. ^ Bozza 2003, p. 15
  11. ^ Anziri, Jon (2002). "Royce da 5'9 – Biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p469895. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 
  12. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Eminem – Biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p347307. Retrieved 2011-11-29. 
  13. ^ "Eminem Biography". Buzzle.com. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/4-28-2005-69211.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-20. 
  14. ^ Bozza 2003, p. 81
  15. ^ "Eminem The Slim Shady LP - ltd edition 2-CD UK DOUBLE CD (177021)". Eil.com. 2001-02-08. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=177021. Retrieved 2012-01-12. 
  16. ^ "australian-charts.com - Eminem - The Slim Shady LP". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  17. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  18. ^ "Eminem - The Slim Shady LP - austriancharts.at" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  19. ^ a b "ultratop.be - Eminem - The Slim Shady LP [Special+Edition]". www.ultratop.be. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  20. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 68, No. 24, April 05 1999". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7442&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. Retrieved 2010-10-23. 
  21. ^ "Gold Platinum Database: Eminem - The Slim Shady LP". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Slim%20Shady&ica=False&sa=Eminem&sl=&smt=0&sat=DOUBLE%20PLATINUM%20ALBUM(S)&ssb=Artist. Retrieved 2011-12-18. 
  22. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards". IFPI
  23. ^ "Chartverfolgung - Eminem - The Slim Shady LP" (in German). Musicline.de. PHONONET.
  24. ^ "NVPI, de branchevereniging van de entertainmentindustrie - Goud/Platina" (in Dutch). NVPI.
  25. ^ "charts.org.nz - Eminem - The Slim Shady LP". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  26. ^ "RIANZ: Top 50 Albums". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. 11 June 2000. http://rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?chartNum=1213&chartKind=A. Retrieved 2010-08-06. 
  27. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Eminem - The Slim Shady LP". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  28. ^ "Eminem - The Slim Shady LP - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  29. ^ "Eminem - The Slim Shady LP [Special+Edition] - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  30. ^ "Chart Stats - Eminem - The Slim Shady Lp". Chart Stats.
  31. ^ http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php
  32. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
  33. ^ "Eminem Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com.
  34. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 25, 2010.

[edit] External links

Eminem
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Infinite · The Slim Shady LP · The Marshall Mathers LP · The Eminem Show · Encore · Relapse · Recovery
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