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The cover for the special edition CD/DVD that was included with the special edition of the album.
The Slim Shady LP (TSSLP) is the second studio album and the major-label debut by American rapper Eminem. It was released on February 23, 1999 by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded during 1997 and 1998 at Studio 8 in Ferndale, Michigan, with production handled by Dr. Dre, the Bass Brothers, and Eminem himself. The majority of the lyrical content on the album is written in the perspective of the rapper's alter ego, Slim Shady, and is noted for its over-the-top descriptions of violence and heavy use of profanity.
The Slim Shady LP was a critical and commercial success, launching Eminem from a underground rapper into a high-profiled celebrity. The album sold 283,000 copies in it's first week, debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and went on to be certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and was ranked number 273 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Slim Shady LP is considered a globally classic rap album.
Description[]
Of all the complaints and concerns that greeted the 1999 release of Eminem's The Slim Shady LP, the most interesting response might've been an editorial written by Billboard magazine's then-editor-in-chief, Timothy White. The expected gripes with Eminem's music are all there: It's violent; it's unrepentant; it makes money by "exploiting the world's misery." But White also spends a lot of time laying out statistics about domestic violence, and interviews the executive director of one of the country's oldest domestic-violence-related agencies. "What is the message?" she asks. "What is he mad at?"
Funny you should ask, as Eminem lists the causes of his rage throughout The Slim Shady LP. There's the minimum-wage job as a grill cook ("If I Had") and the bully who terrorized him as a kid ("Brain Damage"). There's the mother who didn't provide for him and the teachers who didn't care, either ("My Name Is"). There's the humiliation of being so poor that you can't afford diapers for your daughter ("Rock Bottom"). And there's Eminmen himself, of course ("Guilty Conscience").
But Eminem's rage is also driven by the hypocrisy of the culture as a whole. After all, the media has long profited off violence and the denigration of women—and yet, here were powerful scolds telling Eminem that he was the problem, ignoring their own complicity ("Role Model"). Asked about the editorial in an early interview, Eminem smirked and said, "I think it hit a soft spot for Timothy White."
Being funny was one thing (though Eminem could be really funny). The problem with Eminem was that he was smart and wrote catchy songs—and that he had nothing to lose. He'd even bite the hand that fed him, if he thought the moral justification was there for it (he even took jabs at mentor Dr. Dre on "Guilty Conscience"). "How the fuck can I be white?" he asks at one point on The Slim Shady LP, "I don't even exist." What's that old saying? Hurt people hurt people. Slim Shady was the sound of someone climbing off Dr. Phil's Couch for Troubled Teens and grabbing America by the throat. – Apple Music
Background[]
Prior to Eminem signing to Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records, the rapper released his debut album, Infinite, in 1996 to low sales. The rapper created the alter ego, Slim Shady, which was much angrier and violent, which he introduced on The Slim Shady EP.
In 1997, Eminem flew to Los Angeles to be apart of the rap competition, Rap Olympics, where he placed second. Dean Geistlinger, an intern of Interscope Records, was in attendance and given a copy of The Slim Shady EP. Geistlinger gave it to Jimmy Iovine, who in turn played it for Aftermath Entertainment founder Dr. Dre. Eminem was signed and began working on the album.
Recording[]
Recording for the album began in 1997; initially, Eminem felt nervous working with Dr. Dre, stating; "I didn't want to be starstruck or kiss his ass too much ... I'm just a little white boy from Detroit. I had never seen stars, let alone Dr. Dre." Recording sessions would begin with Dr. Dre creating a beat and Eminem free-styling; sometimes Em would be under the influence of ecstasy during these sessions. A lot of the songs on the album were from The Slim Shady EP, including "I Just Don't Give a Fuck" and "'97' Bonnie & Clyde" (which is titled "Just the Two of Us" on the EP). in the first week, "My Name Is" was written, recorded, and released as the album's lead single.
Music[]
Production[]
The production was primarily done by Dr. Dre, the Bass Brothers and Eminem. Many of the beats has been compared to the G-funk style of Dr. Dre's albums and includes sampling of several different songs. The lead single "My Name Is" contains a sample of Labi Siffre's "I Got The" and features psychedelic-style instrumentals and a funk bassline. Eminem's vocal delivery has been described as a "nasal whine".
Lyrics[]
The lyrical content was written in the perspective of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady, who makes many references to violence. Some lyrics have been claimed to be misogynistic, which was one of the main controversies of the song "Guilty Conscience", which features Dr. Dre as a guest rapper.
Reception[]
Commercial response[]
In it's first week, The Slim Shady LP sold 283,000 copies and debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and remained there for 100 weeks. Ten days after the release, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and was later sold quadruple platinum. The lead single "My Name Is" debuted at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the charts for ten weeks, "Guilty Conscience" reached number 56 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while "Just Don't Give a Fuck" peaked at number 62 on the chart.
Outside the US, the album reached number 9 on the Canadian Album Charts and was certified double platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.
Critical reception[]
Upon release, The Slim Shady LP received generally positive reviews from music critics many praising Eminem's lyrical style. All music gave the album five stars out of five, saying; "Years later, as the shock has faded, it's those lyrical skills and the subtle mastery of the music that still resonate, and they're what make The Slim Shady LP one of the great debuts in both hip-hop and modern pop music." David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that the album's "unapologetic outrageousness" was it's strong point.
Aftermath[]
The Slim Shady LP launched Eminem to celebrity status, Interscope rewarded Eminem with his own label, Shady Records, and Eminem went on a extensive tour schedule. He joined the Vans Warped Tour as a last minute replacement of Cypress Hill, he would often play a show in the afternoon and would later play hip hop clubs. In one show, he slipped on a liquid and fell ten feet of the stage, cracking several ribs.
Controversy[]
Controversy surround the album and the artist due to it's lyrical content, labeled as a misogynist. In an editorial, Billboard editor-in-chief Timothy White, claimed that Eminem was making money off of other people's misery.
Lawsuits[]
Eminem's mother, Debbie Mathers, filed a lawsuit for $10 million dollars for slander based on his claim that she uses drugs in the line "I just found out my mom does more dope than I do" from "My Name Is". After a two year trial, was given $25,000 of which she received $1,600 after legal fees.
In December 2001, DeAngelo Bailey, a janitor living in Roseville, Michigan ways made the subject of the song "Brain Damage" in which he is portrayed as a school bully, filed a $1 million lawsuit against Eminem for slander and invasion of privacy.
In September 2003, 70-year-old widow Harlene Stein filed suit against Eminem and Dr. Dre on the grounds that "Guilty Conscience" contains an unauthorized sample of "Pigs Go Home" composed for the film Getting Straight by her husband, Ronald Stein, who died in 1988
Track listing[]
All tracks written by Marshall "Eminem" Mathers and the Bass Brothers (Mark Bass and Jeff Bass), except where noted.
| Standard edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Public Service Announcement" | 0:33 | ||
| 2. | "My Name Is" | Mathers, Andre Young, Labi Siffre | Dr. Dre | 4:28 |
| 3. | "Guilty Conscience" (featuring Dr. Dre) | Mathers, Young | Dr. Dre, Eminem | 3:19 |
| 4. | "Brain Damage" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a] | 3:46 | |
| 5. | "Paul (Skit)" | 0:15 | ||
| 6. | "If I Had" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a], DJ Rec[b] | 4:05 | |
| 7. | "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a], DJ Head[b] | 5:16 | |
| 8. | "Bitch (Skit)" | 0:19 | ||
| 9. | "Role Model" | Mathers, Young, Mel-Man, Melvin Bradford | Dr. Dre, Mel-Man | 3:25 |
| 10. | "Lounge (Skit)" | 0:46 | ||
| 11. | "My Fault" | Bass Brothers, Eminem | 4:01 | |
| 12. | "Ken Kaniff (Skit)" | 1:16 | ||
| 13. | "Cum on Everybody" (featuring Dina Rae) | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a] | 3:39 | |
| 14. | "Rock Bottom" | Bass Brothers | 3:34 | |
| 15. | "Just Don't Give a Fuck" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a], Denaun Porter[b] | 4:02 | |
| 16. | "Soap (Skit)" | 0:34 | ||
| 17. | "As the World Turns" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a], Justin Trugman[b] | 4:25 | |
| 18. | "I'm Shady" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a] | 3:31 | |
| 19. | "Bad Meets Evil" (featuring Royce da 5'9") | Mathers, Ryan Montgomery, Jeff Bass, Mark Bass | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a] | 4:13 |
| 20. | "Still Don't Give a Fuck" | Bass Brothers, Eminem[a] | 4:12 | |
| Total length: | 59:39 | |||
| Special Edition bonus disc | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Hazardous Youth (acapella version)" | 0:47 |
| 2. | "Get You Mad" | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Greg (acapella version)" | 0:53 |
| 4. | "Just Don't Give a Fuck (music video)" | |
| 5. | "My Name Is (music video)" | |
| 6. | "Guilty Conscience (music video)" | |
| 7. | "Role Model (music video)" | |
| 8. | "The Slim Shady LP (Live & Studio Footage)" | |
| Expanded Edition bonus tracks | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length |
| 21. | "Hazardous Youth (acapella version)" | 0:44 |
| 22. | "Get You Mad" (with Sway and King Tech & DJ Revolution) | 4:22 |
| 23. | "Greg (acapella version)" | 0:52 |
| 24. | "Bad Guys Always Die" (with Dr. Dre) | 4:39 |
| 25. | "Guilty Conscience (radio version)" (featuring Dr. Dre) | 3:19 |
| 26. | "Guilty Conscience (Instrumental)" (featuring Dr. Dre) | 3:20 |
| 27. | "Guilty Conscience (acapella version)" (featuring Dr. Dre) | 3:16 |
| 28. | "My Name Is (Instrumental)" | 4:29 |
| 29. | "Just Don't Give a Fuck (acapella version)" | 3:35 |
| 30. | "Just Don't Give a Fuck (Instrumental)" | 4:08 |
| Total length: | 36:00 | |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
- ^[b] signifies a pre-production.
- Several songs on the album were retitled on the clean version of the album:
- "Bitch" is retitled "Zoe"
- "Cum on Everybody" is retitled "Come on Everybody"
- "Just Don't Give a Fuck" is retitled "Just Don't Give F**k"
- "Still Don't Give a Fuck" is retitled "Still Don't Give a F**k"
- "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 merged version of The Slim Shady EP's "Mommy (Skit)" and "Just the Two of Us".
- Some online platforms (such as Myspace) include an alternate clean version of the album which completely removes the song "Guilty Conscience".
Sample credits
- "My Name Is" contains a sample of "I Got The" by Labi Siffre and "I Don't Love You" by Millie Jackson
- "Guilty Conscience" contains a sample of "Pigs Go Home" by Ronald Stein
- "If I Had" contains a sample of "Impeach the President" by [he Honey Drippers
- "Cum on Everybody" contains a sample of "Gimme What You Got" by Le Pamplemouse
- "Bad Meets Evil" contains a sample of "Me & My Girlfriend" by 2Pac and "Modaji" by Dave Grusin
- "Rock Bottom" contains a sample of "Summertime" by Big Brother & The Holding Company (with Janis Joplin)
- "I'm Shady" is based on "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield and "I'm Your Pusher" by Ice-T
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
 Australian Albums (ARIA)
|
49 |
| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)
|
7 |
 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
|
12 |
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
|
46 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) Special edition |
7 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
|
157 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) Special edition |
27 |
 Canadian Albums (Billboard)
|
9 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)
|
7 |
 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
|
20 |
 French Albums (SNEP)
|
52 |
 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
|
51 |
 Irish Albums (IRMA)
|
22 |
 Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|
39 |
 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
|
23 |
 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
|
25 |
 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan
|
40 |
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
|
77 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) Special edition |
25 |
 UK Albums (OCC)
|
10 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)
|
1 |
 US Billboard 200
|
2 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
|
1 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
| US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
|
3 |
Year-end charts[]
| Chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (RPM)
|
69 |
| UK Albums (OCC)
|
64 |
| US Billboard 200
|
22 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
|
13 |
| Chart (2000) | Position |
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)
|
95 |
| UK Albums (OCC)
|
44 |
| US Billboard 200
|
54 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
|
64 |
| Chart (2001) | Position |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) Special Edition |
56 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)
|
73 |
| Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)
|
36 |
| UK Albums (OCC)
|
84 |
| Chart (2002) | Position |
| Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)
|
127 |
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)
|
8× Platinum | 560,000*** |
| Canada (Music Canada)
|
2× Platinum | 200,000** |
 Italy (FIMI)Sales since 2009 |
Gold | 25,000*** |
| Netherlands (NVPI)
|
Gold | 50,000** |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)
|
Platinum | 15,000** |
 South Africa (RISA)
|
Gold | 25,000* |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)
|
Gold | 25,000** |
| United Kingdom (BPI)
|
3× Platinum | 1,100,000 |
| United States (RIAA)
|
6× Platinum | 6,597,000 |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
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