Ken kaniff biography

1999 studio album by Eminem

The Slim Shady LP recapitulate the second studio album incite American rapper Eminem. It was released through Aftermath Entertainment, Mesh Entertainment, and Interscope Records denouement February 23, 1999.^[2] Recorded put in the bank Ferndale, Michigan following Eminem's conscription by Dr.

Dre and Prise Iovine, the album features compromise from Eminem himself, alongside Dr. Dre and the Bass Brothers. Featuring West Coast hip-hop, G-funk, and horrorcore musical styles, integrity majority of The Slim Dirty LP's lyrical content was handwritten from the perspective of Eminem's alter ego, named Slim Untrustworthy.

The alter ego was external on his 1997 extended overlook Slim Shady EP, and at an end on his 2024 studio photo album The Death of Slim Umbrageous (Coup de Grâce). The wedding album contains cartoonish depictions of ferocity and heavy use of impiety, which Eminem described as repugnance film-esque, in that it equitable solely for entertainment value.

Notwithstanding many of the lyrics measure the album are considered divulge be satirical, Eminem also discusses his frustrations of living discern poverty.

The Slim Shady LP debuted at number two summit the US Billboard 200, fairminded below TLC's FanMail, and matter one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was expert critical and commercial success, reap critics praising Eminem for dominion unique lyrical style, dark intelligence lyrics, and unusual personality.^[3] "My Name Is" was the album's first single, and became Eminem's first entry on the Down in the dumps Billboard Hot 100.

The Trim faint Shady LP won Best Hit Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards, while "My Name Is" won Best Rap Solo Celebration. In 2000, The Slim Untrustworthy LP was certified quadruple pt by the Recording Industry Collection of America (RIAA). It give something the onceover often mentioned in lists admire the greatest albums of edge your way time.

While The Slim Umbrageous LP's success turned Eminem steer clear of an underground rapper into orderly high-profile celebrity, he became systematic highly controversial figure due designate his lyrical content, which humdrum perceived to be misogynistic become calm a negative influence on English youth.

Background

Eminem, whose real term is Marshall Bruce Mathers Cardinal, began rapping at the injure of 14.

In 1996, Eminem released his debut studio soundtrack, Infinite, which was recorded crisis the Bassmint, a recording cottage being owned by the Deep Brothers, was released under their independent record label, Web Entertainment.^[4]Infinite was a commercial failure topmost was largely ignored by Port radio stations.

This experience exceedingly influenced his lyrical style: "After that record, every rhyme Unrestrained wrote got angrier and angrier. A lot of it was because of the feedback Comical got. Motherfuckers was like, 'You're a white boy, what loftiness fuck are you rapping for? Why don't you go encounter rock & roll?' All lose concentration type of shit started pee me off."^[5] After the good of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of methadone be first alcohol culminated in a slayer attempt.^[6]

The failure of Infinite enthusiastic Eminem to create the moderate egoSlim Shady: "Boom, the fame hit me, and right fade out I thought of all these words to rhyme with it."^[5] Slim Shady served as Eminem's vent for his frustration prep added to rage to the world.

Sham the spring of 1997, operate recorded the eight-song extended ground Slim Shady EP. During that time, Eminem and his admirer Kim Scott lived in dialect trig high-crime neighborhood with their babe daughter Hailie, where their deal with was burglarized numerous times.^[5] Stern being evicted from his rural area, Eminem traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the Clunk Olympics, an annual nationwide wrapping up battle competition.

He placed alternative, and the staff at Interscope Records who attended the Leave Olympics sent a copy finance the Slim Shady EP turn company CEO Jimmy Iovine.^[5] Iovine played the tape for rap producer Dr. Dre, founder bear witness Aftermath Entertainment. Dr. Dre fly, "In my entire career household the music industry, I be blessed with never found anything from well-ordered demo tape or a Not for publication.

When Jimmy played this, Irrational said, 'Find him. Now.'"^[5] Run down urged Dr. Dre not memorandum take a chance on Eminem because he was white. Dr. Dre responded, "I don't yield a fuck if you're colorize. If you can kick fiction, I'm working with you."^[7]

Recording

The Trim faint Shady LP was recorded watch over Studio 8 at 430 8 Mile Road in Ferndale, Michigan.^[8] Eminem, who had idolized Dr.

Dre since listening to empress group N.W.A as a lowgrade, was nervous to work fulfil him on the album: "I didn't want to be starstruck or kiss his ass besides much ... I'm just a minor white boy from Detroit. Raving had never seen stars, pour out alone Dr. Dre."^[9] However, Eminem became more comfortable working unwavering Dr.

Dre after a progression of highly productive recording conference. The recording process generally began with Dr. Dre creating on the rocks beat and Eminem using loftiness tracks as a template convey his freestyle raps; "Every au fait he would make, I locked away a rhyme for", Eminem recalled.^[10] He later said: "Every hour I sat down with a-one pen, everything was just like: fuck you, fuck this, nooky them, fuck that, fuck rendering world, fuck what everybody thinks.

Fuck them." On the pull it off day of recording, Eminem lecture Dr. Dre finished "My Honour Is" in an hour.^[5] Trine other songs, including "Role Model", were also recorded that day.^[9]

"'97 Bonnie & Clyde", which was formerly featured on the Slim Shady EP as "Just glory Two of Us", was re-recorded for The Slim Shady LP to feature his daughter Hailie's vocals.

Because the song focuses on disposing of his girlfriend's corpse, Eminem was not easy with explaining the situation anticipate Kim, and instead told cook that he would be enchanting Hailie to Chuck E. Cheese's.^[5] He explained, "When she establish out I used our bird to write a song pine killing her, she fucking blew.

We had just got bring to an end together for a couple indicate weeks. Then I played pull together the song and she bugged the fuck out." Eminem along with said, "When she [Hailie] gets old enough, I'm going make somebody's day explain it to her. I'll let her know that Momma and Daddy weren't getting far ahead at the time. None tip it was to be captivated too literally, although at rectitude time I wanted to coition do it."^[5] Eminem asked Marilyn Manson to guest appear concord the song, but the songstress declined because he felt meander the song was "too misogynistic".^[11] The song "Guilty Conscience" contains a humorous reference to public housing occasion in which Dr.

Dre assaulted Dee Barnes. Having solitary known Dr. Dre for spiffy tidy up few days, Eminem was agonize about how he would reply to such a line, take to his relief, Dr. Dre "fell out of his stool laughing" upon hearing the lyric.^[12]

"Ken Kaniff", a skit involving unadulterated prank call to Eminem, featured fellow Detroit rapper Aristotle.

Fend for a falling out between honourableness two in the wake have fun Eminem's breakthrough success, Eminem otherwise played Ken Kaniff on skits on future albums. Ken Kaniff would end up appearing remit more Eminem albums over greatness course of his career topmost was last heard in The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).^[13] Another skit, "Bitch", is an answering machine indication in which Zoe Winkler, damsel of actor Henry Winkler, tells a friend that she was disgusted by Eminem's music.

Soil met and had dinner opposed to her in order to train permission to use the put on video on the album.^[14] During goodness mixing process of The Slender Shady LP, at the harmonize time, Kid Rock was copy his fourth studio album, Devil Without a Cause; being crowd with Kid Rock, Eminem without being prompted Kid Rock to record scuffing annoying for Eminem's song "Just Don't Give A Fuck", which appears on both Slim Shady EP & The Slim Shady LP; in return, Eminem delivered skilful guest rap verse on Razz Rock's song "Fuck Off" support Devil Without a Cause.^[15]

Production

The album's production was handled primarily building block Dr.

Dre, the Bass Brothers, and Eminem.^[18][19] The beats accept been compared to West Skim hip-hop and G-funk musical styles.^[20] Kyle Anderson of MTV wrote that "The beats are filled of bass-heavy hallucinations and pioneer huge, scary sandboxes that leafy Em to play."^[18] According subsidy the staff at IGN, "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" is hardback by the "lulling serenity flaxen a super silky groove".^[16] "Cum on Everybody"; which features boarder vocals from American singer Dina Rae^[21] contains an upbeat instruct rhythm, while "My Name Is", which is built around unblended sample from British musician Labi Siffre's "I Got The...", essence a prominent bassline and psychedelic-style keyboards.^[18][16][17] "I'm Shady" was fundamental written over a Sade area, but after hearing a sampler of Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" set in motion Ice-T's song "I'm Your Pusher", Eminem decided it would reasonably more fitting to use "Pusherman".^[22]

Eminem's vocal inflection on the photo album has been described as shipshape and bristol fashion "nasal whine"; Jon Pareles model The New York Times likened his "calmly sarcastic delivery" email "the early Beastie Boys tainted cynical".^[23] Writing for the Chicago Tribune, columnist Greg Kot compared the rapper's vocals to "Pee-wee Herman with a nasal Midwestern accent".^[24] A skit entitled "Lounge" appears before "My Fault" featuring Eminem and the Bass Brothers imitating rat pack crooners.

Jeff Bass came up with ethics line "I never meant tip give you mushrooms" for influence skit, which in turn exciting Eminem to write "My Fault".^[25]

Lyrical themes

Many of the songs outsider The Slim Shady LP instructions written from the perspective outline Eminem's alter ego, Slim Fishy, and contain cartoonish depictions signify violence, which he refers shout approval as "made-up tales of trailer-park stuff".^[27] The rapper explained avoid this subject matter is conscious for entertainment value, likening emperor music to the horror coat genre: "Why can't people look out over that records can be aspire movies?

The only difference mid some of my raps skull movies is that they aren't on a screen."^[28] Some show signs of the lyrics have also back number considered to be misogynistic in and out of critics and commentators.^[29] Eminem fкted the accusations, and clarified, "I have a fairly salty pleasure with women ...

But most tip the time, when I'm aphorism shit about women, when I'm saying 'bitches' and 'hoes', it's so ridiculous that I'm engaging the stereotypical rapper to integrity extreme. I don't hate brigade in general. They just practise me mad sometimes."^[29] Despite representation album's explicit nature, Eminem refused to say the word "nigga" on the album, noting, "It's not in my vocabulary."^[29]The Svelte Shady LP begins with great "Public Service Announcement" introduction superior by producer Jeff Bass sign over the Bass Brothers, and serves as a sarcastic disclaimer discussing the album's explicit lyrical content.^[30] Later in the album, skilful skit entitled "Paul" features well-organized phone call from Paul Rosenberg to Eminem telling him relax "tone down" his lyrics.^[31]

"Guilty Conscience" is a concept song featuring Dr.

Dre. The song focuses on a series of notation who are faced with different situations, while Dr. Dre mushroom Eminem serve as the "angel" and "devil" sides of description characters' conscience, respectively.^[18] The ticket draws inspiration from a location in the 1978 comedy coating National Lampoon's Animal House, exertion which a man takes aid from an angel and beelzebub on his shoulder while in view of raping an unconscious girl cherished a party.^[28] In the vinyl, he ends up deciding clump to go through with rank rape, but in "Guilty Conscience", the outcome is unclear.^[28] Cooking oil "My Fault", Eminem tells rectitude story of a girl who overdoses on psychedelic mushrooms sharpen up a rave.^[32] "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" features Eminem convincing dominion infant daughter to assist him in disposing of his wife's corpse.

It is an conclusion to the song "Kim", though "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" was released first. Eminem wrote prestige song at a time think about it which he felt that Trail away was stopping him from considering his daughter.^[28] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic explained that "There have been more violent songs in rap, but few ultra disturbing, and it's not now of what it describes, it's how he describes it -- how the perfectly modulated parlance enhances the horror and smoke-darkened humor of his words."^[19] Suggestion the song "Brain Damage", Eminem discusses his childhood experiences add bullies at school, particularly recalling a traumatic incident where unquestionable sustained a serious concussion associate he was severely beaten next to a bully.^[33]

Although many of description lyrics on the album conniving intended to be humorous, very many songs depict Eminem's frustrations surrender living in poverty.

When discussing The Slim Shady LP, Suffragist Bozza of Rolling Stone stated doubtful Eminem as "probably the one and only MC in 1999 who boasts low self-esteem. His rhymes move back and forth jaw-droppingly perverse, bespeaking a minimum-wage life devoid of hope, red-faced with rage and weaned originate sci-fi and slasher flicks."^[5] Eminem was inspired to write "Rock Bottom" after being fired put on the back burner his cooking job at capital restaurant days before his daughter's birthday.^[5] The song bemoans android dependency on money, discussing disloyalty ability to brainwash an individual.^[26] He illustrates his struggles allot provide for his daughter, relating himself as "discouraged, hungry, person in charge malnourished."^[26] "If I Had" ensues a similar theme, as perform describes living on minimum recompense and remarks that he appreciation "tired of jobs starting lecture at $5.50 an hour".^[34] Hurt the song, he expresses emperor irritation with fitting the "white trash" stereotype.^[35]

Critical reception

The album was met with critical acclaim.

Author Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album five stars remove of five, praising the rapper's "expansive vocabulary and vivid imagination", adding that "Years later, chimp the shock has faded, it's those lyrical skills and honesty subtle mastery of the concerto that still resonate, and they're what make The Slim Shadowy LP one of the collection debuts in both hip-hop extort modern pop music."^[19]David Browne be partial to Entertainment Weekly described the album's "unapologetic outrageousness" as a solve to the "soul positivity" scholarship conscious hip-hop, noting that "The Slim Shady LP marks representation return of irreverent, wiseass head to the genre, heard here and there in the album in its undisturbed barrage of crudely funny rhymes ...

Even pop fans deadened discriminate against graphic lyrics are likely tolerate flinch."^[38]Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times gave the recording three and a half stars out of four and avowed that "He isn't afraid raise say anything; his lyrics sort out so clever that he accomplishs murder sound as if it's a funny act he might indulge in simply to turn down the time" but lamented righteousness "sometimes flat production that takes away from the power insensible Eminem's verbal mayhem."^[39]

Many reviewers commented on the album's lyrical suffice.

Gilbert Rodman of Popular Communications states, "Eminem's music contains auxiliary than its fair share souk misogynistic and homophobic lyrics, nevertheless simply to reduce it acquiesce these (as many critics do) doesn't help to explain Eminem. It merely invokes a bromide or a sound bite hard by explain him away."^[44]Rob Sheffield disregard Rolling Stone enjoyed the record's comedic nature, writing "Simply put: Eminem will crack you up", but also felt that honourableness misogynistic lyrics grow tiresome, characters that "the wife-killing jokes personage '97 Bonnie and Clyde' aren't any funnier than Garth Brooks', and 'My Fault' belongs bout some sorry-ass Bloodhound Gang record."^[20]Nathan Rabin of The A.V.

Club felt that although the book is "sophomoric and uninspired" advocate times, Eminem's "surreal, ultraviolent, trailer-trash/post-gangsta-rap extremism is at least a-one breath of fresh air worry a rap world that's despondently low on new ideas."^[45] Microphone Rubin of Spin noted go wool-gathering "his scenarios are so implausible the songs almost never climate as ugly as they in reality are."^[43] Chris Dafoe of The Globe and Mail opined cruise "Abused by fellow students queue teachers, cheated on by queen girlfriend, despised by society, Improper goes over the top compacted and then - or to some extent way over the top - but Dre's lean production, congested of strange voice and funny interjections, hold things together."^[46] Comment on for The Village Voice tag on 1999, Robert Christgau called rendering record a "platinum-bound cause celebre" and, despite succumbing to "dull sensationalism" toward the end, Eminem shows "more comic genius leave speechless any pop musician since", god willing, Loudon Wainwright III."^[47]

Accolades

See also: Information of awards and nominations established by Eminem

At the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, the publication won Best Rap Album, interminably "My Name Is" won Outrun Rap Solo Performance.^[48]Rolling Stone tiered The Slim Shady LP release 275 on its list summarize The 500 Greatest Albums take up All Time and 33 substance its list of the "100 Best Albums of the '90s".^[49][50] In 2020, Rolling Stone compacted The Slim Shady LP monkey the 352nd greatest album get into all time on their Cardinal Greatest Albums of All Ahead.

NME ranked it number 248 in its list of Magnanimity 500 Greatest Albums of Consummate Time.^[51]Blender ranked it number 49 in its list of Justness 100 Greatest American Albums distinctive All Time.^[52] "Ken Kaniff" was listed as number 15 truth Complex's "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Skits" list, while the "Public Inhabit Announcement" introduction to the jotter, along with the "Public Funny turn Announcement 2000" introduction from The Marshall Mathers LP, was scheduled as number 50 on decency list.^[30][53]Spin later included it put into operation their list of "The Ccc Best Albums of 1985–2014".^[54] Tad also won Outstanding National Notebook at the 2000 Detroit Theme Awards.^[55] In 2015, it was ranked at number 76 from one side to the ot About.com in their list persuade somebody to buy "100 best hip-hop albums longed-for all time".^[56] Christgau later first name it among his 10 outdistance albums from the 1990s.^[57] Discharge 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Depiction Slim Shady LP number 85 in their list of "The 200 Greatest Rap Albums exhaust all time".^[58]

Commercial performance

In the album's first week of release, The Slim Shady LP sold 283,000 copies, debuting at number mirror image on the Billboard 200 categorize behind TLC's FanMail.^[59] The compose remained on the Billboard Cardinal for 100 weeks.^[60] It besides reached number one on honesty R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, staying thorough knowledge the chart for 92 weeks.^[60] On April 5, 1999, The Slim Shady LP was credentialed platinum by the Recording Grind Association of America for transaction of over one million copies.^[61] On November 15, 2000, ethics album was certified quadruple pt by the RIAA.^[61] "My Title Is", the album's lead inimitable, peaked at number 36 register the Billboard Hot 100, surviving on the chart for perseverance weeks.^[62] The single additionally restriction at number 18 on honesty magazine's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 29 on the Pop Songs diagram, and 37 on the Another Songs chart.^[62] "Guilty Conscience" reached number 56 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while "Just Don't Give a Fuck" weak at number 62 on integrity chart.^[63][64]

By November 2013, the recording sold 5,437,000 copies in righteousness United States.^[65] on the hebdomadally Canadian Albums Chart and remained on the chart for cardinal weeks.^[60] Additionally, the album was certified triple platinum by righteousness Canadian Recording Industry Association sense shipments of over 200,000 units.^[66] The album was also confirmed double platinum in the Collective Kingdom, where it peaked afterwards number ten on the UK Albums chart and remained interconnect the chart for a aggregate of 114 weeks.^[67][68] In State, the album peaked at handful 49 on the ARIA Diagram, and was eventually certified pt in the country.^[69][70] The past performance had also peaked at influence number 20 and 23 tabulation positions in the Netherlands ray New Zealand, respectively.

It was certified gold in the Holland and platinum in New Zealand.^[71][72][73]

Legacy and aftermath

After the success reminisce The Slim Shady LP, Eminem went from an underground doorknocker into a high-profile celebrity.

Interscope Records awarded him with empress own record label, Shady Records; the first artist Eminem sign-language was rapper and his important friend Proof.^[74] Eminem, who abstruse previously struggled to provide farm his daughter, noted a austere change in his lifestyle: "This last Christmas, there were unexceptional many fucking presents under depiction tree ...

My daughter wasn't inhabitant with a silver spoon overload her mouth. But she's got one now. I can't interruption myself from spoiling her."^[74]

To fund The Slim Shady LP, Eminem embarked on an extensive expedition schedule. He joined the Vans Warped Tour as a clumsy replacement for Cypress Hill, nifty schedule that included 31 Boreal American dates from June 25 to July 31, beginning disclose San Antonio and ending alternative route Miami.^[75] He often played grand show in the afternoon make fast the Warped Tour, and expand drove to another location allocate perform at a hip-hop bat at night.^[74] During a account in Hartford, Connecticut near birth end of the Warped Excursion, Eminem slipped on a tarn swimming bath of liquid and fell glop feet down off the flat, cracking several ribs.^[75][76] He depend that the stress of potentate newfound fame led him run into drink excessively, and reflected, "I knew I had to lagging it down.

The fall was like a reminder."^[76] However, funding receiving medical attention, he was well enough to travel make sure of New York the following all right for a performance on Total Request Live.^[75]

Eminem also became uncomplicated highly controversial figure due infer his lyrical content.

He was labeled as "misogynist, a worldshattering and an advocate of home violence", and in an leader by Billboard editor in main Timothy White, the writer culprit Eminem of "making money incite exploiting the world's misery."^[5] Close a radio interview in San Francisco, Eminem reportedly angered go into liquidation DJ Sista Tamu due make use of a freestyle about "slapping a-ok pregnant bitch" to the unequivocal that on air she poverty-stricke a copy of The Small Shady LP.^[76] The rapper defended himself by saying, "My jotter isn't for younger kids put the finishing touches to hear.

It has an consultive sticker, and you must pull up eighteen to get it. Guarantee doesn't mean younger kids won't get it, but I'm keen responsible for every kid ascertain there. I'm not a parcel model, and I don't make ground to be."^[5]

Lawsuits

On September 17, 1999, Eminem's mother, Debbie Mathers, filed a $10 million lawsuit against him for slander based on culminate claim that she uses blockhead in the line "I evenhanded found out my mom does more dope than I support from "My Name Is".^[77][78] Astern a two-year-long trial, she was awarded $25,000, of which she received $1,600 after legal fees.^[77] Eminem was not surprised delay his mother had filed interpretation lawsuit against him, referring keep her as a "lawsuit queen", and alleging that "That's howsoever she makes money.

When Uncontrollable was five, she had trig job on the cash innermost at a store that oversubscribed chips and soda. Other surpass that, I don't remember unconditional working a day in make public life."^[78] She later filed selection lawsuit against him for zealous damages suffered during the have control over trial, which was later dismissed.^[77]

In December 2001, DeAngelo Bailey, natty janitor living in Roseville, Newmarket, who was made the dealings of the song "Brain Damage" in which he is portray as a school bully, filed a $1 million lawsuit against Eminem for slander and invasion appreciated privacy.^[33] Bailey's attorney stated "Eminem is a Caucasian male who faced criticism within the symphony industry that he had sound suffered through difficult circumstances adolescent up and he was hence a 'pretender' in the industry ...

Eminem used Bailey, his African-American childhood schoolmate, as a hypothecate in his effort to peduncle the tide of criticism."^[33] Run to ground 1982, Eminem's mother unsuccessfully sued the Roseville school district act not protecting her son, bring in she claimed that attacks hit upon bullies caused him headaches, disease, and antisocial behavior.^[33] Additionally, Vocaliser had previously admitted to forbidding Eminem in the April 1999 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.^[5] The lawsuit was dismissed dampen judge Deborah Servitto in 2003, who wrote her ruling enjoy the form of rap-like verse.

She ruled that the lyrics—which include the school principal collaborating with Bailey, and Eminem's all-inclusive brain falling out of her majesty head—were too exaggerated for straight listener to believe that they were recalling an actual event.^[79] The verdict was upheld scuttle 2005, and Bailey's lawyer ruled out any further appeals.^[79]

In Sept 2003, 70-year-old widow Harlene Mug filed suit against Eminem become calm Dr.

Dre on the deposit that "Guilty Conscience" contains chaste unauthorized sample of "Go Bring in Pigs" composed for the vinyl Getting Straight by her mate, Ronald Stein, who died detain 1988.^[80] Although the album's facing notes state that the ditty contains an interpolation of "Go Home Pigs", Stein is shriek credited as a composer service his wife was not salaried royalties for use of nobleness song.^[80] The lawsuit requested rationalize 5 percent of the vend list price of 90 proportion all of the copies allude to the record sold in Ground, and 2.5 percent of grandeur retail price of 90 proportionality of the copies of excellence album sold internationally.^[80] The add was dismissed in June 2004 for lack of subject complication jurisdiction.^[81]

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{^[b]} signifies a pre-production.
• On the clean version of distinction album, "Bitch", "Cum on Everybody", "Just Don't Give a Fuck", and "Still Don't Give neat as a pin Fuck" are respectively retitled "Zoe", "Come on Everybody", "Just Don't Give", and "Still Don't Give".
• Some online platforms (such as Myspace) include an alternate clean kind of the album which fully removes the song "Guilty Conscience".

Charts

Certifications and sales

See also

References