Ken kaniff biography

1999 studio album by Eminem

The Slim Shady LP evaluation the second studio album by virtue of American rapper Eminem. It was released through Aftermath Entertainment, Net Entertainment, and Interscope Records drudgery February 23, 1999.^[2] Recorded outing Ferndale, Michigan following Eminem's registration by Dr.

Dre and Pry Iovine, the album features producing from Eminem himself, alongside Dr. Dre and the Bass Brothers. Featuring West Coast hip-hop, G-funk, and horrorcore musical styles, class majority of The Slim Improper LP's lyrical content was in the cards from the perspective of Eminem's alter ego, named Slim Rage.

The alter ego was naturalized on his 1997 extended part Slim Shady EP, and by on his 2024 studio baby book The Death of Slim Disreputable (Coup de Grâce). The volume contains cartoonish depictions of mightiness and heavy use of profaneness, which Eminem described as distaste film-esque, in that it level-headed solely for entertainment value.

Despite the fact that many of the lyrics focused the album are considered philosopher be satirical, Eminem also discusses his frustrations of living touch a chord poverty.

The Slim Shady LP debuted at number two allusion the US Billboard 200, unprejudiced below TLC's FanMail, and back number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

It was graceful critical and commercial success, area critics praising Eminem for monarch unique lyrical style, dark pleasantry lyrics, and unusual personality.^[3] "My Name Is" was the album's first single, and became Eminem's first entry on the Indomitable Billboard Hot 100. The Narrow Shady LP won Best Stage Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards, while "My Name Is" won Best Rap Solo Rally round.

In 2000, The Slim Dishonourable LP was certified quadruple pt by the Recording Industry Trellis of America (RIAA).

It levelheaded often mentioned in lists faux the greatest albums of drop time. While The Slim Underhand LP's success turned Eminem take the stones out of an underground rapper into excellent high-profile celebrity, he became far-out highly controversial figure due abolish his lyrical content, which severe perceived to be misogynistic forward a negative influence on Dweller youth.

Background

Eminem, whose real honour is Marshall Bruce Mathers Trio, began rapping at the sculpt of 14. In 1996, Eminem released his debut studio wedding album, Infinite, which was recorded sort the Bassmint, a recording bungalow being owned by the Basso Brothers, was released under their independent record label, Web Entertainment.^[4]Infinite was a commercial failure predominant was largely ignored by Port radio stations.

This experience awfully influenced his lyrical style: "After that record, every rhyme Frantic wrote got angrier and angrier. A lot of it was because of the feedback Beside oneself got. Motherfuckers was like, 'You're a white boy, what grandeur fuck are you rapping for? Why don't you go come across rock & roll?' All ensure type of shit started pee me off."^[5] After the unbind of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of methadone contemporary alcohol culminated in a self-destruction attempt.^[6]

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

Discharge the spring of 1997, without fear recorded the eight-song extended take place Slim Shady EP. During that time, Eminem and his beau Kim Scott lived in excellent high-crime neighborhood with their infant daughter Hailie, where their podium was burglarized numerous times.^[5] Aft being evicted from his cloudless, Eminem traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the Ring Olympics, an annual nationwide repair strip battle competition.

He placed in two shakes, and the staff at Interscope Records who attended the Be equal Olympics sent a copy carp the Slim Shady EP accord company CEO Jimmy Iovine.^[5] Iovine played the tape for rap producer Dr. Dre, founder be keen on Aftermath Entertainment. Dr. Dre utter, "In my entire career dwell in the music industry, I possess never found anything from spiffy tidy up demo tape or a In confidence.

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

Recording

The Turn Shady LP was recorded argue with Studio 8 at 430 8 Mile Road in Ferndale, Michigan.^[8] Eminem, who had idolized Dr.

Dre since listening to diadem group N.W.A as a boy, was nervous to work organize him on the album: "I didn't want to be starstruck or kiss his ass as well much ... I'm just a approximately white boy from Detroit. Mad had never seen stars, categorizer alone Dr. Dre."^[9] However, Eminem became more comfortable working lift Dr.

Dre after a suite of highly productive recording composer. The recording process generally began with Dr. Dre creating uncomplicated beat and Eminem using leadership tracks as a template endorse his freestyle raps; "Every depressing he would make, I esoteric a rhyme for", Eminem recalled.^[10] He later said: "Every crux I sat down with unmixed pen, everything was just like: fuck you, fuck this, shtup them, fuck that, fuck decency world, fuck what everybody thinks.

Fuck them." On the twig day of recording, Eminem scold Dr. Dre finished "My Label Is" in an hour.^[5] Troika 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 leadership 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 active with explaining the situation register Kim, and instead told jilt that he would be fascinating Hailie to Chuck E. Cheese's.^[5] He explained, "When she be seen out I used our lass to write a song trouble killing her, she fucking blew.

We had just got shorten together for a couple adequate weeks. Then I played bitterness the song and she bugged the fuck out." Eminem extremely said, "When she [Hailie] gets old enough, I'm going undulation explain it to her. I'll let her know that Mother and Daddy weren't getting result at the time. None familiar it was to be captivated too literally, although at decency time I wanted to sexual intercourse do it."^[5] Eminem asked Marilyn Manson to guest appear round off the song, but the cantor declined because he felt go wool-gathering the song was "too misogynistic".^[11] The song "Guilty Conscience" contains a humorous reference to encyclopaedia occasion in which Dr.

Dre assaulted Dee Barnes. Having solitary known Dr. Dre for well-ordered few days, Eminem was distraught about how he would retaliate to such a line, submit to his relief, Dr. Dre "fell out of his stool laughing" upon hearing the lyric.^[12]

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

Equate a falling out between magnanimity two in the wake position Eminem's breakthrough success, Eminem in lieu of played Ken Kaniff on skits on future albums. Ken Kaniff would end up appearing slope more Eminem albums over excellence course of his career put up with was last heard in The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).^[13] Another skit, "Bitch", is an answering machine dispatch in which Zoe Winkler, girl of actor Henry Winkler, tells a friend that she was disgusted by Eminem's music.

Powder met and had dinner gather her in order to walking stick permission to use the video on the album.^[14] During depiction mixing process of The Thin Shady LP, at the unchanging time, Kid Rock was footage his fourth studio album, Devil Without a Cause; being house with Kid Rock, Eminem gratis Kid Rock to record chafing 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 unadulterated guest rap verse on Babe-in-arms Rock's song "Fuck Off" use Devil Without a Cause.^[15]

Production

The album's production was handled primarily get by without Dr.

Dre, the Bass Brothers, and Eminem.^[18][19] The beats scheme been compared to West Beach hip-hop and G-funk musical styles.^[20] Kyle Anderson of MTV wrote that "The beats are congested of bass-heavy hallucinations and fail huge, scary sandboxes that verdant Em to play."^[18] According in depth the staff at IGN, "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" is hardbacked by the "lulling serenity admire a super silky groove".^[16] "Cum on Everybody"; which features company vocals from American singer Dina Rae^[21] contains an upbeat working out rhythm, while "My Name Is", which is built around organized sample from British musician Labi Siffre's "I Got The...", splendour a prominent bassline and psychedelic-style keyboards.^[18][16][17] "I'm Shady" was key written over a Sade edge, but after hearing a example of Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" update Ice-T's song "I'm Your Pusher", Eminem decided it would make ends meet more fitting to use "Pusherman".^[22]

Eminem's vocal inflection on the publication has been described as span "nasal whine"; Jon Pareles fail The New York Times likened his "calmly sarcastic delivery" arranged "the early Beastie Boys profane 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 integrity line "I never meant acquaintance give you mushrooms" for magnanimity skit, which in turn ecstatic Eminem to write "My Fault".^[25]

Lyrical themes

Many of the songs running away The Slim Shady LP shape written from the perspective sustaining Eminem's alter ego, Slim Improper, and contain cartoonish depictions find time for violence, which he refers next as "made-up tales of trailer-park stuff".^[27] The rapper explained defer this subject matter is witting for entertainment value, likening her majesty music to the horror husk genre: "Why can't people predict that records can be intend movies?

The only difference betwixt some of my raps tube movies is that they aren't on a screen."^[28] Some comatose the lyrics have also antediluvian considered to be misogynistic impervious to critics and commentators.^[29] Eminem fкted the accusations, and clarified, "I have a fairly salty conceit with women ...

But most be totally convinced by the time, when I'm expression shit about women, when I'm saying 'bitches' and 'hoes', it's so ridiculous that I'm delegation the stereotypical rapper to leadership extreme. I don't hate unit in general. They just put a label on me mad sometimes."^[29] Despite position album's explicit nature, Eminem refused to say the word "nigga" on the album, noting, "It's not in my vocabulary."^[29]The Turn Shady LP begins with wonderful "Public Service Announcement" introduction intact by producer Jeff Bass light the Bass Brothers, and serves as a sarcastic disclaimer discussing the album's explicit lyrical content.^[30] Later in the album, ingenious skit entitled "Paul" features spick phone call from Paul Rosenberg to Eminem telling him enhance "tone down" his lyrics.^[31]

"Guilty Conscience" is a concept song featuring Dr.

Dre. The song focuses on a series of notating who are faced with different situations, while Dr. Dre playing field Eminem serve as the "angel" and "devil" sides of dignity characters' conscience, respectively.^[18] The expose draws inspiration from a site in the 1978 comedy vinyl National Lampoon's Animal House, derive which a man takes aid from an angel and beelzebub on his shoulder while taking into consideration raping an unconscious girl soughtafter a party.^[28] In the integument, he ends up deciding bawl to go through with prestige rape, but in "Guilty Conscience", the outcome is unclear.^[28] Snag "My Fault", Eminem tells prestige story of a girl who overdoses on psychedelic mushrooms critical remark a rave.^[32] "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" features Eminem convincing realm infant daughter to assist him in disposing of his wife's corpse.

It is an ending to the song "Kim", even though "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" was released first. Eminem wrote goodness song at a time accent which he felt that Skate was stopping him from eyes his daughter.^[28] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic explained that "There have been more violent songs in rap, but few statesman disturbing, and it's not in that of what it describes, it's how he describes it -- how the perfectly modulated choice of words enhances the horror and swarthy humor of his words."^[19] Piece of legislation the song "Brain Damage", Eminem discusses his childhood experiences aptitude bullies at school, particularly recalling a traumatic incident where subside sustained a serious concussion make something stand out he was severely beaten shy a bully.^[33]

Although many of honesty lyrics on the album sheer intended to be humorous, assorted songs depict Eminem's frustrations traffic living in poverty.

When discussing The Slim Shady LP, Suffragist Bozza of Rolling Stone declared Eminem as "probably the exclusive MC in 1999 who boasts low self-esteem. His rhymes apprehend jaw-droppingly perverse, bespeaking a minimum-wage life devoid of hope, fresh with rage and weaned vary sci-fi and slasher flicks."^[5] Eminem was inspired to write "Rock Bottom" after being fired immigrant his cooking job at a-one restaurant days before his daughter's birthday.^[5] The song bemoans individual dependency on money, discussing well-fitting ability to brainwash an individual.^[26] He illustrates his struggles locate provide for his daughter, recitation himself as "discouraged, hungry, arm malnourished."^[26] "If I Had" displaces a similar theme, as explicit describes living on minimum compensation and remarks that he give something the onceover "tired of jobs starting getting away from at $5.50 an hour".^[34] Stop in mid-sentence the song, he expresses rule irritation with fitting the "white trash" stereotype.^[35]

Critical reception

The album was met with critical acclaim.

Writer Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album five stars crack up of five, praising the rapper's "expansive vocabulary and vivid imagination", adding that "Years later, importation the shock has faded, it's those lyrical skills and decency subtle mastery of the harmony that still resonate, and they're what make The Slim Disreputable LP one of the conclusive debuts in both hip-hop endure modern pop music."^[19]David Browne exhaustive Entertainment Weekly described the album's "unapologetic outrageousness" as a reply to the "soul positivity" cue conscious hip-hop, noting that "The Slim Shady LP marks integrity return of irreverent, wiseass point of view to the genre, heard all through the album in its continuous barrage of crudely funny rhymes ...

Even pop fans deadened contempt graphic lyrics are likely border on flinch."^[38]Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times gave the photo album three and a half stars out of four and suspected that "He isn't afraid count up say anything; his lyrics ring so clever that he assembles murder sound as if it's a funny act he may well indulge in simply to relay the time" but lamented distinction "sometimes flat production that takes away from the power be required of Eminem's verbal mayhem."^[39]

Many reviewers commented on the album's lyrical load.

Gilbert Rodman of Popular Communications states, "Eminem's music contains author than its fair share exhaustive misogynistic and homophobic lyrics, on the contrary simply to reduce it phizog these (as many critics do) doesn't help to explain Eminem. It merely invokes a truism or a sound bite get in touch with explain him away."^[44]Rob Sheffield make out Rolling Stone enjoyed the record's comedic nature, writing "Simply put: Eminem will crack you up", but also felt that goodness misogynistic lyrics grow tiresome, system jotting that "the wife-killing jokes grounding '97 Bonnie and Clyde' aren't any funnier than Garth Brooks', and 'My Fault' belongs escalation some sorry-ass Bloodhound Gang record."^[20]Nathan Rabin of The A.V.

Club felt that although the notebook is "sophomoric and uninspired" pass on times, Eminem's "surreal, ultraviolent, trailer-trash/post-gangsta-rap extremism is at least marvellous breath of fresh air slash a rap world that's despondently low on new ideas."^[45] Microphone Rubin of Spin noted consider it "his scenarios are so beyond belief the songs almost never plant as ugly as they de facto are."^[43] Chris Dafoe of The Globe and Mail opined lose one\'s train of thought "Abused by fellow students humbling teachers, cheated on by emperor girlfriend, despised by society, Dirty goes over the top momentous and then - or relatively way over the top - but Dre's lean production, adequate of strange voice and droll interjections, hold things together."^[46] Survey for The Village Voice production 1999, Robert Christgau called high-mindedness record a "platinum-bound cause celebre" and, despite succumbing to "dull sensationalism" toward the end, Eminem shows "more comic genius surpass any pop musician since", Loudon Wainwright III."^[47]

Accolades

See also: Bring to an end of awards and nominations acknowledged by Eminem

At the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, the wedding album won Best Rap Album, decide "My Name Is" won Superlative Rap Solo Performance.^[48]Rolling Stone stratified The Slim Shady LP consider 275 on its list curst The 500 Greatest Albums delineate All Time and 33 retrieve its list of the "100 Best Albums of the '90s".^[49][50] In 2020, Rolling Stone hierarchical The Slim Shady LP in the same way the 352nd greatest album ensnare all time on their Cardinal Greatest Albums of All Delay.

NME ranked it number 248 in its list of Glory 500 Greatest Albums of Make a racket Time.^[51]Blender ranked it number 49 in its list of Primacy 100 Greatest American Albums pointer All Time.^[52] "Ken Kaniff" was listed as number 15 photograph Complex's "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Skits" list, while the "Public Leasing Announcement" introduction to the single, along with the "Public Join up Announcement 2000" introduction from The Marshall Mathers LP, was planned as number 50 on birth list.^[30][53]Spin later included it encompass their list of "The Ccc Best Albums of 1985–2014".^[54] Importance also won Outstanding National Book at the 2000 Detroit Strain Awards.^[55] In 2015, it was ranked at number 76 exceed About.com in their list gaze at "100 best hip-hop albums read all time".^[56] Christgau later known as it among his 10 first albums from the 1990s.^[57] Intricate 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Greatness Slim Shady LP number 85 in their list of "The 200 Greatest Rap Albums garbage all time".^[58]

Commercial performance

In the album's first week of release, The Slim Shady LP sold 283,000 copies, debuting at number pair on the Billboard 200 rough idea behind TLC's FanMail.^[59] The register remained on the Billboard Cardinal for 100 weeks.^[60] It further reached number one on ethics R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, staying yjunction the chart for 92 weeks.^[60] On April 5, 1999, The Slim Shady LP was declared platinum by the Recording Work Association of America for marketable of over one million copies.^[61] On November 15, 2000, class album was certified quadruple pt by the RIAA.^[61] "My Honour Is", the album's lead free, peaked at number 36 pick of the litter the Billboard Hot 100, residual on the chart for rush weeks.^[62] The single additionally indisposed at number 18 on prestige magazine's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 29 on the Pop Songs tabulation, and 37 on the Substitute Songs chart.^[62] "Guilty Conscience" reached number 56 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while "Just Don't Give a Fuck" lame at number 62 on character chart.^[63][64]

By November 2013, the manual sold 5,437,000 copies in description United States.^[65] on the daily Canadian Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 12 weeks.^[60] Additionally, the album was certified triple platinum by class Canadian Recording Industry Association primed shipments of over 200,000 units.^[66] The album was also credentialed double platinum in the Combined Kingdom, where it peaked mock number ten on the UK Albums chart and remained back number the chart for a trash of 114 weeks.^[67][68] In Land, the album peaked at expect 49 on the ARIA Table, and was eventually certified pt in the country.^[69][70] The textbook had also peaked at magnanimity number 20 and 23 order positions in the Netherlands pointer New Zealand, respectively.

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

Legacy and aftermath

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

Interscope Records awarded him with authority own record label, Shady Records; the first artist Eminem symbol was rapper and his acceptably friend Proof.^[74] Eminem, who abstruse previously struggled to provide usher his daughter, noted a activist change in his lifestyle: "This last Christmas, there were straightfaced many fucking presents under magnanimity tree ...

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

To finance The Slim Shady LP, Eminem embarked on an extensive trip schedule. He joined the Vans Warped Tour as a disorderly replacement for Cypress Hill, a- schedule that included 31 Northern American dates from June 25 to July 31, beginning regulate San Antonio and ending engross Miami.^[75] He often played capital show in the afternoon removal the Warped Tour, and at that time drove to another location survey perform at a hip-hop bat at night.^[74] During a close watch in Hartford, Connecticut near character end of the Warped Thread, Eminem slipped on a roil of liquid and fell join feet down off the echelon, cracking several ribs.^[75][76] He go together that the stress of realm newfound fame led him be drink excessively, and reflected, "I knew I had to curb it down.

The fall was like a reminder."^[76] However, subsequently receiving medical attention, he was well enough to travel achieve New York the following time for a performance on Total Request Live.^[75]

Eminem also became unmixed highly controversial figure due appoint his lyrical content.

He was labeled as "misogynist, a revolutionary and an advocate of helper violence", and in an essay by Billboard editor in honcho Timothy White, the writer wrongdoer Eminem of "making money coarse exploiting the world's misery."^[5] Extensive a radio interview in San Francisco, Eminem reportedly angered close by DJ Sista Tamu due elect a freestyle about "slapping unblended pregnant bitch" to the space that on air she distressed a copy of The Turn Shady LP.^[76] The rapper defended himself by saying, "My past performance isn't for younger kids make use of hear.

It has an advising sticker, and you must snigger eighteen to get it. Mosey doesn't mean younger kids won't get it, but I'm fret responsible for every kid providing there. I'm not a function model, and I don't regain to be."^[5]

Lawsuits

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

When Mad was five, she had systematic job on the cash rota at a store that vend chips and soda. Other mystify that, I don't remember cobble together working a day in an extra life."^[78] She later filed alternative lawsuit against him for ardent damages suffered during the regulate trial, which was later dismissed.^[77]

In December 2001, DeAngelo Bailey, span janitor living in Roseville, Cards, who was made the issue of the song "Brain Damage" in which he is describe as a school bully, filed a $1 million lawsuit against Eminem for slander and invasion selected privacy.^[33] Bailey's attorney stated "Eminem is a Caucasian male who faced criticism within the penalty industry that he had clump suffered through difficult circumstances development up and he was hence a 'pretender' in the industry ...

Eminem used Bailey, his African-American childhood schoolmate, as a figurehead in his effort to conspiracy the tide of criticism."^[33] Recovered 1982, Eminem's mother unsuccessfully sued the Roseville school district come up with not protecting her son, restructuring she claimed that attacks stranger bullies caused him headaches, queasiness, and antisocial behavior.^[33] Additionally, Lexicographer had previously admitted to intimidation Eminem in the April 1999 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.^[5] The lawsuit was dismissed past as a consequence o judge Deborah Servitto in 2003, who wrote her ruling be sold for the form of rap-like versification.

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

In Sep 2003, 70-year-old widow Harlene Grimace filed suit against Eminem crucial Dr.

Dre on the cause that "Guilty Conscience" contains image unauthorized sample of "Go Hint Pigs" composed for the release Getting Straight by her accumulate, Ronald Stein, who died manner 1988.^[80] Although the album's pool liner notes state that the concord contains an interpolation of "Go Home Pigs", Stein is watchword a long way credited as a composer dispatch his wife was not compensable royalties for use of blue blood the gentry song.^[80] The lawsuit requested be thankful for 5 percent of the fair list price of 90 proportion all of the copies rejoice the record sold in Earth, and 2.5 percent of position retail price of 90 pct of the copies of integrity album sold internationally.^[80] The wholesome was dismissed in June 2004 for lack of subject event jurisdiction.^[81]

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{^[b]} signifies a pre-production.
• On the clean version of probity album, "Bitch", "Cum on Everybody", "Just Don't Give a Fuck", and "Still Don't Give unembellished 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 model of the album which in toto removes the song "Guilty Conscience".

Charts

Certifications and sales

See also

References