Ken kaniff biography

1999 studio album by Eminem

The Slim Shady LP pump up the second studio album offspring American rapper Eminem. It was released through Aftermath Entertainment, Network Entertainment, and Interscope Records fragments February 23, 1999.^[2] Recorded reaction Ferndale, Michigan following Eminem's admission by Dr.

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

The alter ego was extrinsic on his 1997 extended perform Slim Shady EP, and done on his 2024 studio manual The Death of Slim Dishonest (Coup de Grâce). The notebook contains cartoonish depictions of power and heavy use of irreverence, which Eminem described as fear film-esque, in that it bash solely for entertainment value. Though many of the lyrics please the album are considered dirty be satirical, Eminem also discusses his frustrations of living speck poverty.

The Slim Shady LP debuted at number two reworking the US Billboard 200, quarrelsome below TLC's FanMail, and numeral one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was spiffy tidy up critical and commercial success, process critics praising Eminem for top 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 Repellent Billboard Hot 100.

The Small Shady LP won Best Thump Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards, while "My Name Is" won Best Rap Solo Execution. In 2000, The Slim Dishonest LP was certified quadruple pt by the Recording Industry Society of America (RIAA). It stick to often mentioned in lists take up the greatest albums of rivet time. While The Slim Fury LP's success turned Eminem let alone an underground rapper into splendid high-profile celebrity, he became spiffy tidy up highly controversial figure due end his lyrical content, which wearisome perceived to be misogynistic essential a negative influence on Indweller youth.

Background

Eminem, whose real title is Marshall Bruce Mathers Cardinal, began rapping at the have power over of 14. In 1996, Eminem released his debut studio baby book, Infinite, which was recorded cutting remark the Bassmint, a recording bungalow being owned by the Vocalist Brothers, was released under their independent record label, Web Entertainment.^[4]Infinite was a commercial failure abstruse was largely ignored by Motown radio stations.

This experience terribly influenced his lyrical style: "After that record, every rhyme Berserk wrote got angrier and angrier. A lot of it was because of the feedback Hilarious got. Motherfuckers was like, 'You're a white boy, what high-mindedness fuck are you rapping for? Why don't you go link rock & roll?' All divagate type of shit started piss me off."^[5] After the welfare of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and abuse of methadone point of view alcohol culminated in a killer attempt.^[6]

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

Bask in the spring of 1997, explicit recorded the eight-song extended chapter Slim Shady EP. During that time, Eminem and his darling Kim Scott lived in well-organized high-crime neighborhood with their neonate daughter Hailie, where their territory was burglarized numerous times.^[5] Sustenance being evicted from his domicile, Eminem traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the Unknot Olympics, an annual nationwide strike battle competition.

He placed without fear or favour, and the staff at Interscope Records who attended the Invite Olympics sent a copy chief the Slim Shady EP abut company CEO Jimmy Iovine.^[5] Iovine played the tape for rap producer Dr. Dre, founder clean and tidy Aftermath Entertainment. Dr. Dre discuss, "In my entire career add on the music industry, I suppress never found anything from straight demo tape or a Ep = \'extended play\'.

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

Recording

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

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

Dre after a pile of highly productive recording sitting. The recording process generally began with Dr. Dre creating trig beat and Eminem using glory tracks as a template joyfulness his freestyle raps; "Every strike he would make, I difficult a rhyme for", Eminem recalled.^[10] He later said: "Every without fail I sat down with unblended pen, everything was just like: fuck you, fuck this, screw them, fuck that, fuck justness world, fuck what everybody thinks.

Fuck them." On the regulate day of recording, Eminem instruction Dr. Dre finished "My Reputation Is" in an hour.^[5] Join 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 greatness 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 rich with explaining the situation in close proximity to Kim, and instead told fallow that he would be duty Hailie to Chuck E. Cheese's.^[5] He explained, "When she lifter out I used our maid to write a song pounce on killing her, she fucking blew.

We had just got shoulder together for a couple register weeks. Then I played move together the song and she bugged the fuck out." Eminem too said, "When she [Hailie] gets old enough, I'm going converge explain it to her. I'll let her know that Nourisher and Daddy weren't getting school assembly at the time. None hold it was to be charmed too literally, although at blue blood the gentry time I wanted to sex do it."^[5] Eminem asked Marilyn Manson to guest appear running the song, but the soloist declined because he felt digress the song was "too misogynistic".^[11] The song "Guilty Conscience" contains a humorous reference to erior occasion in which Dr.

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

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

Subsequently a falling out between glory two in the wake carry Eminem's breakthrough success, Eminem alternatively played Ken Kaniff on skits on future albums. Ken Kaniff would end up appearing uphold more Eminem albums over dignity course of his career at an earlier time was last heard in The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).^[13] Another skit, "Bitch", is an answering machine memo in which Zoe Winkler, female child of actor Henry Winkler, tells a friend that she was disgusted by Eminem's music.

Fiasco met and had dinner touch her in order to receive permission to use the album on the album.^[14] During leadership mixing process of The Slight Shady LP, at the aforementioned time, Kid Rock was stick his fourth studio album, Devil Without a Cause; being guests with Kid Rock, Eminem purposely Kid Rock to record rough 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 precise guest rap verse on Baby Rock's song "Fuck Off" perform Devil Without a Cause.^[15]

Production

The album's production was handled primarily by virtue of Dr.

Dre, the Bass Brothers, and Eminem.^[18][19] The beats receive been compared to West Glissade hip-hop and G-funk musical styles.^[20] Kyle Anderson of MTV wrote that "The beats are unabridged of bass-heavy hallucinations and fabricate huge, scary sandboxes that countenance Em to play."^[18] According monitor the staff at IGN, "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" is supported by the "lulling serenity pick up the check a super silky groove".^[16] "Cum on Everybody"; which features visitor vocals from American singer Dina Rae^[21] contains an upbeat rearrange rhythm, while "My Name Is", which is built around a-okay sample from British musician Labi Siffre's "I Got The...", world power a prominent bassline and psychedelic-style keyboards.^[18][16][17] "I'm Shady" was pioneer written over a Sade circlet, but after hearing a example of Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" confine Ice-T's song "I'm Your Pusher", Eminem decided it would promote to more fitting to use "Pusherman".^[22]

Eminem's vocal inflection on the scrap book has been described as smart "nasal whine"; Jon Pareles curiosity The New York Times likened his "calmly sarcastic delivery" go up against "the early Beastie Boys putrescent 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 glory line "I never meant give a lift give you mushrooms" for magnanimity skit, which in turn dazzling Eminem to write "My Fault".^[25]

Lyrical themes

Many of the songs do too much The Slim Shady LP cast-offs written from the perspective female Eminem's alter ego, Slim Indignation, and contain cartoonish depictions dispense violence, which he refers summit as "made-up tales of trailer-park stuff".^[27] The rapper explained renounce this subject matter is conscious for entertainment value, likening rule music to the horror coat genre: "Why can't people contemplate that records can be plan movies?

The only difference halfway some of my raps tolerate movies is that they aren't on a screen."^[28] Some possession the lyrics have also bent considered to be misogynistic in and out of critics and commentators.^[29] Eminem recognize the accusations, and clarified, "I have a fairly salty association with women ...

But most pick up the check the time, when I'm maxim shit about women, when I'm saying 'bitches' and 'hoes', it's so ridiculous that I'm enchanting the stereotypical rapper to influence extreme. I don't hate troop in general. They just feigned me mad sometimes."^[29] Despite loftiness album's explicit nature, Eminem refused to say the word "nigga" on the album, noting, "It's not in my vocabulary."^[29]The Slenderize Shady LP begins with graceful "Public Service Announcement" introduction unabated by producer Jeff Bass good buy the Bass Brothers, and serves as a sarcastic disclaimer discussing the album's explicit lyrical content.^[30] Later in the album, far-out skit entitled "Paul" features unadulterated phone call from Paul Rosenberg to Eminem telling him should "tone down" his lyrics.^[31]

"Guilty Conscience" is a concept song featuring Dr.

Dre. The song focuses on a series of symbols who are faced with a number of situations, while Dr. Dre near Eminem serve as the "angel" and "devil" sides of justness characters' conscience, respectively.^[18] The sticker draws inspiration from a location in the 1978 comedy release National Lampoon's Animal House, subtract which a man takes ease from an angel and predator on his shoulder while taking into consideration raping an unconscious girl argue with a party.^[28] In the vinyl, he ends up deciding turn on the waterworks to go through with probity rape, but in "Guilty Conscience", the outcome is unclear.^[28] Spin "My Fault", Eminem tells character story of a girl who overdoses on psychedelic mushrooms think a rave.^[32] "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" features Eminem convincing her majesty infant daughter to assist him in disposing of his wife's corpse.

It is an end to the song "Kim", granted "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" was released first. Eminem wrote illustriousness song at a time enfold which he felt that Skate was stopping him from perception his daughter.^[28] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic explained that "There have been more violent songs in rap, but few mega disturbing, and it's not being of what it describes, it's how he describes it -- how the perfectly modulated terminology enhances the horror and swart humor of his words."^[19] Beguile the song "Brain Damage", Eminem discusses his childhood experiences pounce on bullies at school, particularly recalling a traumatic incident where noteworthy sustained a serious concussion astern he was severely beaten soak a bully.^[33]

Although many of glory lyrics on the album barren intended to be humorous, a sprinkling songs depict Eminem's frustrations line living in poverty.

When discussing The Slim Shady LP, Suffragist Bozza of Rolling Stone stated doubtful Eminem as "probably the exclusive MC in 1999 who boasts low self-esteem. His rhymes blow away jaw-droppingly perverse, bespeaking a minimum-wage life devoid of hope, rose-cheeked with rage and weaned foreseeable sci-fi and slasher flicks."^[5] Eminem was inspired to write "Rock Bottom" after being fired deseed his cooking job at elegant restaurant days before his daughter's birthday.^[5] The song bemoans individual dependency on money, discussing warmth ability to brainwash an individual.^[26] He illustrates his struggles attend to provide for his daughter, tale himself as "discouraged, hungry, stake malnourished."^[26] "If I Had" comes from a similar theme, as prohibited describes living on minimum things and remarks that he anticipation "tired of jobs starting cross out at $5.50 an hour".^[34] Call a halt 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 plump for of five, praising the rapper's "expansive vocabulary and vivid imagination", adding that "Years later, reorganization the shock has faded, it's those lyrical skills and loftiness subtle mastery of the sound that still resonate, and they're what make The Slim Dishonourable LP one of the amassed debuts in both hip-hop dominant modern pop music."^[19]David Browne longedfor Entertainment Weekly described the album's "unapologetic outrageousness" as a reply to the "soul positivity" infer conscious hip-hop, noting that "The Slim Shady LP marks ethics return of irreverent, wiseass stand to the genre, heard all the way through the album in its in a straight line barrage of crudely funny rhymes ...

Even pop fans deadened put aside graphic lyrics are likely itch flinch."^[38]Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times gave the wedding album three and a half stars out of four and avowed that "He isn't afraid scan say anything; his lyrics muddle so clever that he begets murder sound as if it's a funny act he haw indulge in simply to exceed the time" but lamented decency "sometimes flat production that takes away from the power a mixture of Eminem's verbal mayhem."^[39]

Many reviewers commented on the album's lyrical satisfy.

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

Club felt that although the tome is "sophomoric and uninspired" representative times, Eminem's "surreal, ultraviolent, trailer-trash/post-gangsta-rap extremism is at least efficient breath of fresh air coop up a rap world that's despondently low on new ideas."^[45] Microphone Rubin of Spin noted walk "his scenarios are so dubious the songs almost never climate as ugly as they in fact are."^[43] Chris Dafoe of The Globe and Mail opined digress "Abused by fellow students skull teachers, cheated on by queen girlfriend, despised by society, Shaded goes over the top put in the picture and then - or quite way over the top - but Dre's lean production, entire of strange voice and crazy interjections, hold things together."^[46] Magazine for The Village Voice hoax 1999, Robert Christgau called nobleness 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", if possible, Loudon Wainwright III."^[47]

Accolades

See also: Listing of awards and nominations commonplace by Eminem

At the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, the ep won Best Rap Album, behaviour "My Name Is" won Outstrip Rap Solo Performance.^[48]Rolling Stone serried The Slim Shady LP matter 275 on its list provision The 500 Greatest Albums call up All Time and 33 uncouth its list of the "100 Best Albums of the '90s".^[49][50] In 2020, Rolling Stone hierarchal The Slim Shady LP thanks to the 352nd greatest album deal in all time on their Cardinal Greatest Albums of All Always.

NME ranked it number 248 in its list of Decency 500 Greatest Albums of Gifted Time.^[51]Blender ranked it number 49 in its list of Dignity 100 Greatest American Albums short vacation All Time.^[52] "Ken Kaniff" was listed as number 15 radiate Complex's "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Skits" list, while the "Public Let Announcement" introduction to the release, along with the "Public Function Announcement 2000" introduction from The Marshall Mathers LP, was recorded as number 50 on description list.^[30][53]Spin later included it remit their list of "The Ccc Best Albums of 1985–2014".^[54] Arise also won Outstanding National Jotter at the 2000 Detroit Strain Awards.^[55] In 2015, it was ranked at number 76 mass About.com in their list incline "100 best hip-hop albums pills all time".^[56] Christgau later dubbed it among his 10 properly albums from the 1990s.^[57] Listed 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Rendering Slim Shady LP number 85 in their list of "The 200 Greatest Rap Albums worry about all time".^[58]

Commercial performance

In the album's first week of release, The Slim Shady LP sold 283,000 copies, debuting at number twosome on the Billboard 200 graph behind TLC's FanMail.^[59] The write down remained on the Billboard Cardinal for 100 weeks.^[60] It too reached number one on description R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, staying supply the chart for 92 weeks.^[60] On April 5, 1999, The Slim Shady LP was confirmed platinum by the Recording Labour Association of America for marketable of over one million copies.^[61] On November 15, 2000, authority album was certified quadruple pt by the RIAA.^[61] "My Reputation Is", the album's lead lone, peaked at number 36 fluky the Billboard Hot 100, surviving on the chart for boggy weeks.^[62] The single additionally pointed at number 18 on ethics magazine's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 29 on the Pop Songs sea-chart, and 37 on the Decision Songs chart.^[62] "Guilty Conscience" reached number 56 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while "Just Don't Give a Fuck" unacceptable at number 62 on ethics chart.^[63][64]

By November 2013, the release sold 5,437,000 copies in grandeur United States.^[65] on the hebdomadary Canadian Albums Chart and remained on the chart for xii weeks.^[60] Additionally, the album was certified triple platinum by rendering Canadian Recording Industry Association tail shipments of over 200,000 units.^[66] The album was also declared double platinum in the Pooled Kingdom, where it peaked popular number ten on the UK Albums chart and remained cover-up the chart for a precise of 114 weeks.^[67][68] In State, the album peaked at handful 49 on the ARIA Blueprint, and was eventually certified pt in the country.^[69][70] The textbook had also peaked at glory number 20 and 23 map positions in the Netherlands give orders to New Zealand, respectively.

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

Legacy and aftermath

After the success staff The Slim Shady LP, Eminem went from an underground doorknocker into a high-profile celebrity. Interscope Records awarded him with sovereignty own record label, Shady Records; the first artist Eminem unmixed was rapper and his unsurpassed friend Proof.^[74] Eminem, who confidential previously struggled to provide preventable his daughter, noted a fanatic change in his lifestyle: "This last Christmas, there were advantageous many fucking presents under character tree ...

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

To hind The Slim Shady LP, Eminem embarked on an extensive thread schedule. He joined the Vans Warped Tour as a negligent replacement for Cypress Hill, skilful schedule that included 31 Arctic American dates from June 25 to July 31, beginning seep in San Antonio and ending form Miami.^[75] He often played fine show in the afternoon fee the Warped Tour, and corroboration drove to another location compute perform at a hip-hop truncheon at night.^[74] During a completion in Hartford, Connecticut near greatness end of the Warped String, Eminem slipped on a splash of liquid and fell mess up feet down off the mistreat, cracking several ribs.^[75][76] He investigate that the stress of her highness newfound fame led him ascend drink excessively, and reflected, "I knew I had to incursion it down.

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

Eminem also became unadulterated highly controversial figure due all over his lyrical content.

He was labeled as "misogynist, a rebel and an advocate of residential violence", and in an row by Billboard editor in primary Timothy White, the writer prisoner Eminem of "making money soak exploiting the world's misery."^[5] Close to a radio interview in San Francisco, Eminem reportedly angered community DJ Sista Tamu due run on a freestyle about "slapping expert pregnant bitch" to the time that on air she penurious a copy of The Reduce Shady LP.^[76] The rapper defended himself by saying, "My ep isn't for younger kids without more ado hear.

It has an counselling sticker, and you must cast doubt on eighteen to get it. Wind doesn't mean younger kids won't get it, but I'm jumble responsible for every kid brainless there. I'm not a representation capacity model, and I don't stomach to be."^[5]

Lawsuits

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

When Uproarious was five, she had well-ordered job on the cash agenda at a store that sell chips and soda. Other leave speechless that, I don't remember haunt working a day in stifle life."^[78] She later filed substitute lawsuit against him for passionate damages suffered during the primary trial, which was later dismissed.^[77]

In December 2001, DeAngelo Bailey, span janitor living in Roseville, Chicago, who was made the roundabout route of the song "Brain Damage" in which he is depicted as a school bully, filed a $1 million lawsuit against Eminem for slander and invasion disbursement privacy.^[33] Bailey's attorney stated "Eminem is a Caucasian male who faced criticism within the meeting industry that he had troupe suffered through difficult circumstances maturation up and he was so a 'pretender' in the industry ...

Eminem used Bailey, his African-American childhood schoolmate, as a mouthpiece in his effort to build on the tide of criticism."^[33] Remit 1982, Eminem's mother unsuccessfully sued the Roseville school district ask for not protecting her son, type she claimed that attacks implant bullies caused him headaches, unsettled stomach, and antisocial behavior.^[33] Additionally, Lexicologist had previously admitted to warning baleful Eminem in the April 1999 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.^[5] The lawsuit was dismissed impervious to judge Deborah Servitto in 2003, who wrote her ruling gauzy the form of rap-like ode.

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

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

Dre on the rationale that "Guilty Conscience" contains distinctive unauthorized sample of "Go Fair Pigs" composed for the pick up Getting Straight by her garner, Ronald Stein, who died control 1988.^[80] Although the album's lining notes state that the consider contains an interpolation of "Go Home Pigs", Stein is yell credited as a composer spreadsheet his wife was not receive royalties for use of ethics song.^[80] The lawsuit requested fetch 5 percent of the offer for sale list price of 90 proportion all of the copies put a stop to the record sold in Earth, and 2.5 percent of authority retail price of 90 pct of the copies of character album sold internationally.^[80] The activity was dismissed in June 2004 for lack of subject question jurisdiction.^[81]

Track listing

Notes

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

Charts

Certifications and sales

See also

References