The Slim Shady LP was the 1999 debut commercial album from Detroit rap superstar Eminem aka Slim Shady. Since its release you'd have to have been living in a cave not to have heard of Eminem, he's probably one of the most successful rappers ever, with a bank roll that only Dr Dre and Jay-Z ... Read review
Slim Shady (Advisory) - CD
Public Service Announcement My Name Is Guilty Conscience Brain Damage Paul If I Had 97' ... more
Bonnie & Clyde Zoe Role Model Lounge - Jeff Bass My Fault Ken Kaniff - Marky Bass Come on Everbody Rock Bottom Just Don't Give a F*** Soap - Jeff Bass As t...
Dr. Dre; Eminem got his big break when signing to Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and became a sensation with his debut single "My Name Is" while simultaneously ea...
The Slim Shady LP - Eminem
OnThe Slim Shady LP, Eminem wants it all. He is conflicted, you see; the world has treated ... more
him badly, and he wants to respond in kind. But he isn't a straight-up gangsta--this is, after all, the first release on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, his post-De...
treated him badly, and he wants to respond in kind. But he isn't a straight-up gangsta--this is, after all, the first release on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, his post-D...
A review by Mcicp1981 on Slim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Eminem February 10th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Pretty much everything
Disadvantages:
Too many skits
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The Slim Shady LP was the 1999 debut commercial album from Detroit rap superstar Eminem aka Slim Shady. Since its release you'd have to have been living in a cave not to have heard of Eminem, he's probably one of the most successful rappers ever, with a bank roll that only Dr Dre and Jay-Z and their business projects can compare to, love him or hate him Eminem is one of the all time greats in rap. The album debuted at #2 in the US Billboard Album charts and sold 283,000 copies in its first week, it has since gone 5x Platinum.
Eminem originally released the 'Infinite' EP as a debut in 1996 on an independent record label, when speaking of the record Eminem says -
"Obviously, I was young and influenced by other artists, and I got a lot of feedback saying that I sounded like Nas and AZ. Infinite was me trying to figure out how I wanted my rap style to be, how I wanted to sound on the mic and present myself. It was a growing stage. I felt like Infinite was like a demo that just got pressed up."
Whilst Infinite was a testing ground for the young mc, The Slim Shady LP can truly be credited with Eminem finding his true style.
Eminem would gain exposure entering the rap Olympics, a mixture of battles and freestyles,in which Eminem would be robbed in the final to a African-American rapper, with the general consensus that they had ruled again Slim because he was white, never the less head of Interscope Records Jimmy Iovine saw his talent and requested a demo. Iovine later took the demo to Dr Dre, who quickly signed the Detroit mc and started the beginning of a long partnership which would involve both rappers (and producers) working on each of the others albums as they were made, Dre has appeared on all of Eminems albums, whilst Eminem has made several tracks with Dre. The rest as they say is history.
The Album
(Sample information taken from Wikipediea)
1 - Public Service Announcement (intro)
2 - My Name Is
I still clearly remember the first time I saw the video for this (also the first time I'd seen or heard of Eminem), my first reaction was 'What the hell is this, a white rapper? Isn't that Dr Dre! This is really good, who the hell is this?'
A funny track that may have aged a little over the years but still entertains, I've heard this is one of Slim's least favourite songs and, like most of the album, he certainly didn't perform it either time I've seen him live, the beats are pretty silly but match the subject matter, a great song to introduce yourself to the world.
Samples
"I Got The" by Labi Siffre "Back in Black" by AC/DC "I Don't Love You" by Millie Jackson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmdRauWVbwg
8/10
3 - Guilty Conscience ft Dr Dre
Still to this day one of Eminem's greatest songs, he really has a great chemistry with Dre, the premise of the song is there's 3 different situations, a possible robbery, a sexual encounter with an underage girl, and a husband catching his wife cheating, with Eminem and Dre playing the voices of each of the men involved consciences, Eminem being the bad side and Dre the voice of reason, love the story telling throughout, just a clever track from start to finish, love Dre's part in the final encounter.
Sample
"Go Home Pigs" by Ronald Stein
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGNuegYJzt8
10/10
4 - Brain Damage
Eminem's lyrics on this one really show the fact he grew up listening to the underground Detroit rap scene, dominated by Horrorcore rap acts Esham, Natas, and of course Insane Clown Posse. The lyrics are pretty crazy, with Eminem rapping about many different violent encounter as he was growing up, this ones storytelling not fact, not many rappers would make a track like this, Eminem raps with pure anger on this one, just a insane track with a pumping base line.
8/10
5 - Paul (skit)
6 - If I Had
A thoughtful track about life and the things Eminem is sick of, I'm guessing these days it's been a long time since Eminem had to do (or be) many of these things anymore, quite a deep song for Shady, very laidback production, it's interesting to look at this track now and look at how far he's come in his career since.
7/10
7 - 97' Bonnie & Clyde
If your not listening to the lyrics this one probably sounds like a laid back love song, if you are listening then you'll have realised the tracks about Eminem having killed his daughters mother, Kim, and is taking the body to dump off the pier, a very dark subject matter in total contrast to the music, but that's the whole point, Slim shows signs of his story telling ability which would develop over the years into one of the strongest in commercial hip-hop, a good song.
Sample
"Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington Jr.
7/10
8 - Bitch (skit)
9 - Role Model
One of Eminem's more critical (and better) songs towards the general music world and how performers are idolised as role models and how ridiculous that is, I love the lyrics, Slim really goes off on one with multi-syllable rhymes and what many would deem just plain offensive lyrics, I love it, the message of this song is right though in my opinion, too many people try to be like performers musical personalities just that little bit too much.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMWuXHno7oo
10/10
10 - Lounge (skit)
11 - My Fault
Eminem continues with rhymes and subject matters most in the commercial rap world wouldn't have dared touch at this point in time with a song about taking mushrooms and the girl he's given them too taking too many and going on a very bad trip, the beats are pretty crazy, very base heavy and basic, I can't think of many songs like this one, more great story telling from Em.
8/10
12 - Ken Kanfif (skit)
13 - Cum On Everybody
The beats on this one during the verses sound like an old-school hip-hop beat, think Grandmaster Flash style, while they switch up into a more modern sound for the chorus, I do like the sound on this one, the lyrics are all over the place and don't really have any theme, there more a chance for Eminem to show of his skills and use more multi-syllable rhymes, I wonder how much of this one was a freestyle in the studio, it certainly sounds that way.
Samples
"Gimme What You Got" by Le Pamplemouse
8/10
14 - Rock Bottom
Quite a deep, dark, and depressing song, very thoughtful, I love this track, it's one of those dark songs I listen to when my moods in a similar place, I always find myself bobbing my head to this one but any smile I have is wiped off quickly, this song does exactly what it needs to.
Sample
"Summertime" by Big Brother & The Holding Company
8/10
15 - Just Don't Give A F*ck
Another one of my favourites on here, the lyrics are top quality on this one, Em doesn't really have anymore to say than the fact he 'Just don't give a f*ck' what other people do or say, this is another I remember hearing for the first time and just sitting back listening to the track 4 or 5 times in a row being amazed at the lyrics and Eminem's rapping ability, I wish he'd do more tracks like this these days, I also have a pretty clear memory getting excited about how good this song was with one of my old basketball team mates but anyway, the beats are some of my favourite on here, the kind you only find in rap, songs like this are the reason I love hip-hop.
10/10
16 - Soap (skit)
17 - As The World Turns
Another crazy story telling track, I wont lie the story is violent, and involves talk of drugs and sexual abuse, I also won't lie when I say I really like this one and the whole story, it's so cleverly done and its not like any of us haven't seen worse in a film or TV show, I guess it's also worth noting it takes a lot more than most to offend me when it comes to this sort of subject matter, Eminem raps so effortlessly its ridiculous, a dark song but also a great one.
9/10
18 - I'm Shady
Much like 'My Name Is' this track is sort of like an introduction to Eminem and full of comedic lyrics, the music bares little similarity though, the production sounds that little bit smoother, and the sound is much funkier and soulful, love the chorus, love the fact Eminem doesn't care how much he mocks himself.
Sample
"Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield
8/10
19 - Bad Meets Evil ft Royce da 5'9"
Very early in their careers these two rappers actually used to perform together as a group under the name 'Bad Meets Evil', so that's were the track name comes from, I'm aware these two guys used to be friends but have fallen out in recent years, Royce comes with one of his career best raps, but he can't really match Slim, when Eminem starts with the multi-syllable lines he just kills Royce, Royce fires back with some multi-syllables of his own which are impressive and make for a great song, but Eminem is the one who stands out here.
Sample
"Me & My Girlfriend" by 2Pac
8/10
20 - Still Don't Give A F*ck
I love this one as much as I love 'Just Don't give a F*ck', again the subject matter is the same as is the quality of the lyrics, Eminem gives his clearest sign of his Detroit Horrorcore rap influence with the line -
'I'm a cross between Manson, Esham and Ozzie.'
For those that don't know Detroit underground rapper Esham is often credited with originating a style of rap called Horrorcore, with lyrics involving subject matters such as cannibalism, necrophilia, voodoo/black magic, the devil, and murder, basically a horror film on a record. The true start of Horrorcore can be traced back to the Geto Boys 'Uncut Dope' album with tracks such as 'Assassins', 'Mind of a Lunatic', and 'Chuckie', but there is no doubt Esham made the style his own, with Brotha Lynch Hung and Insane Clown Posse being the other notable artists to adopt this style, although ICP never rapped about the Devil. So it's clear from this where Eminem got the more crazy and offensive side of his rapping from. The chorus on this song really stands out for me as the definition of Eminem's attitude -
For all the weed that I've smoked, Yo this blunts for you, To all the people I've offended, Yeah f*ck you too, For all the friends I used to have, Yo I miss my past, But the rest of you ass holes can kiss my ass, For all the drugs that I've done, Yo I'm still gonna do, To all the people I've offended, Yo f*ck you too, For everytime I reminisce yeah I miss my past, But I still don't give a f*ck ya'll can kiss my ass.
10/10
Overall a 9/10 from me for the album, very few mc's have made a debut LP so strong, ok Eminem had other releases earlier in his career ('Infinite' and 'The Slim Shady EP' come to mind) but this was his break through record, helped by the backing of Dr Dre and Aftermath records, at a time when almost no record company would gamble on a white rapper Dre saw past the skin colour and saw the unlimited talent in Slim and took a chance, thank god he did as this record allowed a wealth of talented white rappers the chance to break through in the commercial scene. Eminem always struggled to match the sound of the record on future releases; 'The Marshall Mathers LP' was the only one of his albums for me to do so, this for me is the man working to the best of his ability, I recommend this to all rap fans, a true classic.
Advantages: lyrics and sound fx are just put together like a dream Disadvantages: none that i can think of
After hearing 'My name is ' went out and bought this album from HMV 11.99.
i had a mental picture of a skinny little black guy with round glasses looking a bit like spike lee (movie director)
to my shock a white guy with bleached hair .
Oh yes hear we go milli vanilli i thought
Then i read the credits and saw Produced by Dr Dre (N.W.A) probably best producer out there.
Now some people will find the album so offensive it would sicken them but ... ...of his tone and the music it comes across as some comedy or cartoon character.
Now listen to sounds in the background and you will understand why this album is just like listening to a film
tracks like 'brain damage' "one day he came into the bathroom will i was pi**ing and had me in the position to beat me into submition"where he is being bullied 97 bonnie and clyde "oh wheres momma she's taking a little nap in the trunk oh that smell daddy must ...
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13.09.2006
AN INSTANT CLASSIC! Review ofSlim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Eminemby
stewartcran
Advantages: Great value for money Disadvantages: Lyrics not suitable for children
With Eminem's first major label release comes what in my opinion is his greatest studio album to date, this is a must hav for true Hip-hop fans in which you can truely appreciate Em's lyrical skills! The ever controversial Em doesn't disappoint neither, whether its his wittyness or his shock value you will be hooked on every word! With production shared by the Marky&Jeff Bass and Dr. Dre (who in my opinion is the greatest producer of all time) Every ... ...out tracks like "My Name Is", "Guilty Conscience" and "Role Model". A classic album and definately one to add to your collection, even if you do not enjoy hip-hop im confident you would appreciate Eminem's talent and this album is the perfect example of why he will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time! ...
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21.09.2008
My Name is? Review ofSlim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Eminemby
englishtrog
Advantages: Thought provoking and talent!! Disadvantages: none
...being un politically correct. The slim Shady LP is full of tracks that explain some of his lifes problems from his problems at school to the problems with his ex partner and their daughter hailey. If your easily offended then this is definatly not a album for you, on the other hand if you like a little humour with a serious side and a talented way of putting it then this album should definatly be amoungst your CD collection.
TRACKS:
"Public Service ... ...Name Is" Dr. Dre 4:28 3. "Guilty Conscience" (feat. Dr. Dre) Dr. Dre 3:19 4. "Brain Damage" F.B.T., Eminem (co) 3:46 5. "Paul" (Performed by Paul Rosenberg) 0:15 6. "If I Had" (feat. Kristie Abete) F.B.T., Eminem (co) 4:05 7. "97' Bonnie & Clyde" F.B.T., Eminem (co) 5:16 8. "Bitch" (Performed by Zoe Winkler) 0:19 9. "Role Model" Dr. Dre, Mel-Man 3:25 10. "Lounge" (feat. Marky Bass) 0:46 11. "My Fault" F.B.T., Eminem 4:01 12. "Ken Kaniff" (feat. Marky ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great album through and through! One of the best Rap albums available. Disadvantages: Due to content, should not be played around minors.
This is a what i would call a groundbreaking album! My first real taste of the rap scene and I loved every beat and lyric of it. A lot of comedy, some commercial and indeed some very dark and perhaps shocking songs; all bursting with intelligent rhymes. Tracks: PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT - Short comedy intro/skit perhaps gives a little taste of what is to come on the rest of the album.
MY NAME IS - The most commercial and perhaps lyrically random ... ...featuring Dr Dre.
BRAIN DAMAGE - Darker song offering something of an insight into Eminem's childhood. PAUL - Brief skit.
IF I HAD - One of the more mellow songs on the album. Gritty song reflecting Eminems' 'poor' beginnings. 97 BONNIE AND CLYDE - Very controversial at the time.. a parody of Will Smiths' 'Just the Two of Us' . In this version Em has just killed his wife and is singing to his daughter on his way to dump the body in the sea; the ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
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Quality and consistency...
Value for Money
somewhat helpful
29.12.2007
(02.01.2008)
A key moment in rap Review ofSlim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Eminemby
svedebo
Advantages: Very original lyrics, and good rhythm Disadvantages: Some listeners might be offended
This was not the first eminem album I bought, so I was familiar with his controversial lyrics and overall style, but I was still shocked at how good this album really is. I already owned all of his mainstream albums including the eminem show, encore and more. Since this album wasn't very famous I didn't expect much, and I only knew the track My Name Is, but I was happily surprised when I bought the CD. This album is very different to his new stuff:
... ...music is also much more rap than the new albums, which in my opinion are close to pop with talking instead of singing. Anyone who is a fan of eminem should definately buy this CD, and others who want something different should do the same. Warning: This album contains very offensive lyrics, and that parental advisory sticker is there for a reason. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Slim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Eminem
Product details
Title: Slim Shady LP, The (Parental Advisory) [PA]
Performer: Eminem
Genre: R&B
Sub Genre: Rap
Release Date: 09/08/1999
Recomended Retail Price: 10.99 GBP
Original Release Year: 1999
Label / Distributor: Interscope / Universal Music
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 606949028725
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel includes: Eminem, Kristie Abete Swift, Dina Rae (vocals); Richard "Segal" Huredia (spoken vocals); Jeff Bass (various instruments); Mel-Man, DJ Head, Denine Porter (drum programming); Paul "Bunyan" Rosenberg, Zoe Winkler, Marky Bass, Aristotle, Royce Da 5-9. Producers include: Dr. Dre, M. Mathers, Marky Bass, Jeff Bass, Mel Man. Engineers include: Blumpy, Aaron Lepley, Alan Mason. THE SLIM SHADY LP won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. "My Name Is" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. You'll need a well-developed sense of humor to fully appreciate the debut of Eminem a.k.a. Slim Shady. Produced by hip-hop super-producer Dr. Dre and released on Dre's Aftermath Records, the album features an infectious lead single, "My Name Is," a winning mixture of alternative rock and rap. One listen will have you hooked on the chorus, but future plays will reveal the lyrical gymnastics that Eminem kicks out so effortlessly. Obsessed with fantasies of sex, violence, drugs and a general depraved indifference to life itself, Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady is constantly involved in a battle of good vs. evil leavened by a high degree of irony. You'll need a few listens to absorb everything that Eminem is about lyrically. SLIM SHADY might offend the faint-hearted, but that's probably Eminem's intention.
Album Reviews: The Source (2/00, p.95) - Included in The Source's "Top 10 Albums of the Year [1999]." Q (1/00, p.84) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1999." Muzik (1/00, p.69) - Ranked #8 in Muzik's "Albums Of The Year '99" Rolling Stone (4/1/99, pp.93-94) - 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5) "...Eminem earns his buzz as a bona fide rap star one tasteless insult at a time, battling the world with a mouthful of adjectives and a boxful of laxatives." Muzik (5/99, p.82) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...It's dazzlingly funny and gloriously offensive..." Spin (5/99, p.148) - 8 (out of 10) - "...Eminem [aka Marshall Mathers] is humorous enough to be an honorary Beastie goy, and his scenarios are so far-fetched the songs almost never sound as ugly as they actually are. Mathers's hard-knock raps translate hip-hop for folks with Wu-Tang decoder rings, articulating suburban anger and violent apathy through the lens of white kids' experience..." CMJ (2/8/99, p.30) - "...Pairing Redman's gutter humor and metaphorical dexterity with Canibus' raging themes, the Detroit native has matched the high expectations surrounding his brilliant new album..." Melody Maker (5/1/99, p.36) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...By far the most distressing thing about THE SLIM SHADY LP is how seductive it is - largely due to Dr Dre's production work, it captivates and thrills, and this is an unavoidably amazing body of work..." Mixmag (5/99, p.146) - 5 out of 5 - "...Perversion, paranoia and slapstick humour meet in Eminem's gob and get spat out 19 to the dozen....makes great voyeuristic entertainment..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Public Service Announcement
2.: My Name Is
3.: Guilty Conscience
4.: Brain Damage
5.: Paul
6.: If I Had
7.: '97 Bonnie And Clyde
8.: Bitch
9.: Role Model
10.: Lounge
11.: My Fault
12.: Ken Kaniff
13.: Cum On Everybody
14.: Rock Bottom
15.: Just Don't Give A Fuck
16.: Soap
17.: As The World Turns
18.: I'm Shady
19.: Bad Meets Evil
20.: Still Don't Give A Fuck
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