#352 Eminem, 'The Slim Shady LP' (1999)

Previously #275

This album is a problem for me. On his major label debut, Eminem re-introduces his alter-ego, Slim Shady, a character unleashed on the world on his 1997 EP, ‘The Slim Shady EP.’ Through that character, Eminem raps about murder, date rape (of a 15-year old girl, no less), rape, misogyny, guns, drugs etc. Eminem is actually a great rapper. Machine gun-like delivery. So much better than this. Eminem once explained the lyrics by saying: "I have a fairly salty relationship with women ... But most of the time, when I'm saying shit about women, when I'm saying 'bitches' and 'hoes', it's so ridiculous that I'm taking the stereotypical rapper to the extreme. I don't hate women in general. They just make me mad sometimes.'"

The album stayed in the charts for almost 2 years and sold almost 300,000 copies in its first week. To date, it’s sold over 5 million. The album opens with a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer, and later on we hear a phonecall from his lawyer asking him to tone the album down. The album continues to inspire rappers and kids alike. I just think it’s unnecessary. I felt the same way as a 14 year old kid hearing it for the first time. I understand that he’s playing a character. Too bad it’s a really a shit character.

#rs500albums