On this day in Hip Hop history, Eminem released his third, and most successful, studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP.
Executive produced by Dr. Dre and released under Aftermath/Interscope Records, this album sold 1.76 million copies in the first week alone, making it the fast selling album in music history (until 2015 when Adele‘s 25 smashed the record, selling 2.43 million). This success was set up well by Eminem’s previous release The Slim Shady LP, which shocked the world.
If you’ve ever listened to Eminem, you know how he rolls. If you’ve never listened to Eminem, this album may be the perfect amount of overwhelmingly violent and grotesque lyricism to either make you a life-long fan or turn to away forever (Slim Shady himself wouldn’t have it any other way). Eminem even kicks things off with a disclaimer warning any listener of what they’ve gotten themselves into listening to the album. Eminem touches subjects that a sensitive to the American public such as: depression, murder, rape, violence, suicide, mental disorder, drug abuse, homosexuality, and more. As beautifully painful as this album is, it is not for the faint of heart.
No album that speaks on what Eminem did on this project can be put out without ruffling feathers. The controversy that was met by this diamond certified album was monumental and set a precedent in Hip Hop for what you can and cannot say. Due to the ridiculous success of this project the backlash was international. Government officials across the globe had taken public stances against Eminem, his music, his supporters, and all that he stood for. US Senator Lynne Cheney was so up-in-arms against Eminem and his sponsors that she made an official statement against him saying,
“[Eminem is] promoting violence of the most degrading kind against women …[he is] a rap singer who advocates murder and rape.”
Ontario Attorney General Jim Flaherty attempted to keep Eminem from entering the country to perform at his October 26th, 2000 Toronto Skydome show saying,
“I personally don’t want anyone coming to Canada who will come here and advocate violence against women”.
Commercially, this is the most successful rap album of all time. The album is certified diamond in the selling 12.5 million copies in the United States alone. Overseas, the album went multiplatinum in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It goes without saying that this album was also #1 on charts across the world. The album claimed top spot on music charts in three continents, appearing on charts in four. The album was nominated for two Grammy including Album of Year and Best Rap Album which it won.
The critical response to the album was just as outstanding as its sales. Eminem has been hailed as one of the holy trinity of biggest-selling rappers, the other two being 2Pac and Biggie of course. This album can be said to be the project that earned him his spot in that conversation. Regardless of how dark and twisted the lyrics may have been, the way they were put together was nearly flawless. Each bar spat was masterfully crafted. Slim Shady’s diction and syntax were unparalleled to anything out at the time. He balances both punch line concentrated rap and storytelling so well that this album is less of a compilation of songs and more of an autobiographical narrative describing what was going on in Em’s life at the time this album was written.
Following this project, Eminem went on to release two albums that were only marginally less successful that their predecessor before taking a five year hiatus from releasing music. In 2009 Eminem came back on the scene with three new albums over the next four years, none which were as successful as the first four. Nonetheless, Eminem is one of the greatest and the top selling rapper in the history of the genre. He deserves all accolades that he has been awarded. Take some time out today to listen to his greatest work.
The LeBron James and Eminem-produced docuseries HOW MUSIC GOT FREE has released its first trailer. It is a significant exploration of the technological revolution that reshaped music in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This era of file-sharing technologies and a surge in the demand for new music saw the rise of online piracy. Narrated by the iconic Method Man, the series features interviews with Rocsi Diaz, Rhymefest, Steve Stoute, Eminem, 50 Cent, Timbaland, Jimmy Iovine, and more.
LeBron James is continuing to make his imprint on Hollywood with the new documentary through his production company. This time, Hip Hop great Eminem is producing alongside king James to tell a fascinating story. The docuseries is based on Stephen Witt’s well-known novel of the same name. Furthermore, the series is executive produced by Eminem, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Paul Rosenberg, and Steve Stoute. Warner Bros. Additionally, Unscripted Television/Telepictures, in collaboration with Shady Films, SpringHill, and Interscope Films, is producing the film. How Music Got Free will debut on Paramount+ on June 11 in the US and Canada and June 12 in several other territories.
LeBron James and Eminem’s “HOW MUSIC GOT FREE” Trailer
Dell Glover, a former employee of the Universal Music CD pressing factory in Shelby, North Carolina, rose to prominence as the primary music leaker during the Wild West mp3 days. The documentary sheds light on his life story and how his deeds altered the course of music history. Additionally, the music pirating movement has had a significant impact on the music industry. The era has informed what the business is like today. LeBron James and Eminem linked up with several prominent figures during the time to contextualize the fascinating period of time in music.
Alexandria Stapleton directs the LeBron James and Eminem produced doc. “As a filmmaker, I wanted to challenge the narrow lens of who we regard as tech innovators,” Stapleton said in an interview. “How Music Got Free is a story that proves brilliant minds can be found in unlikely places, like the rural, forgotten factory town of Shelby, North Carolina.” All in all, the docuseries HOW MUSIC GOT FREE will be released on June 11th on Paramount+.
Eminem has been taking a unique approach to the rollout for his upcoming album. He announced The Death of Slim Shady with a true crime parody video, and then he had an obituary for Slim printed in the Detroit Free Press. It’s looking like The Death of Slim Shady will be Eminem’s most ambitious album in years, and based on the latest piece of material released, it won’t be long until fans get to hear what it sounds like.
Eminem posted a video of a text exchange on his Instagram. The contact info at the top reads: “All contacts,” and the message that gets sent out reads: “And for my last trick!” This video furthers the notion that the upcoming album will be the end of the line for Slim Shady as a character. The biggest revelation, though, is the time in which the text message is sent. The message says Friday, May 31 at 12:00 AM, which means fans can expect something major to happen on this date. It’s not made clear what the “something” will be.
The most likely outcome is a new single. Some fans took to the comment section to theorize that Em is dropping the entire album on May 31, but the video teaser announcing The Death of Slim Shady stated that it will drop in the summer. Seeing as summer doesn’t officially start until late June, it’s safe to state that Eminem will be sitting on the album for a bit longer. The Detroit rapper first teased the idea of new music back in January. He told Shade 45 listeners that he was “working on a little something,” and also teased a potential collaboration with 50 Cent.
“I’m trying to get him to make a new album so bad,” Eminem said. “We need another 50 album, like, really bad. 50’s on a roll right now. He’s been on a roll since the tour. I told him whatever the f*ck he needs from me, I’m here.” Em even entertained the idea of an entire joint album. “That sh*t’d be crazy, though,” he posited. “An album with me and him.” Em and 50 attended the unveiling of Dr. Dre’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March. 50 also made a cameo in the Death of Slim Shady announcement video.
While it seems like half of the rap world is beefing, Eminem (who is no stranger to rap beefs himself) sat this one out and instead opted for a more positive experience over the weekend as he joined daughter Hailie Jade as she got married to her longtime boyfriend Evan McClintock.
On Instagram, Hailie Jade shared a few wedding photos along with the caption:
“Waking up a wife this week. We couldn’t have asked for a better, more beautiful weekend celebration. So so many happy tears were shed, laughs & smiles were had, & so much love was felt. Evan and I are feeling so grateful for all of the family & friends that traveled to support us and be a part of this new chapter of our lives as husband & wife.“
The wedding, which took place over the weekend at at Greencrest Manor in Battle Creek, Michigan, was attended by the couple’s friends and family, including Em, his ex-wife Kim, and Alaina (Em’s adopted daughter). Halie, wore a mermaid-style white dress with a sweetheart neckline and a flowing tulle train while her father and husband wore traditional black tuxedos.
While the newlyweds were certainly the stars of the show, Eminem performed traditional father roles such as walking his daughter down the aisle and joining her for a father-daughter dance on a rose-infused dance floor. No word what song they danced to.
The couple left the ceremony in a vintage Cadillac convertible. The two met in college in 2016 and have been together ever since. McClintock did reportedly say that he asked Em for his daughter’s hand before popping the question.
The obit as seen in the Detroit Free Press newspaper has a headline of “Slim Shady Made Lasting Impressions” and the sub-headline of “Fans ‘Will Never Forget’ Controversial Rapper.” The obituary itself reads:
“A product of Detroit who began his career there as a rogue splinter in the flourishing underground rap scene of the mid to late 1990’s, Shady first became a household name in 1999 with the debut of his playfully deranged single ‘My Name Is,’ which — along with its uniquely eye catching video — exposed the young artist and his lyrics to a wider audience. That audience was soon exposed to the extreme darkness of the muse/rapper, as he led millions of music fans down a road that glorified a demonstrably nihilistic worldview.
Ultimately, the very things that seemed to be the tools he used became calling cards that defined an existence that could only come to a sudden and horrific end. His complex and tortured existence has come to a close, and the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which this character departed this world.
May he truly find the peace in an afterlife that he could not find on Earth.”
Eminem is continuing to tease his forthcoming album. This week, Eminem took out a space in the obituary section of The Detroit Free Press newspaper to mourn the Slim Shady character.
A section headlined “Slim Shady Made Lasting Impressions” and showing Eminem in a Jason hockey mask reads: “A product of Detroit who began his career there was a rogue splinter the flourishing underground rap scene of the mid to late 1990’s, Shady first became a household name in 1999 with the debut of his playfully deranged single “My Name Is,” which – along with its uniquely eye catching video – exposed the young artist and his lyrics to a wider audience. That audience was soon exposed to the extreme darkness of the muse/rapper, as he led millions of music fans down a road that glorified a demonstrably nihilistic worldview.”
Eminem is ready to deliver a new album. Aiming for the summer, Eminem announced The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce).
The announcement comes via a true crime mock series that casts 50 Cent for a brief cameo. Also included is a detective setting the scene.
“Through his complex, tongue twisting and oft criticized rhymes, the blonde anti-hero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies,” the detective says. “The same rude lyrics and controversial antics might have ultimately led to his demise.”
Slim Shady will return. Well, technically. Eminem is gearing up for the release of his album The Death of Slim Shady, which will be the final chapter in his alter ego’s storyline. The catch is, like the title suggests, Slim is dead. The teaser that announced the album was structured like an old procedural show, in which witnesses reflect on what went wrong. It’s too early to tell how meta the lyrical content of the album will be, but the promo has definitely been consistent. Em has even posted an obituary in the newspaper.
“Slim Shady made lasting impression” read the Detroit Free press headline. The piece treats Slim like a real person, despite the comically exaggerated photo of him wearing a hockey mask above the headline. It does, however, address some of the satirical elements that Eminem has played with whenever he used the Shady moniker. “[His] audience was soon exposed to the extreme darkness of the muse/rapper,” the write posited. “As he led millions of music fans down a road glorified a demonstrably nihilistic worldview.” Slim’s background is common knowledge. It’s the revelatory details about his death, however, that make the piece fun to parse through.
The obituary notes that Slim Shady’s path was always going to come to a tragic end. “His complex and tortured existence has come to a close,” the writer posited. “And the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which the character departed this world. May he truly find the peace in an afterlife that he could not find on Earth.” This is all consistent with the way that Eminem has talked about the Slim Shady persona over the years.
During a 1999 interview with Video Music Box, the rapper revealed that Slim Shady allowed him to free up his creative impulses without having to worry about whether they went too far. “Everybody’s got two sides to them,” he posited. “Slim Shady’s just an angry side for me to vent. Eminem is just me. When I sit down with a pen, sometimes I write Eminem rhymes, sometimes I write Slim Shady rhymes. It depends on what type of mood I’m in that day.” Two and a half decades later, it seems like the rapper is finally ready to let go of the Slim Shady safety net.
Musicians put in the work to perfect their craft and churn out great music that their teeming fans will love and appreciate. It takes so much to put out a music album, and one of the ways musicians track how much their work is appreciated is through album sales. Music data relating to album sales began in 1991, thanks to SoundScan, now known as Luminate. Since such data came into existence, only 26 albums have sold a million copies in the first week.
Selling a million album copies in the first week is no mean feat. However, some artists have managed to do it, with a few of them even going ahead to do it more than once. Some of the artists that sold a million album copies in the first week include Norah Jones (Feels Like Home), Limp Bizkit (Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water), and Garth Books (Double Live). Others on the prestigious list include Lady Gaga (Born This Way), The Beatles (1), Backstreet Boys (Black & Blue), and Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard). There are more artists on the list, with Taylor Swift and Adele among the most dominant musicians, releasing albums that sold over one million copies in the first week. Here are 11 albums that sold one million copies in their first week.
11. Drake – Views (2016)
Canadian rapper Drake released his fourth studio album, Views, on April 29, 2016. The album was released under three record labels: Cash Money Records, Republic Records, and Young Money Entertainment. In Views, Drake showed his musical diversity by taking influence from West African and West Indian music. He also made his first full foray into Jamaican dancehall music. Other music genres featured in Views include R&B, Afrobeat, pop, and UK funky. Views did remarkably well thanks to its diversified sound as it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Views sold 1.04 million equivalent album units in its first week. Equivalent album units combine streaming and song downloads in addition to traditional album sales. The measurement was introduced in the mid-2010s as a solution to the drop in album sales in the 21st century. Drake’s actual album sales for Views in the first week was 852,000 copies. Besides hitting high equivalent album unit sales, Drake also smashed streaming records with his Views album as it hit a staggering 245 million streams.
Magna Carta Holy Grail was Jay-Z’s 12th studio album. Days before the album’s release, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) changed its rules for gold and platinum certification. Before releasing the album on July 4, 2013, Jay-Z sold one million digital copies to Samsung, which then offered the copies to its users for free. Due to that action, the RIAA ruled that artists no longer had to wait 30 days to get certification for digital sales. Hence, Jay-Z’s one million album sales to Samsung began counting immediately after Magna Carta Holy Grail‘s release, meaning the album went platinum soon after its release.
Jay-Z featured artists like Nas, Rick Ross, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, and his wife, Beyoncé, on the album. Some of the hit songs on the album include “Holy Grail,” “Oceans,” and “Tom Ford.” Besides the one million digital album copies sold to Samsung, Magna Carta Holy Grail sold 528,000 physical copies in its first week and topped the US Billboard 200 chart upon its release. Jay-Z earned six Grammy Award nominations for the album, with “Holy Grail” winning the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
9. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III (2008)
Tha Carter III was Lil Wayne’s sixth studio album. It was released on June 10, 2008, and sold 1,006,000 copies in its first week. Lil Wayne featured several big names in the album, including Jay-Z, Fabolous, Robin Thicke, Kanye West, the late Static Major, and Busta Rhymes. The album had several hit songs, including “A Milli,” “Lollipop,” and “Got Money,” and cemented Lil Wayne’s status as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Tha Carter III received several award nominations, including Album of the Year at the 2009 Grammys. That year’s award season was successful for Lil Wayne, as Tha Carter III earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Meanwhile, “Lollipop” won Best Rap Song, while “A Milli” won Best Rap Solo Performance.
Usher released his fourth studio album, Confessions, on Mar. 23, 2004. The R&B album had instant hits like “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “My Boo,” and “Confessions Part II.” Confessions sold 1,096,000 copies in its first week, solidifying itself as one of the greatest R&B albums. Confessions also came with some controversy due to its theme. There were wide beliefs that the album was themed around Usher’s personal relationships. However, Jermaine Dupri, who mainly produced Confessions, claimed the album was more reflective of his personal story. Besides incredible album sales, Confessions also earned Usher a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
7. 50 Cent – The Massacre (2005)
After announcing himself to the world with his Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ album in 2003, 50 Cent followed it up with The Massacretwo years later. The album debuted at no. 1 on the US Billboard 200 thanks to hits like “Candy Shop,” “Just A Lil Bit,” and “Hate It Or Love It.” The Massacre sold 1,141,000 copies after its first week and solidified 50 Cent’s impact in the rap game. Hip-hop bigwigs like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Sha Money XL, and Scott Storch helped produce The Massacre. 50 Cent also featured Eminem, Olivia, Jamie Foxx, and Tony Yayo in the epic album, which was widely positively received and considered as one of his best albums.
6. Britney Spears – Oops!… I Did It Again (2000)
Oops!.. I Did It Again was a befitting name for Britney Spears’ second studio album. A year before its release, Britney debuted with a highly successful album, …Baby One More Time. Hence, she was under pressure to replicate the success of her first album. Britney welcomed the challenge and worked with several highly sought-after producers. Eventually, she put out a pop album that incorporated funk and R&B, earning her high praise and critical acclaim. Oops!.. I Did It Again enjoyed massive commercial success. It sold 1,319,000 copies in its first week and held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist and the largest first-week sales for a female album for 15 years.
Eminem’s fourth studio album, The Eminem Show, sold 1,322,000 in its first week. The album featured songs like “Without Me,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “White America.” Eventually, it sold 27 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Eminem incorporated more rap rock in The Eminem Show than he did with his previous albums. The Eminem Show was themed around The Real Slim Shady’s hip-hop prominence and his mixed feelings about fame. Eminem also took a step back from his Slim Shady alter ego in the album, as he deviated from being satirical.
4. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
The Eminem Show was not the first album with which Eminem sold over a million copies within the first week. On May 23, 2000, the rapper released his third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Dr. Dre mainly produced the highly successful album, which went on to sell 1,760,000 copies in its first week. The album’s success helped to propel Eminem to the forefront of America’s hip-hop culture. Some of the album’s most popular songs include “Stan,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Bitch Please.”
3. NSYNC – No Strings Attached (2000)
NSYNC is a famous boy band consisting of Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez. Although the band is not as popular as before following a long hiatus, it remains one of the top-selling bands of all time. After making waves with their first two albums, NSYNC took it a notch higher with their third studio album, No Strings Attached. After its release on Mar. 21, 2000, No Strings Attached sold a mindblowing 2,416,000 copies in its first week. NSYNC repeated the feat with their next album, Celebrity, which sold 1,878,000 copies a week after its release on July 24, 2001.
2. Taylor Swift (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024)
Taylor Swift’s knack for singing about her romantic travails in her albums means her teeming fans would always anticipate her next album release. Hence, when she announced an album was on the way during the 2024 Grammy Awards, Swifties readied their earbuds in anticipation, as the album was Taylor’s first since her split from Joe Alwyn. Taylor released The Tortured Poets Department, her 11th studio album, on April 19, 2024. Unsurprisingly, her latest work sold 2,610,000 copies in its first week.
However, TTPD isn’t Taylor’s first album to sell over a million copies in its first week. The beloved songstress achieved that feat six other times with her previous albums. These include: 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which sold 1,359,000 copies in its first week; 1989, which sold 1,287,000 copies in its first week; Reputation, which sold 1,216,000 copies in its first week; Red, which sold 1,208,000 copies in its first week; Midnights, which sold 1,140,000 copies in its first week; and Speak Now, which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week.
1. Adele (25, 2015)
While Taylor Swift has sold over a million album copies with seven albums, Adele needed just one album to achieve the feat three times. On Nov. 20, 2015, Adele released 25, her third studio album. The album’s title reflected the singer’s life and mind frame when she was 25 years old and featured classics like “Hello,” “Water Under the Bridge,” and “Love in the Dark.” Adele’s 25 enjoyed so much commercial success. It racked in a massive 3,378,000 album sales in its first week, breaking the record for first-week sales. The album sold over a million copies in a week for the second time in December 2015, selling 1,112,000 copies. It repeated the feat for a third time in January 2016, selling 1,158,000 copies in a week.
Aiming for the summer, Eminem announced The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) this past Friday.
The announcement comes via a true crime mock series that casts 50 Cent for a brief cameo. Also included is a detective setting the scene.
“Through his complex, tongue twisting and oft criticized rhymes, the blonde anti-hero known as Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies,” the detective says. “The same rude lyrics and controversial antics might have ultimately led to his demise.”
The Eminem hype cycle has begun. The rapper has been quiet for nearly four years, but fans are feening for what he has to say on his upcoming album. Not just because he’s been gone for so long, but because the title of the album is, provocatively, The Death of Slim Shady. Em will be closing the book on his iconic alter ego, which means he will be bringing it back to the beginning of his career. 50 Cent popped up in the teaser video for the album to call Slim a “psychopath.” The bigger revelation came on Instagram, though, when the rapper hinted at the album’s production.
50 Cent hopped in the comment section of The Death of Slim Shady teaser to hype up fans even more. He announced that Dr Dre, the man who put both him and Em on, will be producing the album. “This sh*t got some heat on it,” he wrote. “Dre back at it!.” This is music to the ears of Eminem fans, since Dre was crucial in developing the Slim Shady persona. He produced the rapper’s breakout single, “My Name Is,” and served as an executive producer on The Slim Shady LP. He also provided beats and creative input for Em’s subsequent four releases.
Dr. Dre has continued to work with Eminem over the years, but his involvement has lessened. He only worked on the interludes for the rapper’s most recent album, Music to Be Murdered By. He was nowhere to be found on Kamikaze, and received only an executive producer credit on Revival. 50 makes it sound like Eminem and Dre are linking back up in a more significant way than they have in decades. The two men haven’t lost any respect for each other in this time. If anything, their appreciation for each other’s abilities has grown.
Dr. Dre praised Eminem’s lyricism during a recent appearance on This Life of Mine with James Corden. He went as far as to call Em the greatest rapper of all time. “His imagination is off the charts, and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that,” he noted. “I think he’s the best MC ever. Point blank, period. I don’t think anyone that’s rapping can touch Eminem on that microphone.” It’ll be exciting to see what these two cook up for Slim Shady’s final chapter.
(@nojumper)