Hi, Renegade back to review Eminem's controversial major label debut, "The Slim Shady LP." The album was released in February 1999 and features work produced mainly by The Bass Brothers and Dr. Dre. Eminem comes into the album explaining his alter ego, "Slim Shady", an exaggerated, cartoon like persona that tells stories that are far stretched from the truth. The album is far from a joke though. Eminem displays his talent to tell stories in music (As the World Turns, Brain Damage), express his anger over his situation prior to his signing with Dr. Dre (If I Had, Rock Bottom), and introduces himself front and center (My Name Is, I'm Shady). Eminem begins to expose himself here as a lyrical genius, stretching his complex wordplay and rhyming schemes much longer than most rappers. The album is a mix of fact and fiction, and Eminem himself challenges the listener to determine what his true emotions are. As it would be seen in future albums, there is also a sizable amount of humor in The Slim Shady LP, along with fictitious stories, which are the tracks that really showcase Eminem's talents. The controversy started here, and it really wouldn't end for a while. But what makes The Slim Shady LP such a great album is it's way to drag the listener in, with a track order that couldn't have been organized any better. Another characteristic Eminem showcases is his sarcasm, which is exaggerated to extreme extents throughout the record. While this album may scare non hip hop fans, it's an essential album for any hip hop fan, casual or hardcore.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
* denotes recommended track
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. B**ch
9. Role Model
10. Lounge
11. My Fault
12. Ken Kaniff
13. Cum on Everybody
14. Rock Bottom*
15. Just Don't Give a F**k
16. Soap
17. As The World Turns
18. I'm Shady
19. Bad Meets Evil
20. Still Don't Give a F**k
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