Marshall Mathers

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Lore & Background

Eminem's path to The Marshall Mathers LP began after the disappointment of his debut, Infinite (1996), which led him to create the Slim Shady alter ego. Following second place in the Rap Olympics, he was spotted by Interscope staff and introduced to Dr. Dre via Jimmy Iovine. Their collaboration on The Slim Shady LP (1999) turned him from an underground act into a high-profile celebrity, though it brought intense scrutiny. He married Kim Scott in June 1999 despite lyrical content referencing her death, noting he felt isolated by fame: "I don't trust nobody now because everybody I meet is meeting me as Eminem." Inspired by drug use observed during a trip to Amsterdam, he aimed for raw honesty. The third album was recorded in a two-month "creative binge" with sessions lasting up to 20 hours. He wrote "Kim" while separated from his wife, intending it as a horror story rather than a love song. When label executives felt no songs were strong enough for a lead single, Eminem rushed back to write "The Way I Am," then created "The Real Slim Shady" by giving Dr. Dre a hook and writing new lyrics at home.

In Their Own Story

The making of The Marshall Mathers LP was defined by isolation and spontaneity. Eminem described himself as a "studio rat," often mapping out songs only after arriving, letting the environment dictate the flow. Tracks like "Marshall Mathers" emerged from watching Jeff Bass casually strum guitar, while "Criminal" started with a piano riff overheard next door. "Kill You" began when Eminem heard a track playing in the background during a phone call with Dr. Dre. The song "Stan" had a different origin; manager Paul Rosenberg sent beats from producer The 45 King, who sampled Dido's "Thank You." Upon hearing the lyrics describe an obsessed fan, Eminem mapped out the entire concept, a rare departure for him. Dido later received a letter about the usage and reacted with awe upon hearing the final track in her hotel room: "Wow! This track's amazing." Despite fears of not meeting the expectation to be the first artist to sell one million copies in a week, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, staying there for eight consecutive weeks. It faced criticism for violent and homophobic lyrics, with references to the Columbine High School massacre in "The Way I Am" and "I'm Back," drawing fire from figures like Lynne Cheney. Yet, Rolling Stone named it the best album of 2000, praising its emotional complexity and lyrical ability.

Reader's Guide

To understand The Marshall Mathers LP, one must look at its production team: Dr. Dre, Mel-Man, F.B.T., Eminem himself, and The 45 King. The first half features sparse beats by Dre and Mel-Man focusing on vocals, while the second half, handled by Bass Brothers and Eminem, ranges from laid-back guitars to dark atmospheres. Guest appearances include Dido, RBX, Sticky Fingaz, Dina Rae, Bizarre, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Nate Dogg, Paul Rosenberg, and D12. The album's legacy is cemented by its 25 million copies sold worldwide and a 12× platinum RIAA certification. It won Best Rap Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards (Eminem also won Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim Shady"). The track "Stan" was so influential it entered the Oxford English Dictionary as a term for an obsessed fan. While the album initially faced bans and government scrutiny, such as Canada considering refusing his entry, it is now widely regarded as Eminem's best work, included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time just three years after release. Its sequel, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, arrived in 2013.

Did You Know?

• The song 'Stan' gave rise to the Oxford English Dictionary term 'stan,' defining an obsessed fan.
• Eminem wrote 'The Way I Am' specifically because label executives claimed no songs on the album were strong enough for a lead single.
• The song 'Stan' was developed while Eminem watched Jeff Bass casually strumming a guitar in the studio.
• The album sold 1.76 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling hip-hop album and the second-fastest-selling album overall in US history at that time (behind *NSYNC's No Strings Attached, which sold 2
• Eminem considered naming his third album 'Amsterdam' after observing heavy drug use there during a trip with friends.