Paul Rosenberg

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Lore & Background

Rosenberg's professional relationship with Eminem is marked by a distinct duality. Since their friendship began during the 1997 development of the Slim Shady EP, Rosenberg has managed both legal and business affairs while maintaining a close personal bond. This dynamic is famously portrayed in the "Paul" skits found on most Eminem albums since 1999's The Slim Shady LP. In these fictional segments, Rosenberg voices a character concerned with the record's content, often advising his client to tone down lyrics or scrap an album entirely. He co-wrote all such skits on 2009's Relapse and even performed one on Xzibit's Man vs. Machine (2002). Beyond management, Rosenberg has been instrumental in producing Shady compilations like Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006) and the label's soundtracks for films such as 8 Mile and Southpaw.

In Their Own Story

The signing of 50 Cent stands as a pivotal moment in Rosenberg's career. In 2000, he acquired a mixtape compiled by Violator Management co-founder Chris Lighty and Eminem's attorney Theo Sedlmayr, which featured unreleased tracks and radio freestyles by 50 Cent. Alongside Eminem and Dr. Dre, Rosenberg agreed to sign the rapper to a five-album joint venture deal spanning Shady, Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, and Interscope Records. This partnership yielded Get Rich or Die Tryin', released February 6, 2003, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide and became the highest-performing album of that year. Later, in 2010, after losing Stat Quo, Rosenberg signed Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse to Shady Records, a move that reunited Royce da 5'9" with Eminem following a ten-year dispute involving D12.

Reader's Guide

Rosenberg operates as the strategic backbone of the Shady Records empire. His role expanded beyond management when he was appointed chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings on New Year's Day 2018, replacing Steve Bartels amid controversy surrounding co-founder Russell Simmons. After two years and one month in the role, he stepped down on February 21, 2020, negotiating a new joint venture with Universal Music Group to create Goliath Records. His first official signing for this new label occurred in February 2021 with rapper Vince Ash. In addition to his executive duties, Rosenberg co-produced Eminem's hip-hop radio station Shade 45 on SiriusXM and hosts the weekly podcast Paul Pod. He has also managed diverse acts including DJ AM, Blink-182, Action Bronson, and Danny Brown since as early as 1996.

Did You Know?

• Rosenberg voiced fictional skits on most Eminem albums since 1999, often advising the rapper to 'tone down' lyrics or scrap entire records.
• He signed Obie Trice to Shady Records after hearing him freestyle in a Devil's Night skit that was named after him.
• Rosenberg served as chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings from January 2018 to February 2020, replacing Steve Bartels.
• He co-produced the film 8 Mile (2002), which featured Eminem's Oscar-winning song 'Lose Yourself', and later produced the boxing drama Southpaw (2015).
• In 2020, he created Goliath Records as a joint venture with Universal Music Group, signing rapper Vince Ash in February 2021.