Shady Records

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The label's formation began after Eminem released The Slim Shady LP, as he sought an avenue to release his group D12. D12 was the first act signed, driven by a promise made among members in the 1990s that whoever found success would sign the others. Their debut album, Devil's Night, released in June 2001, peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 371,000 copies in its first week. Obie Trice followed as the second act after being introduced by Bizarre of D12; his public attention grew via a freestyle skit on Devil's Night and the track "Drips". The label expanded rapidly when Eminem signed 50 Cent, the first solo artist to join Shady and Aftermath, after hearing his mixtape Guess Who's Back?. This era saw the release of the 8 Mile soundtrack, led by "Lose Yourself," which became the first hip hop song to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The label also navigated significant feuds, including those with Murder Inc., Benzino regarding The Source magazine, and Royce da 5'9", until Royce and Eminem reunited in 2010.

In Their Own Story

In February 2003, the label released 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin', which became the fastest-selling debut in U.S. history with 872,000 copies sold in its first week. This success was followed six months later by Obie Trice's Cheers, which, despite commercial success, was overshadowed by 50 Cent's music. Tensions rose in 2003 over various feuds, and the label faced internal strife regarding DJ Green Lantern. In 2005, 50 Cent's album The Massacre set a record as the sixth fastest-selling album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking in 1991, selling 1.14 million copies in four days. The track "Piggy Bank" on that album insulted Jadakiss, indirectly causing DJ Green Lantern to leave after a misunderstanding involving a street DVD where Green Lantern discussed the feud without consent. Consequently, The Alchemist replaced him as tour DJ for the 2005 Anger Management 3 Tour. By late 2006, anticipation built for a roster mixtape presented by DJ Whoo Kid and The Alchemist; instead, Eminem released it as an official album, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, spawning the single "You Don't Know" featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Cashis. Subsequent years saw departures like Obie Trice in June 2008 due to issues with Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine, and Stat Quo, whose release stemmed from a strained relationship with Eminem over album promotion.

Reader's Guide

Shady Records operates as a joint venture under the backing of Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment. The label's A&R strategy focuses on signing artists who fit its specific vision, starting with D12 in June 2001, followed by Obie Trice later that month. In 2004, Eminem and Rosenberg launched a venture with Sirius Satellite Radio to air the uncensored hip hop station Shade 45, where DJ Green Lantern hosted his own show before leaving, and G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid co-hosted G-Unit Radio on Saturdays. The label has evolved through different phases of signing: Stat Quo joined in late 2003 as the second artist signed to Shady and Aftermath; Bobby Creekwater arrived in September 2005 as the fifth act; Cashis joined in March 2006 after Eminem heard his demo. In January 2011, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf were confirmed as signees after appearing on XXL magazine with Eminem. The label's roster has shifted over time, with artists like Obie Trice, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, and DJ Green Lantern departing at various points between 2008 and 2009, while new names like Westside Boogie and Ez Mil joined by 2025.

Did You Know?

• The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.
• "Lose Yourself" was the first hip hop song to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' sold 872,000 copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling debut in U.S. history at the time.
• The Massacre by 50 Cent was the best-selling album of 2005 in the U.S.
• DJ Green Lantern left Shady Records after a misunderstanding involving a street DVD where he discussed the Jadakiss feud without his knowledge.