In my generation there were few albums which had more of a cultural impact than Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP. The album’s gratuitous depictions of violence, drug usage, and feelings of anti-social behavior (a euphemism if there ever was one) absolutely took the world by storm when it was first released in 1999 and led to significant backlash from both parents groups, politicians, and members of the media. It was (perhaps purposefully) a shock to the system and yet entirely relatable for a generation of youth searching for an outlet to express their frustration at their current station in life. Eminem was the person who took those feelings of alienation that have a habit of consuming you as a teenager coming of age and helped you explore a satirical side of yourself that spoke that shock value into existence. The fact that it pissed off your parents and authority figures made him even more appealing.
But outside of the fact that Eminem’s alter ego Slim Shady was a character out of a dystopian horror film, the fact of the matter was he broke a significant amount of ground in the hip hop industry. It’s no secret that he was one of the first true white superstars in the genre, and when combined with the backing of the legendary Dr. Dre, it added even more to the mystique of the poor kid who came out of a trailer park in Detroit. But most importantly, Eminem’s immaculate flow and innate ability to weave double entendres and clever references into each of his bars gave him a staying power that few MC’s over the course of history have ever been able to replicate.
Standout Songs: “My Name Is”, “Guilty Conscience”, “If I Had”, “’97 Bonnie & Clyde”, “Just Don’t Give A Fuck”, “Still Don’t Give A Fuck”
