slim7117's Full Review: The Slim Shady LP [PA] by Eminem
Popping the Slim Shady LP into my CD player and banging my head to the music is something I do quite frequently. It has always been considered to be a great mainstream debut album, by a great rapper. Personally I agree, but maybe that is just due to the fact that Eminem is my favorite rapper. This album is also known by the fact that it introduced Eminem’s alter ego, Slim Shady, to the mainstream. Slim Shady is supposed to be the demented, sick, evil side of Eminem. But how great of an album is this really? Is it everything that it is made out to be? Of course I am always going to love it, but then again, I also love one of the not so great Eminem albums, Encore. Overall, I think this album is definitely worth your hard earned dollar, but is it as great as some people say? I’d say no. And here is why.
The SSLP begins with an amusing, if not downright funny skit, which may deserve a few listens, but nothing worth getting excited over. Then comes the first Em single, My Name Is, which has got to be one of the most well known rap songs of all time. Em delivers three verses about rather random but funny things, and a catchy hook ties the package together. Great lyrics, charismatic delivery, Em’s nasally flow, and a bouncy beat all add up to one heck of a song. Or, so we all say. I mean, when you really get down to it and be completely honest, the lyrics are only funny for a few listens before they begin to feel slightly immature. It also becomes quickly apparent that the beat drags in spots, and is not the greatest we have heard on an Eminem album. In my opinion, this lead single, and every one that has followed, on every Eminem or D12 (Eminem’s rap group) album, just isn’t as great as it is made out to be (with the possible exception of The Real Slim Shady).
Moving along we come to the second most popular song on the album, Guilty Conscience. Over a nice pounding beat, Dr Dre joins Em for a song that never drags or gets boring. It is basically about three different people who are having trouble deciding what to do in certain situations, and Dre is telling these people to do the right thing, and Em is telling them to do the wrong. It can actually be quite humorous at times, and the only real problem with the song is the long pauses in between the verses, which are almost mini skits. They break down the way the song flows in my opinion, but overall, Guilty Conscience is a great song.
Next up is Brain Damage, which really shows off Em’s storytelling skills. Although the beat is sub par (for this album), the lyrics really make up for it, as Em raps about a bully that used to terrorize him back in elementary school. The song, although obviously untrue as he makes statements about his brain falling out of his skull, and holding his breath for five minutes, etc, still rings with sincerity. A nice effort, and quite funny, although when you stop and think about it, just about every single song on the SSLP can be funny.
If I Had is one of two serious songs on the album. Some of it can still be humorous, but it is obvious Eminem is in a solemn mood. Over a somber beat he delivers several verses about the things in life he is just sick of. Originally written for his independent album, The Slim Shady EP, Dr Dre (Eminem’s producer) decided to also place it on this album. I’m sure glad he did.
Following If I Had we come to a song that was also on the Slim Shady EP, although then it was called Just The Two of Us. However, most people know it by the name used on this album, 97 Bonnie N Clyde. Frequently it is used as an argument of how evil Eminem is by all of his haters, and has caused a lot of controversy. This may be due to the fact that he raps about taking his daughter with him to dump his wife’s corpse in a lake. From a purely musical standpoint it is a rather nice song, and certainly appreciated by me.
Role Model, the next song, has got to be one of the funniest songs on this album. Em, or should I say Slim Shady, delivers two sarcastic verses about why he is such a great sole model for the younger generation. However, the beat is probably my least favorite on the album, and really gets repetitive. After Role Model, we come to Cum On Everybody, which despite the name, has nothing to do with ejaculation. It is actually Eminem’s version of a dance song, although it is mainly consists of him rapping about things you would more expect, such as nailing his foot to the floorboard of his car, and eating crushed Tylenol with a dipstick, etc. Funny lyrics and a nice beat make for a good song.
Following after Cum On Everybody, My Fault, is a song about Eminem giving a girl some drugs, and her overdosing, and presumably dying. Funny, but a little bit sick. It contains some nice production that doesn’t really get dull.
Then the album takes a turn for the better, as the production improves greatly and the lyrics get even more witty. Up next is Rock Bottom, the other serious song on the album. It was written on the night Eminem attempted suicide, and its obvious he is in a serious mood. It is my second favorite song on the album due to the nice gloomy beat, and serious heartfelt lyrics.
Following this is Just Don’t Give A F**k, a funny song with a bouncy beat, also taken off the Slim Shady EP. The production on this song, done by the Bass Brothers, who basically produce the whole album except for a few songs, is the best up to this point. This is Em at his best as he drops some really hilarious lines.
I’m ill enough to just straight up diss you for no reason/
I’m colder than snow season when its twenty below freezin/
Flavor with no seasonin, this is the sneak preview/
I’ll diss your magazine and still won’t get a weak review/
As The World Turns On, is a funny song that once again shows off Em’s storytelling skill.
Ran through Rally’s parkin lot and took a shortcut/
Saw the house she ran up in and shot her f**kin porch up/
Kicked the door down to murder this divorced slut/
Looked around the room that’s when I seen the bedroom door shut/
I know you’re in there b!tch, I got my gun cocked/
You might as well comes out, she said come in its unlocked/
I walked in and all I smelled was Liz Claiborne/
And seen her spread across the bed watchin gay porn/
After that song comes I’m Shady, which contains a really nice bouncy beat and some funny lyrics. Em raps a lot about drugs and some of his other exploits. Bad Meets Evil, features Royce Da 5'9", another great rapper (Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" once formed a group called Bad Meets Evil). Good lyricism and a nice beat add up to another great track.
The last song, Still Don’t Give A F**k is my favorite song on the album. The beat is my favorite, and Em’s lyricism just adds to it. This song is a must listen.
Track Listing:
Public Service Announcement (N/A)
My Name Is (3.5 stars)
Guilty Conscience (4 stars)
Brain Damage (3.5 stars)
Paul (N/A)
If I Had (4 stars)
97' Bonnie & Clyde (4 stars)
B!tch (N/A)
Role Model (3.5 stars)
Lounge (N/A)
My Fault (3.5 stars)
Cum On Everybody (4 stars)
Rock Bottom (5 stars)
Just Don’t Give A F**k (5 stars)
Soap (N/A)
As The World Turns (3.5 stars)
I’m Shady (4 stars)
Bad Meets Evil (4 stars)
Still Don’t Give A F**k (5 stars)
The Slim Shady LP is definitely a great mainstream debut album, worth many listens. Sure it does not add up to other Eminem albums, but despite that it will always have a spot in my CD player.
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