On The Slim Shady LP, Eminem wants it all. He is conflicted, you see; the world has treated him badly, and he wants to respond in kind. But he isn't a straight-up gangsta—this is, after all, the first release on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, his post-Death Row-era venture—and Eminem (born Marshall Mathers) doesn't really want anyone to follow in his footsteps, which leads to some interesting contradictions on this album. In the first single, "My Name Is", he's self-deprecating, rapping about his poor upbringing and his hairy palms. But on the very next song, "Guilty Conscience", he plays the devil to Dr. Dre's angel—until Eminem brings up an incident from Dre's past, rapping, "You gonna take advice from someone who slapped Dee Barnes?" Later, on "'97 Bonnie & Clyde", he turns Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us" on its ear, making it a tale of murder; but on "My Fault", he actually feels bad—though whether it's for the girl he overdosed or for himself is tough to figure out. With his nasal Midwestern tone, Mathers has a clean, clear flow, and the production—by Dr. Dre, Marky, and Jeff Bass—is crisp but consistently fun. Eminem has some serious skills, and he makes for some great tunes—but the lyrics are as morally reprehensible as they get. --Randy Silver

• Artist: Eminem
• Format: Audio CD
• Genre: Hip Hop
• Label: Aftermath Records
• Producer: Dr. Dre, Marky, Jeff Bass
• Featuring: Dr. Dre, Royce Da 5-9, Aristotle, Paul "Bunyan" Rosenburg, Zoe Winkler

1. Public Service Announcement
2. My Name Is
3. Guilty Conscience – Eminem, Dr. Dre
4. Brain Damage
5. Paul – Eminem, Paul "Bunyan" Rosenburg
6. If I Had
7. "97 Bonnie & Clyde
8. Bitch – Eminem, Zoe Winkler
9. Role Model
10. Lounge – Eminem, Jeff Bass, Mark Bass
11. My Fault
12. Ken Kaniff – Eminem, Aristotle, Mark Bass
13. Cum On Everybody
14. Rock Bottom
15. Just Don't Give A F**
16. Soap – Eminem, Jeff Bass, Royce Da 5-9
17. As The World Turns
18. I'm Shady
19. Bad Meets Evil – Eminem, Royce Da 5-9
20. Still Don't Give a F***

• Country: UK
• Audio: Stereo

• Media: 1 x CD
• Packaging: Standard Jewel Case