Eminem “The Real Slim Shady” released

The Real Slim Shady Eminem

Writer(s): Marshall Mathers, Andre Young, Tommy Coster, Melvin Bradford, Mike Elizondo (see lyrics here) Released: April 18, 2000 First Charted: May 5, 2000 Peak: 4 US, 12 GR, 15 RR, 11 RB, 19 MR, 11 UK, 6 CN, 11 AU, 9 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 1.8 UK, 10.37 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1029.13 video, 1391.24 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: After the independently released Infinite in 1996, Eminem released his first major-label album The Slim Shady LP in 1999. It reached #2 on the Billboard album chart and went five-times platinum. It set him up for an even more massive follow-up with 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP, which hit #1 and sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. The album’s lead single, “The Real Slim Shady,” gave Eminem his first top-ten hit in the U.S. and first #1 in the UK. He went on to top the UK charts with “Stan” and “Without Me” before finally topping the Billboard Hot 100 in America with “Lose Yourself.” The Los Angeles Times called it “a modest step to the mainstream – a fresh and funny, almost PG-rated swipe at everything from the Grammy Awards to shallow teen pop.” WK Eminem was intentionally courting controversy with the song to get publicity and sell more records. SF The song came about because Interscope record executive Jimmy Iovine wanted a song to introduce the album similar to how “My Name Is” had done so for The Slim Shady LP. Eminem and Dr. Dre and others wrote the song just hours before the final copy of the album was due. WK Until then, “Who Knew” was intended as the first single. WK The video went a long way in promoting the song. Eminem played up his Slim Shady character and mocked his signature bleached-blond hair look with “a troop of young men with blond hair dressed like Eminem.” SF He also wears a superhero costume and “slams his enemies with comic book intensity.” WK It won the Video of the Year at the MTV Music Video Awards. Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 6/25/2023.