The Slim Shady LP and Hell: The Sequel have both reached new streaming milestones.
Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel – 1 billion streams
Em’s collaborative project with Royce 5’9, Hell: The Sequel, recently hit 1 billion streams on Spotify. Their duo, Bad Meets Evil, has a a longer history than most people realise. Coming together in 1997, they released the debut double single, “Nuttin’ to Do” / “Scary Movies”, in 1999, the same year Em’s major label debut dropped. Eminem also put their track “Bad Meets Evil” on The Slim Shady LP, making it a perfect launching pad for a duo to continue. They signed off the song rapping, “See you in Hell for the sequel”. If they had immediate plans to continue, they didn’t materialise.
The project fell apart in 2002, allegedly because of Eminem’s tight schedule and bad blood between Royce and some D12 members.
That happens often, in life, in business, and in music. What makes this story different is that Bad and Evil mended their relationship. As promised, they came back together with the Hell: The Sequel EP in 2011, executive produced by Eminem and Mr. Porter. The project debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200. Since then, Eminem and Royce have released occasional tracks together on each other’s albums. However, the fans still dream about a full-length album Bad Meets Evil might put out together. Their chemistry, lyricism, and rapping styles work so well together, and the story of Bad Meets Evil does not feel to be over.
Eminem The Slim Shady LP – 2 billion streams
Marshall’s Interscope/Aftermath debut, The Slim Shady LP, clocked in its second billion. Now, all 11 of Eminem’s solo albums have passed 2 billion Spotify streams. The Slim Shady LP, which shook the music industry and audiences alike when it was released in 1999, hasn’t received the same level of attention from modern listeners.
Recorded at a Detroit studio on 8 Mile Road, it might not be as sleek as Eminem’s later albums, but the energy and hunger with which Marshall approached his chance at success are unmatched. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and earned Eminem multiple accolades, including two Grammys.
The online audience, however, pays less attention to this project than it deserves. Of course, Shady’s signature “My Name Is” is on its way to 1 billion streams. However, besides this one, only four other songs on the album have earned over 100 million streams. In terms of daily streams, The Slim Shady LP is the second from the bottom, getting 400,000 new plays a day and topping only Revival.
The time might come when the audience rediscovers the power and the charm of this album. But for now, the 2 billion milestone is worth celebrating — another major number for Eminem’s catalogue.