The Slim Shady EP came out 22 years ago this December. The story behind this 8 track EP that caught the attention of Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine is legendary. It starts in 1997 at the rap olympics, were Em came 2nd in a close call rap battle in the final round. After being beaten, discouraged and disheartened Em makes his way off stage and as he does an enthusiastic young employee of Jimmy Iovine who worked as a scout came forward asking the young MC for a copy of his mixtape. Shrugging off a copy of the Slim Shady EP in to the scouts palm Em then slopped off to reflect on his loss, not realising fate he had secured himself in passing on the EP. Some of the tracks featured on the EP made it on to the Slim Shady LP; these being “If I Had”, “Just Don’t Give A Fuck” and “Just The Two Of Us”. There are still three other tracks that not the everyday average Eminem fan may not know about, plus an awesome skit which introduces the character Slim Shady in a horrific dramatic showdown between two personalities. The three tracks are “Low Down, Dirty” which contains a sample of “One More Chance” by The Notorious B.I.G, “Scoopaman Luva 3” and “Rated R’ by Redman. “Murder, Murder” which contains a sample of “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon, “Outlaw” by 2pac and “SlaughtaHouse” by Masta Ace. Lastly, “No one’s Iller” which has samples “Willowflower” by Hank Crawford and features D12 member’s Swifty McVay, Bizzare and original member Fuzz Scoota.
Unfortunately the project isn’t available on any streaming website. It is hard to get a hold of it but you can listen to some of them on YouTube here.
