Eminem’s debut album was released on November 12, 1996, through the independent label Web Entertainment.
Em and Mr. Porter produced the album, charging all 11 tracks with Marshall’s burning desire to break through and make hip hop not only his calling but also his vocation.
It did not happen. The album bombed, and Em later blamed himself for this: “Obviously, I was young and influenced by other artists, and I got a lot of feedback saying that I sounded like AZ. Infinite was me trying to figure out how I wanted my rap style to be, how I wanted to sound on the mic and present myself. It was a growing stage. I felt like Infinite was like the demo that just got pressed up”.
Marshall was devastated by the commercial failure of his debut and tried to take his own life. Luckily, his attempt was not successful, and his hip hop persona was reborn. Slim Shady proceeded then to conquer the world.
Still, the album now is not just a collector’s item or a rarity for a hip hop historian. It is raw, full of unbridled energy and has all Marshall’s potential neatly packed in Mr.Porter’s budding style as a producer.
Listen to what is officially available of the album below:
