Título: Eminem
Seção: 1998-1999: Introduction to Slim Shady, The Slim Shady LP and rise to success
Background: Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (often stylized as EMIN3M), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, and actor. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the 2000s in the United States. Throughout his career, he has had 10 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. With 47.4 million albums sold in the US and 220 million records globally, he is among the world's best-selling artists of all time.

Conteúdo: Eminem attracted more attention when he developed Slim Shady, a sadistic, violent alter ego. The character allowed him to express his anger with lyrics about drugs, rape, and murder. In the spring of 1997 he recorded his debut EP, the Slim Shady EP, which was released that winter by Web Entertainment. The EP, with frequent references to drug use, sexual acts, mental instability and violence, also explored the more-serious themes of dealing with poverty and marital and family difficulties and revealed his direct, self-deprecating response to criticism. Hip-hop magazine The Source featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column in March 1998.  After he was evicted from his home, Eminem went to Los Angeles to compete in the 1997 Rap Olympics, an annual, nationwide battle rap competition. He placed second, and Interscope Records staff in attendance sent a copy of the Slim Shady EP to company CEO Jimmy Iovine. Iovine played the tape for record producer Dr. Dre, founder of Aftermath Entertainment and founding member of hip-hop group N.W.A. Dre recalled, "In my entire career in the music industry, I have never found anything from a demo tape or a CD. When Jimmy played this, I said, 'Find him. Now.'" Although his associates criticized him for hiring a white rapper, he was confident in his decision: "I don't give a fuck if you're purple; if you can kick it, I'm working with you." Eminem had idolized Dre since listening to N.W.A. as a teenager, and was nervous about working with him on a

user: Was this his first album?

assistant: In the spring of 1997 he recorded his debut EP, the Slim Shady EP, which was released that winter by Web Entertainment.

user: How high did this album reach on Billboard charts?

assistant: Although it was one of the year's most popular albums (certified triple platinum by the end of the year), he was accused of imitating the style

user: What was the most popular song from the album?

assistant: The label-mates later collaborated on a number of hit songs ("Forgot About Dre"

user: Were there any other hits from the album?

assistant: "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" Eminem describes a trip with his infant daughter when he disposes of his wife's body, and in "Guilty Conscience"

user: Was there any media backlash over the topic of his songs?

assistant: The album's popularity was accompanied by controversy over its lyrics;

user: Did any radio stations ban his music?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did teh controversey over lyrics hurt the popularity of the album?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Was there a tour for this album?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER