In honor of the 25th anniversary of ‘The Slim Shady LP,’ SRF has released a rare Eminem interview from 1999.
During a press junket for his European tour in 1999, Eminem astonished journalists by being a polite and intelligent person, which they did not expect from a hip hop artist. A Swiss Media Company SRF released footage of a Rare Eminem interview that took place during his European tour on November 9, 1999. Back then Eminem had a rule that he would only spend 40 minutes talking to the press, so for the short session, he only selected one radio, one magazine, and one TV channel for the interview.
“The Slim Shady LP” wasn’t Marshall Mathers’ finest achievement, despite selling 5.5 million copies in the United States and receiving positive reviews. Eminem’s creative energy was only getting started in 1999, and the big highs were yet to come. The creative achievements would also be his biggest financial successes – “The Marshall Mathers LP,” the “8 Mile” movie, and “The Eminem Show” — in a rare convergence of art and business. Although “The Slim Shady LP” was recorded in Los Angeles, it was very much a Detroit production. Alongside Motown and Aretha Franklin, Eminem became the city’s most well-known musical export.
When Em arrived for interviews following his soundcheck, he was first concerned about what tape to play in the background and began going through his collection. While waiting for Marshall, the SRF crew spoke with a journalist who had just finished interviewing Em and discovered that Marshall had made an unexpectedly positive impact on them. He was extremely cordial, which they did not expect from someone of his celebrity (and his reputation, probably).
Before the interview, the SRF media talked to a journalist who interviewed Eminem and he revealed that Eminem was very friendly, in contrast to his reputation. Eminem started the interview by jokingly throwing a tantrum. “Leave me alone, I hate you, I want to go home.”
The SRF journalist asked him if he likes interviews. “I like them,” says Eminem. “I don’t like them in abundance, like a lot in a row, I start yanking my hair out and sh*t, Just one or two in a day. I’m cool with it. Otherwise, I feel like I’m trapped like I’m a f**king prisoner and people just want to talk to me and shit. Like an animal in a cage. Like being a little monkey and being stared at. Everybody wants to talk to you and find out how many times you play with your balls.”
He was then asked if he likes Media to which Eminem responds by bashing female journalists. “Some of them I like, some of them I don’t. Some of them get me, some of them don’t, some of them I want to punch in the face. I get a type. A lot of female journalists tryna to corner me saying I’m a misogynist. And I slap them in the f**king face, I’m a misogynist, I slap a bi**h on the face.”
The SRF also asked him what he thinks about censoring tracks and writing clean verses. “When I change lyrics for prime time TV or MTV, I hate it,” says Eminem. “But I know what’s gotta be done to get my music heard by more people. I want as many people in the world to hear my music. Hip-Hop is definitely a way of life but it’s also like a sport. If you’re good at it, you’re good at it. It doesn’t matter where you were born, how you were raised, I just think that sh*t reflects in your music.”
In the end, Eminem revealed his retirement plans. “Sit in front of my big screen TV, playing Sony PlayStation and getting fat.”
The Slim Shady album opened at #2 on the Billboard 200, just behind TLC’s FanMail, and at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was a financial and critical success, with critics complimenting Eminem’s distinctive lyrical style, dark comedy lyrics, and quirky attitude. The project featured guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Paul Rosenberg, Dina Rae, Royce da 5’9″ and more.
The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the Slim Shady LP platinum status for sales of over a million copies. The RIAA awarded the album a quadruple platinum certification. The album’s debut track, “My Name Is,” spent ten weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 list and peaked at number 36.
At the 2000 Grammy Awards, the album won Best Rap Album, while “My Name Is” won Best Rap Solo Performance. The Recording Industry Association of America certified The Slim Shady LP quadruple platinum in 2000. (RIAA).
Watch the interview below.
