Eminem launched Shady Records with his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999 and has since signed a dozen artists while releasing music through Interscope Records. D12 were the first group to sign to the label in 2000, and the philosophy has stayed the same since day one.
During a recent interview with Complex, Eminem talked about the moment he first heard his new signing GRIP, the success of 50 Cent on Shady and the main priorities when it comes to bringing artists into the label.
“We all got excited about GRIP after we heard Snubnose,” he said. “It was really refreshing to hear a new artist so focused on making a conceptual project and it caught my attention. It’s definitely great when artists we sign connect with a larger audience, and 50 [Cent] is a perfect example of that.
“Obviously we want anyone who signs with Shady to succeed. But first and foremost, we’ve always focused on the raw talent and ability of the artist as an MC. We’ve always been pretty clear on that being the main thing we look for: high level fundamental skills and mechanics are definitely the priority.”
Eminem revealed he wants to be inspired by his signees and gives them the freedom to do their own thing without him intervening.
“It’s really important in a creative collaboration for there to be that personal connection for it to succeed,” he explained. “Shady is a boutique label and we don’t sign a lot of artists, so we have a chance to get involved at a deeper level with the ones we do. And I think that goes both ways. I like to be motivated by the artists we sign and I want to feel pushed by their creativity as well.”
He continued, “The people we sign have a point of view and vibe that made us want to work with them in the first place. Part of our job is to help them get out to a bigger audience but also I don’t like to insert myself where I’m not needed. I am looking to find where and how I can get involved that adds to or builds on what the artist is already doing.”
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Shady Records has been home to D12, Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, Cashis, Bad Meets Evil, Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf and Westside Boogie over the past two decades. Atlanta rapper GRIP is now the latest focus for Eminem, with his first Shady album I Died For This!? expected to arrive on Friday (August 27).
In recent years, Griselda released their WWCD album on the label in 2019, with Westside Gunn dropping his Who Made the Sunshine album in October 2020. Conway The Machine is also set to release God Don’t Make Mistakes on the label later this year.
shady coulda done so much more with griselda
Shady could have done so much more with SO MANY artists.
And wtf eminem talking about they wanna let the artist do their own thing and be an MC first? Aftermath/shady is fucking infamous for ruining albums, or stopping albums from coming out because the artist didnt bend over and do EXACTLY what they wanted them to do.
A few examples being yelawolfs radioactive that was clearly ruined and made pop-y, bustas shady album was shit, rakims album never got to drop because he didnt want to beef like dre wanted him to and the list goes on.. Where’s STATLANTA? stat got cancelled by em because he didnt want to use a hook em gave him lol. Anyone heard of bobby creekwater since he signed to shady? I love em as a rapper but this dudes label is C A N C E R since 2006ish
Em needs to stop playing and put out Westside Boogie. Dude been working hard delivering some of the wildest freestyles Ive heard lately.
Shady records has changed though. It used to feel like a family with every artist showing up on eachothers project. I miss that synergy. Lloyd Banks Hunger for More is a perfect example of what Im talking about.
When is Conway’s GDMM dropping?? The machine has been trying to get that album out for at least 2 years!! SMH… Grip signs with the label and gets his album out within weeks?? OK lol no wonder WSG left Shady after 1 solo album, Label is trash!!!…. Wouldn’t be surprised if Em is butthurt after Conway’s comments on the “Stans” on DJ Vlad’s podcast last year, Em seems to be a very sensitive person and he’s probably shelved GDMM to stay loyal to his shitty “Stans”
calm down bitch it’s not that serious
Im with you on this one. Conway might never drop because he complained. If Em was a good leader he would take complains into considerations and figure out a solution with his artists. But I guess just ignoring and putting the breaks on is easier than actually working with his artists. Basically all Em does is listen to albums and record one verse for the song he likes the most.
I was thinking the same, I don’t think Em liked the fact that not only was he bashing his fans, but he did an interview with vlad, same dude who kept having lord Jamar on there to bash Eminem for clicks…. can’t really blame him
What is a Grip? Could have found & signed somebody better. He’s not made material I care for so far. I am not surprised Em & the label didn’t release other material by Griselda’s Machine since he bit the hand that could have fed him more. He’ll be alright though.
People commenting talking about “Griselda” that wasn’t the same as signing to Shady. They signed a distribution deal with Shady, that’s it.