Before the Fame: How Eminem’s Underground Grind Built a GOAT
We all know the story of the diamond-selling global superstar, but I want to take you back to a time when no one knew who Eminem was. Before the world met the monster, there was a kid in Detroit just trying to find his voice.
The Slim Shady LP was his first studio album, but it definitely wasn't his first release. He had already dropped the underground album Infinite, and get this: only one thousand cassettes and one hundred vinyls were made.
Marshall Mathers was selling those out of his own trunk. Back then, he went by "M&M," and honestly, he wasn’t getting the respect or recognition he deserved.
The Growing Stage
Part of the struggle was that people claimed Eminem was just copying the flow of artists like Nas and AZ. If you listen to the title track of Infinite, he says, "One time for your motherfuck'n mind," which was a clear reference to Nas's 1994 track off Illmatic.
Em eventually addressed this, saying: "Obviously, I was young and influenced by other artists, and I got a lot of feedback saying that I sounded like Nas and AZ. Infinite was me trying to figure out how I wanted my rap style to be... I felt like Infinite was like a demo that just got pressed up."
He was in a growing stage, figuring out how he wanted to present himself on the mic. It’s a reminder that even the GOATs don't start out with a fully formed identity.
The Birth of an Alter Ego
Being the ambitious youth that he was—and not giving a fuck—M&M decided to pivot and released The Slim Shady EP. This was our first real introduction to "Slim Shady," his dark alter ego.
Songs like "Just Don't Give a Fuck" and "If I Had..." started on that EP before making their way onto the major label debut. This EP built the underground credibility that eventually caught the ear of Dr. Dre.
Right from the intro of "Low Down, Dirty," he introduces that dark-voiced persona. Slim Shady tells the story: "Warning, this shit's gon be rated R, restricted. / You see this bullet hole in my neck? ... It's self inflicted. / Doctor slapped my momma, 'Bitch you got a sick kid' / Arrested, molested myself and got convicted."
The Identity Crisis
That "identity crisis" became his signature. He rapped: "Wearing visors, sunglasses and disguises / Cause my split personality is having an identity crisis / I'm Dr. Hyde and Mr. Jekyll, disrespectful / Hearing voices in my head while these whispers echo."
We see this theme return years later on Relapse. In the "Dr. West" skit, the doctor gives him bad advice, and Marshall realizes Slim Shady is back to haunt him.
When the alarm wakes him up at 3 a.m., we realize that Marshall isn't necessarily the one in control. This storytelling is what separated him from every other "rapper" on the block.
Rap Olympics and the Power of Songs
Even after being the runner-up in the 1997 Rap Olympics, Em still needed a bridge to the mainstream. Dr. Dre was that bridge, giving the world "Eminem," but Em provided the foundation through his work ethic.
I’ve always said there is a massive difference between "rappers" and "song makers." You can be the best freestyler in the world, but that doesn't mean you'll be well-known.
You become a legend by making and propagating songs, and Eminem is the perfect example of that transition. I fully believe there is a super talented rapper out there right now that no one knows about.
They might be one of the best to ever do it, but because they don't make songs and don't know the business, they live in relative obscurity. Raw talent is great, but without the "song maker" mindset, you stay underground forever.
Master the Science of Greatness
If you want to understand the grading system that takes a rapper from a "demo" stage to a "GOAT" status, you need to read my book. I break down the 10 criteria—including innovation, business power, and mythology—that define a legend.
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