Shady Records

infobox record label


parent = Universal Music Group
founded = 2000
founder = Eminem Paul Rosenberg
distributor = Interscope Records (U.S.) Polydor Records (outside U.S.)
genre = Hip hop Gangsta rap
country = United States
url = http://www.shadyrecords.com

Shady Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg founded the label in 2000 after the release of "The Marshall Mathers LP".

The label has signed seven acts over the years and is considerably successful, having RIAA certifications gone gold or higher on seven of its ten albums which have been released under it. Signed acts include D12, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, and Cashis, whilst former acts include DJ Green Lantern and Obie Trice.

History

2000–2004

After Eminem released "The Marshall Mathers LP", he started his own record label in late 2000 with his manager, Paul Rosenberg. Eminem looked for an avenue to release his Detroit-based rap group, D12, and Rosenberg was keen to start a label, which lead to the two teaming up to form Shady Records.Ben Detrick (August 2005). " [http://www.rapbasement.com/news/shady-records/-loyalty-paul-rosenberg-interview.html "Loyalty" - Paul Rosenberg interview (online copy)] ". " [http://www.xxlmag.com/Issues/2005/Shade45/shade45.TOC.html XXL Presents Shade 45] " (magazine), p. 22. Accessed January 29, 2008.] D12 had come around as the first to be signed as they have been rapping together since the 1990s, and the members had made a promise that whoever became successful would come back for the others. Eminem was the first to achieve this success, and kept to his word.Quibian Salazar-Moreno (September 18 2003). " [http://www.westword.com/2004-07-01/music/emvisible/ Emvisible: D12 looks to get out from underneath Eminem's shadow] ". Westword.com. Accessed September 11, 2007.] By June 2001, D12 released "Devil's Night" to commercial success, peaking at number one on the "Billboard" 200. [Todd Martens (June 28, 2001). " [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=938562 Devilish D12 Debut At No. 1] ". "Billboard". Accessed January 15 2008.] Next to be signed to Shady Records was Detroit rapper Obie Trice. Obie Trice was introduced to Eminem through D12 member Bizarre. Eminem was impressed and signed him in June 2001, as the second Shady Records performer.Ruben Diaz (September 18 2003). " [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2003/09/0070/ Obie Trice: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Interview)] ". BallerStatus.com. Accessed September 11, 2007.] Leah Rose (August 2005). " [http://www.rapbasement.com/news/obie-trice/-let-me-in-new-obie-trice.html "Let Me In" - Obie Trice article (online copy)] ". " [http://www.xxlmag.com/Issues/2005/Shade45/shade45.TOC.html XXL Presents Shade 45] " (magazine), p.60. Accessed January 29 2008.] Obie Trice first got public attention via a freestyle skit on the "Devil's Night" album.

Whilst working on the film "8 Mile", Eminem had a meeting with then small time New York rapper 50 Cent. Eminem managed to get a hold of 50 Cent's early mixtapes and liked what he heard. Eminem took this to Dr. Dre and offered the chance to work together on the artist. Dr. Dre also liked what he heard, so he took the opportunity, and 50 Cent became the first artist signed to Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment.Shaheem Reid (July 1, 2002). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455486/20020628/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent, Worth a Million to Dr. Dre and Eminem] ". MTV. Accessed March 12, 2007.] The "8 Mile" soundtrack was the second Shady Records album to be released, and went on to be successful. [Todd Martens (January 3, 2003). " [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1785785 '8 Mile' Back Atop The Billboard 200] ". "Billboard". Accessed January 16, 2008.] [Todd Martens (January 8, 2003). " [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1790450 '8 Mile' Cruises To Fifth Week At No. 1] ". "Billboard". Accessed January 8, 2008.] The first single to be released was "Lose Yourself", which achieved many nominations and also became a surprise win of an Academy Award for Best Original Song, as it was the first time a hip hop song had ever won this award. [Frank Ochieng (March 23, 2003). " [http://www.theworldjournal.com/special/movies/2003/oscars2003.htm The Aftermath: The 75th Annual Academy Awards] ". TheWorldJournal.com. Accessed January 21, 2008.] [Jon Burlingame (April 18, 2003). " [http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2003/041803.html?IsArchive=041803 That Win For "Lose Yourself"] ". FilmMusicSociety.org. Accessed September 11, 2007.] [Abbey Goodman (March 23, 2003). " [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1470713/20030324/story.jhtml 'Chicago' Dances Away With Six Oscars; Eminem's Will Be Mailed To Him] ". MTV. Accessed January 21, 2008.] The second single was 50 Cent's "Wanksta", which was released as a buzz track [" [http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa8milesoundtrack.htm Music Inspired By "8 Mile"] ". About.com (October 1, 2002). Accessed January 16, 2008.] and became popular in 50 Cent's home town. [Shaheem Reid (October 1, 2002). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457865/20020930/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent Works With Dre, Em, Trina, Possibly DMX On Debut] ". MTV. Accessed January 16, 2008.] During this time, Eminem had also made a deal with DJ Green Lantern, who released the label's first mixtape, "Invasion!", in 2002. [Shaheem Reid (April 11, 2003). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471203/20030411/eminem.jhtml Eminem Says If Tupac Were Alive, 'He Would Never Ride With Ja'] ". MTV. Accessed January 23, 2008.] He was to DJ for Eminem during the Anger Management Tour, and by the end of 2003, DJ Green Lantern became the fourth signee of Shady Records. [" [http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/archives/2003/12/Lighting+the+way Lighting the Way] ". "Rochester City Newspaper" (December 23, 2003). Accessed January 16, 2008.]

The third release from Shady Records was 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", in February 2003 (which was also released under Aftermath Entertainment). The album became the 2nd fastest selling debut in U.S. history,after Eminem's "Marshall Mathers LP". [Kitty Empire (February 23, 2003). " [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,900913,00.html He's cool. Dead cool] ". "The Observer". Accessed September 15, 2007.] Next to be released from Shady Records was Obie Trice's debut album, "Cheers", six months later. Despite having been a commercial success, the album was considered overshadowed by 50 Cent's music at the time. In 2002 and 2003, Shady Records were involved in many controversies with the likes of the inherited Murder Inc. feud that 50 Cent and G-Unit was involved in, [Ethan Brown (November 24, 2003). " [http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/features/n_9562/index1.html Got Beef?] ". "New York". Accessed January 15, 2008.] on-going problems with the previous co-owners of "The Source" magazine, namely Benzino, [Rahman Dukes (November 22, 2002). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458854/20021122/eminem.jhtml Benzino Ignites Beef By Calling Eminem '2003 Vanilla Ice'] ". MTV. Accessed January 15 2008.] as well as escalating issues with rapper Royce da 5'9", who was previously a friend of Eminem and D12. [Selina Thompson. " [http://www.thesituation.co.uk/us_interviews/royce_da59/royce_da.html Royce Da 5'9 (Interview)] ". TheSituation.co.uk. Accessed January 15, 2008.]

Towards the end of 2003, Dr. Dre and Eminem came to know Atlanta rapper Stat Quo, via his "Underground Atlanta" mixtapes. After Eminem heard his music, he gained interest and took it to Dr. Dre who also had interest in the music, and a joint deal was made.Matt Barone (December 2, 2004). " [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2004/12/0359/ Stat Quo: The Shady South (Interview)] " BallerStatus.com. Accessed September 11, 2007.] Stat Quo became the second artist to be signed to Shady/Aftermath, after 50 Cent. The following year saw the release of D12's second album, "D12 World". Also, in 2004, Eminem and Rosenberg began a venture offered by Sirius Satellite Radio that saw the airing of their uncensored hip hop radio station, Shade 45. [Robert Strauss (October 28, 2004). " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E6DA123DF93BA15753C1A9629C8B63 Arts, Briefly; Eminem Goes Sirius] ". "The New York Times". Accessed January 16, 2008.] Shady Records DJ, DJ Green Lantern, was given the opportunity to have his own show, [Paul Heine (December 6, 2004). " [http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4459284-1.html Eminem, DJ Green Lantern To Host Mix-tape Radio Show] ". AllBusiness.com. Accessed January 16 2008.] whilst 50 Cent's G-Unit DJ, DJ Whoo Kid, co-hosted G-Unit Radio on Saturdays. [" [http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/24/news/midcaps/sirius_50cent/index.htm 50 Cent gets Sirius] ". CNN Money (February 24, 2005). Accessed January 16, 2008.]

2005 – present

2005 saw the release of 50 Cent's second release, "The Massacre", which set a record as the sixth fastest selling album since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking albums in 1991, with 1.14 million albums sold in four days. [James Montgomery (March 9, 2005). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497922/20050309/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent's The Massacre Makes Huge Chart Debut] ". MTV. Accessed January 16, 2008.] [Margo Whitmire (March 9, 2005). " [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000834730 50 Cent Massacres Album Chart Competition] ". "Billboard". Accessed January 16, 2008.] The album was a commercial success, and was only 32,000 records away from being the best-selling album of the year. [Gil Kaufman (December 29, 2005). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497344/20050222/50_cent.jhtml Mariah Carey Outguns 50 Cent On Year-End LP Sales Chart] ". MTV. Accessed January 16, 2008.] On "Piggy Bank", a song off of the album, 50 Cent insulted several artists, including Jadakiss. [Shaheem Reid (February 22, 2005). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1519469/20051229/carey_mariah.jhtml 50 Cent's LP Pushed Up, Harsh 'Facts' Sound Like Disses On Leaked 'Piggy Bank'] ". MTV. Accessed January 19, 2008.] The feud between Jadakiss and 50 Cent indirectly led to DJ Green Lantern leaving Shady Records. A few months after the release of "The Massacre", Jadakiss appeared on a street DVD, and had DJ Green Lantern on loudspeaker through his phone, without Green Lantern being aware of this. The DJ shared his thoughts on how to deal with the feud. When the DVD was released and Eminem found out about what happened, Green Lantern had to leave Shady Records and "Shade 45", and his upcoming album, "Armageddon", was no longer a Shady Records-related project.Shaheem Reid (May 6 2005). " [http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1501407/20050506/dj_green_lantern.jhtml DJ Green Lantern Explains Eminem Split] ". "VH1". Accessed March 12, 2007.] Alchemist was signed on as the official tour DJ for Eminem on the 2005 "Anger Management 3 Tour", replacing the recently-ousted DJ Green Lantern. [http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?I=4380] .

In August 2005, Eminem and the "XXL" magazine teamed up to release a special issue titled "XXL Presents Shade 45", and was designed to give maximum exposure to Shade 45 as a radio station, and at the same time give maximum exposure to the Shady Records label as a whole, as well as the radio DJ's and G-Unit Records' artists. "XXL" executive publisher, Jonathan Rheingold, stated that typically magazines based around particular artists were not favorable, but "since Shade 45 is a truly authentic and uncensored rap radio channel, the marriage with the "XXL" brand made sense," before adding that it's what would interest rap fans. [Carl Chery (August 23, 2005). " [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7450/1 Eminem & Shade Collabo W/XXL For Special Radio Issue] ". SOHH. Accessed January 29, 2008.] 2005 also saw the signing of Bobby Creekwater to the label, making him the sixth artist and the second Atlanta-based rapper.Kimbel Bouwman (May 15, 2006). " [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/2006/May15_0_0_1.html HitQuarters Artist Bobby Creekwater Signs A Record Deal With Shady Records! (Interview)] ". "HitQuarters". Accessed September 11, 2007.]

In early 2006, West Coast rapper Cashis joined Shady Records. Cashis, is an Orange County-based rapper that was born in Chicago who had managed to get his demo/mixtape heard by Eminem.Serge Fleury. " [http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/interview/87681.php Ca$his - Ruling Everything Around Him (Interview)] ". NobodySmiling.com. Accessed September 11, 2007.] Shaheem Reid (December 14 2006). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1547962/20061213/eminem.jhtml Who's That On Eminem's The Re-Up? Time For Roll Call ...] ". MTV. Accessed January 29, 2008.] Later in 2006, Obie Trice released his second album, "Second Round's on Me". However, the album did not fare as well commercially as his debut, seemingly because of the state of the hip-hop industry. [" [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255606,00.html Sales of Rap Albums Take Stunning Nosedive] ". Fox News (March 1, 2007). Accessed September 15, 2007.] The album saw a change in Obie Trice's style, whose first album was considered to be a little light-hearted. "Second Round's on Me" was considered to be a more serious, dark album, mainly showing the grittiness of Obie Trice's life and surroundings. [Brendan Frederick (June 2, 2006). " [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=2061 Obie Trice - Second Round’s On Me] ". "XXL". Accessed September 12, 2007.]

2006 was also a big year for Shady Records as a whole. There had been talk from early in the year of Eminem having the label's roster on a mixtape with new material to be presented by DJ Whoo Kid and The Alchemist. [Shaheem Reid (May 30, 2006). " [http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/053006/ Eminem Re-Up's with Whoo Kid; Lloyd Banks brings the Gang Green] ". MTV. Accessed January 29, 2008.] This talk went on for several months. In the end, it was announced that Eminem was so impressed with the mixtape material that he had decided to make it an official album, called "Eminem Presents the Re-Up". The album had been long anticipated, until it was released in early December 2006. The release had spawned the single "You Don't Know", which featured 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and the latest signee Cashis. [Gil Kaufman (September 19, 2006). " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541207/20060919/eminem.jhtml Eminem, New Shady Artists Join 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks On The Re-Up] ". MTV. Accessed March 12, 2007.]

In May 2007, Cashis released the eight-track "The County Hound EP" in an attempt to have people "fiend" for his music, or garner interest in it. The album was released as a limited edition EP." [http://realtalkny.net/2007/05/topic/topic/interviews/realtalk-with-cahis-new-ep-the-county-hound-drops-today/ RealTalk with Ca$his: New EP The County Hound Drops Today] ". "Real Talk NY" (May 2, 2007). Accessed January 19, 2008.] September saw the release of 50 Cent's third album with the label, "Curtis", which was involved in a well publicized competition with rapper Kanye West, who had his third album, "Graduation" set for release on the same day. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6979971.stm War of words: 50 Cent vs Kanye] ". BBC (September 10, 2007). Accessed September 11, 2007.] In June 2008, Obie Trice departed from the label. A misunderstanding was made where it was believed he was attacking the label and Eminem on a single titled "The Giant" but they were quickly dismissed.Tai Saint-Louis (June 30, 2008). " [http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/06/30/20244636.aspx Shady Records Issues Statement On Obie's Departure] ". AllHipHop.com. Accessed July 1, 2008.]

Current roster

Artists

DJs and producers

*Mr. Porter
*Eminem
*The Alchemist
*Luis Resto
*Steve King
*Jeff & Mark Bass
*DJ Head

Former artists

*DJ Green Lantern
*Obie Trice

Discography

The following is the list of all albums released through Shady Records and distributed by Interscope Records, except where a joint record label release is stated.

"—" denotes albums that have not received an official RIAA certification.

Upcoming releases

*50 Cent - "Before I Self Destruct"
*Bobby Creekwater - "A Brilliant Mistake"
*Cashis - "Loose Cannon"
*D12 - (Title is TBA)
*Stat Quo - "Statlanta"
*Cashis - "Six-Point Stars & Cocked Hats" [ [http://www.aftermathmusic.com/vs2008/_interviews/cashis_may_2008.html Cashis Interview May 2008] . AftermathMusic.com (May 30, [2008). Accessed May 30, 2008.]

Affiliated labels

"See Universal Music Group."
*Aftermath Entertainment
*G-Unit Records

References

External links

* [http://www.shadyrecords.com Official website]