Legendary rapper Eminem recently showed love to 50 Cent on the new Nas album. Recently, Eminem was revealed to be guest starring in 50 Cent’s ‘BMF’ series as “White Boy Rick. 50 Cent and other rappers have a relationship with Eminem thanks to working with his label Shady Records.
Eminem started Shady Records with his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999 and till date has signed a dozen rappers while releasing music through Interscope Records. The label hasn’t changed its signing philosophy since day one.
While speaking with Complex, Eminem discussed the success of Shady Records and 50 Cent being a part of it, as he delved into detail regarding the matter.
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 then stated that he wants to be inspired by his signees and give them complete freedom to express themselves and not get involved himself.
It’s really important in a creative collaboration for there to be that personal connection for it to succeed. 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.
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.”
Shady Records signed the likes of D12, Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, Cashis, Bad Meets Evil, Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf and Westside Boogie over the past twenty years.
With GRIP being its latest acquisition, Eminem is very focuses working with the artist. We will have to wait and see if GRIP will become a huge success like the rest of them.
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