Hold onto your hats, Slim Shady fans. The Rap God, the master of lyrical warfare, the icon known for his razor-sharp verses and brutally honest rhymes… has some hidden gems tucked away in his vault. We’re talking songs you’ve never heard, tracks that predate his meteoric rise, whispers of forgotten verses that paint a fascinating new picture of the man behind the mic. Get ready to have your perception of Eminem shaken to its core, as we pull back the curtain on the shocking truth: there’s a whole universe of Eminem music you never knew existed.
Hidden Gems in Hip-Hop
In the realm of popular music, there exist stranger, more unique subsections like one-hit wonders and novelty songs. The former includes those songs by artists that raced up the charts but were never quite followed by the same success. The latter are songs built on gimmick concepts.
Unsung Collaborations
Eminem’s songwriting credits beyond his solo work are a testament to his influence on other artists’ hits. Before his music career took off with the release of “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999, Eminem was a member of the hip hop collective D12, and kept making music with the group until it disbanded in 2018.
Bizarre, another member of the group, put out “Rockstar” in 2005 as the lead single from his debut solo album. The song, with its silly humor and infectious melody, was co-written, produced, and mixed by Eminem. He also makes a cameo appearance in the ridiculous music video, along with the rest of D12. Although not a hit in the US, the track charted in a few European countries and was even referenced in Eminem’s 2018 song, “Stepping Stone.”
Yelawolf showcased his Southern roots and delivered a perfect blend of country and hip hop on “American You,” a song co-written by Yelawolf, Luis Resto, and Eminem, who also received producing credits. Although Yelawolf left Shady Records in 2019 to release his music independently, “American You” remains one of his most beloved songs and marked a masterful collaboration between a unique rapper and his mentor.
Dr. Dre’s “Let’s Get High” features Eminem’s songwriting credits, and the rapper’s signature twisted humor, lyrical wordplay, and a killer beat. The song peaked at #54 on the Hot 100 and reached the top ten in the UK.
Behind the Beats
Eminem’s production style influenced other artists’ hits, including 50 Cent’s “New Day,” featuring Dr. Dre and Alicia Keys. Eminem received songwriting and mixing credits on the song, which charted in the U.S. and Canada.
Lloyd Banks’ “Hands Up” features 50 Cent and was co-written and co-produced by Eminem. The track failed to match up with the success of his debut solo single, peaking at #84 on the Hot 100 and dropping off the chart only four weeks later.
From Novelty to Timeless Classics
In the world of popular music, there are a lot of sub-genres. There’s grunge, hip-hop, electronic—just to name a few. But there are also stranger, more unique subsections like one-hit wonders and novelty songs.
The former includes those songs by artists that raced up the charts but were never quite followed by the same success. The latter are songs built on gimmick concepts. But what happens when those two wild worlds combine?
Well, here below, we wanted to dive into that very question and find out the answer. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonder novelty songs from the 50s and 60s that you probably know by heart.
Novelty Songs That Stuck
When Sheb Wooley wrote his musical story about a purple alien coming from the sky that would eat people and just wanted to join a rock band, little did he know he had an eternal hit on his hands. But the rockin’ Purple People Eater creature was a smash sensation.
There’s something to be said about creating a work of art that is tied to an important holiday. While the song itself might not have stood the test of time on its own, the fact that it’s connected to an event like Halloween gives it all the legs it needs.
Fans of the animated show Family Guy likely heard this song during one of the show’s early season gags. The song is relentless, but that’s what gives it its charm. It’s silly and strange, and The Trashmen’s lead vocalist (and drummer) Steve Wahrer turned his voice into a unique instrument as he repeated the same lyrics over and over about the bird being the word.
More Hidden Gems
Other notable collaborations and productions by Eminem include “Rockstar,” “American You,” and “Let’s Get High.” These songs showcase Eminem’s ability to create infectious melodies and clever lyrics that resonate with listeners.
Eminem’s influence can also be seen in Dr. Dre’s “2001” album, where he received multiple songwriting credits. One of such tracks was “Let’s Get High,” a fire-cracking collaboration between Dr. Dre, Hittman, Kurupt, and the Long Island rapper, Ms. Roq.
Obie Trice’s “Got Some Teeth” features Eminem’s signature twisted humor, lyrical wordplay, and a killer beat. The song peaked at #54 on the Hot 100 and reached the top ten in the UK.
50 Cent’s “New Day” features Dr. Dre and Alicia Keys, with Eminem receiving songwriting and mixing credits on the song. Although the song failed to chart highly, it remains a fan favorite.
One-Hit Wonders Revisited
In the world of popular music, there are a lot of sub-genres. There’s grunge, hip-hop, electronic—just to name a few. But there are also stranger, more unique subsections like one-hit wonders and novelty songs. The former includes those songs by artists that raced up the charts but were never quite followed by the same success. The latter are songs built on gimmick concepts. But what happens when those two wild worlds combine? Well, here below, we wanted to dive into that very question and find out the answer.
Fans of the new X-Men animated show, X-Men ’97 will even recognize “The Purple People Eater” from a pivotal scene. It’s still very much in the zeitgeist. “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett is another classic novelty song that has stood the test of time. Listening to it, we are all transported to the “lab late one night” when monsters start to come out of the woodwork to party! Get ready to hear this song again and gain as soon as the month of October hits!
“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen is a strange and silly novelty song that has become a classic. It’s relentless, but that’s what gives it its charm. It’s a perfect example of how one-hit wonders and novelty songs can come together in a surprising blend of genres.
The Eminem Effect
Eminem, the world-renowned rapper, has had a profound impact on the music industry. Outside of his own work, he has also made significant contributions to other artists’ projects. Let’s take a look at some of these collaborations.
Bizarre’s “Rockstar”
Before his music career took off with the release of “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999, Eminem was a member of the hip-hop collective D12, and kept making music with the group until it disbanded in 2018. Bizarre, another member of the group, put out “Rockstar” in 2005 as the lead single from his debut solo album. The song, with its silly humor and infectious melody, was co-written, produced and mixed by Eminem. He also makes a cameo appearance in the ridiculous music video, along with the rest of D12.
Yelawolf’s “American You”
After gaining online recognition for his mixtape, “Trunk Muzik,” Tennessee rapper Yelawolf signed onto Eminem’s Shady Records, under which he released his 2015 album, “Love Story.” On the album’s fourth single, “American You,” Yelawolf showcased his Southern roots and delivered a perfect blend of country and hip-hop. Written from the perspective of an average blue-collar American detailing his struggles and dreams, the song was co-written by Yelawolf, Luis Resto and Eminem, who also received producing credits.
Dr. Dre’s “Let’s Get High”
The relationship between Eminem and Dr. Dre began with the production of the rapper’s star-making second studio album, released in 1999. In the same year, the two also collaborated heavily on Dr. Dre’s second album, “2001,” with Eminem receiving multiple songwriting credits on the album. One of such tracks was this fire-cracking collaboration between Dr. Dre, Hittman, Kurupt and the Long Island rapper, Ms Roq.
When One-Hit Wonders Meet Novelty Songs in a Surprising Blend of Genres
So, what happens when one-hit wonders and novelty songs come together? We’ve seen some interesting collaborations in the past. Let’s take a look at a few more examples.
“Got Some Teeth” by Obie Trice
In the early 2000s, Shady Records signed 50 Cent, putting out his debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which became the best-selling album of 2003. This huge success almost completely overshadowed other rappers on the record label, such as Obie Trice. After spending years in Detroit’s underground rap scene, Obie Trice got signed by Eminem and released his debut album, “Cheers,” in the same year as “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” Eminem handled production on most of the tracks and co-wrote “Got Some Teeth,” the lead single off the album.
“New Day” by 50 Cent feat. Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys
Speaking of 50 Cent, for his fifth studio album, the East Coast rapper set out to make a record influenced by other genres such as rock and dance. This idea eventually got scrapped and a more traditional hip-hop album titled “Street King Immortal” was recorded in its stead. Although “Street King Immortal” never saw the light of day either, this inspirational upbeat collaboration with Dr. Dre and Alicia Keys, was released as a single to promote the album. Eminem received songwriting and mixing credits on the song, which charted in the U.S. and Canada.
“Hands Up” by Lloyd Banks feat. 50 Cent
East Coast rapper, Lloyd Banks gained worldwide popularity as a founding member of the hip-hop group, G-Unit, with 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. After their commercially successful debut album, “Beg For Mercy,” Banks kicked off his solo career, releasing this collab with 50 Cent as the only single from his second album. Co-written and co-produced by Eminem, the track failed to match up with the success of his debut solo single, peaking at #84 on the Hot 100 and dropping off the chart only four weeks later.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our article has shed light on a lesser-known aspect of Eminem’s impressive discography – the songs he penned that flew under the radar. From “When I’m Gone” to “Brake Fail,” these hidden gems showcase Eminem’s remarkable range and versatility as a songwriter. We’ve explored the stories behind these tracks, from their origins to their eventual release, and highlighted the emotions and themes that make them so compelling.
The significance of these songs lies in their ability to challenge our preconceptions about Eminem’s artistry and offer a fresh perspective on his legacy. By examining these lesser-known tracks, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s creative process and the depth of his emotional expression. This, in turn, invites us to reevaluate our appreciation for his music and the impact it has had on the industry. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how future generations of artists draw inspiration from Eminem’s body of work and how they push the boundaries of rap music.