Beef, Power, Respect: Paul Rosenberg On Shady Records’ 15th Anniversary

It was 15 years ago, in the aftermath of Eminem’s first major label album, The Slim Shady LP, when Em and his manager Paul Rosenberg launched Shady Records in conjunction with Interscope. In the decade and a half since, the label has put out 14 projects from the likes of D12, Slaughterhouse, Obie Trice, Yelawolf and, most significantly, 50 Cent, who signed a record-setting million dollar label deal with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope in 2002. Those 15 years saw both Em and 50 rise to become two of the most successful rappers in the history of the genre, with tens of millions of records sold between them, while the label as a whole (not counting Eminem releases) produced six No. 1 albums and a further five that debuted in the top 10 of the charts, a run that can stand up next to any other label in the genre.

Last month, on the night of the MTV VMAs, Eminem tweeted to confirm that Shady Records would be celebrating their 15 years in the game with a double album, called Shady XV, out on Nov. 24, which will be comprised of a greatest hits collection on one disc and a label compilation featuring new music from Eminem, Bad Meets Evil, D12, Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse on the second. Ahead of the label’s 15th release, XXL spoke to Shady Records co-founder Paul Rosenberg about the label’s highs and lows through the years, the successes and beefs that came with signing 50 Cent and where the label is headed in the future. —Dan Rys

Related: Eminem Manager Paul Rosenberg On The Evolution Of Slim Shady
Eminem’s Shady XV Will Be A Double Album
Eminem Manager Paul Rosenberg On The 15 Year Anniversary Of The Slim Shady LP
New Music: Eminem Featuring Sia “Guts Over Fear”

Next Page