Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year. The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.
The Shady Records roster was showcased on their 2006 compilation album, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. The label's roster was also predominantly featured on the soundtrack to the film 8 Mile; the film starred Eminem while the album was led by the single "Lose Yourself". The song became the first hip hop song to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Shady Records has signed and released projects for acts including Eminem himself, his group D12, Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Cashis, Bad Meets Evil, Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf, Griselda, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine and Grip; its roster as of 2025 includes Westside Boogie and Ez Mil.
History
1999–2004: Formation, first generation, growth and feuds
After Eminem released The Slim Shady LP, he started his own record label in late 1999. Eminem looked for an avenue to release D12, and Rosenberg was keen to start a label, which led to the two teaming up to form Shady. Its A&R Marc Labelle has defined the record label as "a boutique label but [with] all the outlets of a major [and] Interscope backing up our every move."
D12 was the first act signed by Shady as they had been rapping together since the 1990s, and the members had made a promise that whoever became successful would come back and sign the others.Quibian Salazar-Moreno (September 18, 2003). "Emvisible: D12 looks to get out from underneath Eminem's shadow ". Westword.com. Accessed September 11, 2007. In June 2001, D12 released Devil's Night, peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200, earning 371,000 copies during the first week of release.Todd Martens (June 28, 2001). "Devilish D12 Debut At No. 1 ". Billboard. Accessed January 15, 2008. Obie Trice was introduced to Eminem through D12's Bizarre. Eminem signed him in June 2001 as the second Shady act.Ruben Diaz (September 18, 2003). "Obie Trice: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Interview) ". BallerStatus.com. Accessed September 11, 2007. Obie Trice first got public attention via a freestyle skit on the Devil's Night album and The Eminem Show track, "Drips".
While working on the film 8 Mile, Eminem had a meeting with then underground rapper 50 Cent. Eminem had heard 50 Cent's mixtape, Guess Who's Back?, taken them to Dr. Dre and offered him the chance to work together on the artist.Ninja (December 2007) 50 Cent Interview . Dubcnn. Accessed 22 May 2007. 50 Cent became the first solo artist signed to Shady and Aftermath.Shaheem Reid (July 1, 2002). "50 Cent, Worth a Million to Dr. Dre and Eminem". MTV. Accessed March 12, 2007. The 8 Mile soundtrack was the third Shady LP to be released.Todd Martens (January 3, 2003). "'8 Mile' Back Atop The Billboard 200 ". Billboard. Accessed January 16, 2008.Todd Martens (January 8, 2003). "'8 Mile' Cruises To Fifth Week At No. 1 ". Billboard. Accessed January 8, 2008. The first single was "Lose Yourself", which earned multiple nominations and became a surprise win of an Academy Award for Best Original Song, the first time a hip hop song had ever won the award.Frank Ochieng (March 23, 2003). "The Aftermath: The 75th Annual Academy Awards ". TheWorldJournal.com. Accessed January 21, 2008.Jon Burlingame (April 18, 2003). "That Win For "Lose Yourself" ". FilmMusicSociety.org. Accessed September 11, 2007.Abbey Goodman (March 23, 2003). "'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"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). "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). "Eminem Says If Tupac Were Alive, 'He Would Never Ride With Ja'". MTV. Accessed January 23, 2008. He was the DJ for Eminem during the Anger Management Tour."Lighting the Way ". Rochester City Newspaper (December 23, 2003). Accessed January 16, 2008.
The fourth release from Shady was 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin', in February 2003. The album became the fastest selling debut in U.S. history, selling 872,000 copies in its first week.Kitty Empire (February 23, 2003). "He's cool. Dead cool ". The Observer. Accessed September 15, 2007. Next to be released from Shady was Obie Trice's debut album, Cheers, six months later. Despite being commercial successful, the LP was considered overshadowed by 50 Cent's music at the time. In 2003, Shady was involved in several controversies with the likes of the inherited Murder Inc. feud that 50 Cent and G-Unit were involved in,Ethan Brown (November 24, 2003). "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). "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, until they reunited in 2010.Selina Thompson. "Royce Da 5'9 (Interview) ". TheSituation.co.uk. Accessed January 15, 2008.
Near the end of 2003, Eminem and Dr. Dre signed a joint deal with Stat Quo.Matt Barone (December 2, 2004). "Stat Quo: The Shady South (Interview) " BallerStatus.com. Accessed September 11, 2007. Stat Quo became the second artist to be signed to Shady and Aftermath. 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). "Arts, Briefly; Eminem Goes Sirius ". The New York Times. Accessed January 16, 2008. Shady DJ, DJ Green Lantern, was given his own show,Paul Heine (December 6, 2004). "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."50 Cent gets Sirius ". CNN Money (February 24, 2005). Accessed January 16, 2008.
2005–2009: Development and Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
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). "50 Cent's The Massacre Makes Huge Chart Debut". MTV. Accessed January 16, 2008.Margo Whitmire (March 9, 2005). "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). "Mariah Carey Outguns 50 Cent On Year-End LP Sales Chart". MTV. Accessed January 16, 2008. The Massacre included the hit single, "Candy Shop," which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As of 2025, the album has been certified sextuple platinum in America, with sales in America reaching six million copies. It has sold over nine million copies worldwide. On the album's song "Piggy Bank", a song off the album, 50 Cent insulted several artists, including Jadakiss.Shaheem Reid (February 22, 2005). "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). "DJ Green Lantern Explains Eminem Split". VH1. Accessed March 12, 2007. The 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.
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 is what would interest rap fans.Carl Chery (August 23, 2005). "Eminem & Shade Collabo W/XXL For Special Radio Issue ". SOHH. Accessed January 29, 2008. September 2005 also saw the signing of Bobby Creekwater to the label, making him the fifth artist and the second Atlanta-based rapper.Kimbel Bouwman (May 15, 2006). "HitQuarters Artist Bobby Creekwater Signs A Record Deal With Shady Records! (Interview) ". HitQuarters. Accessed September 11, 2007.
In March 2006, Chicago-born Orange County, California-based rapper named Cashis joined Shady Records, after he managed to get his demo heard by Eminem.Serge Fleury. "Ca$his - Ruling Everything Around Him (Interview) ". NobodySmiling.com. Accessed September 11, 2007.Shaheem Reid (December 14, 2006). "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."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). "Obie Trice - Second Round's On Me ". XXL. Accessed September 12, 2007.
In early 2006, there had been talk 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). "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). "Eminem, New Shady Artists Join 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks On The Re-Up". MTV. Accessed March 12, 2007.