Shady Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg founded the label in 1999 after the release of The Slim Shady LP.

The label has signed eight acts over the years, earning RIAA certifications of gold or higher on ten of its fourteen released albums. Signed acts include Eminem, Presto Genie, D12, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Cashis and Slim da Mobster, whilst former acts include Bobby Creekwater, DJ Green Lantern, Obie Trice, and Stat Quo.

Current Roster

	Eminem Year Signed: 1999 Albums Released: 5 Co-founder and owner of Shady Records, Eminem was already signed for major labels as Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment when in 2002 he released The Eminem Show, his first album under Shady Records, along various other labels. The album sold 20 million copies worldwide. Meanwhile, Eminem’s fifth album for Shady Records, Relapse was released on May 15, 2009 in Italy and the Netherlands followed by a worldwide release on May 19, 2009.
	D12 Year Signed: 1999 Albums Released: 2 Signed as a rap group, it consists of solo Detroit-based artists Bizarre, Eminem, Kon Artis, Kuniva, and Swifty, and were additionally signed with now deceased rapper Proof. As a group, they knew each other pre-success from the Hip Hop Shop, in Detroit, and were the first to be signed to the label. In December 2007, Bizarre stated that D12 are working on their third album.
	50 Cent Year Signed: 2002 Albums Released: 4 A New York-based rapper signed under Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment. 50 Cent has since also established his own label, G-Unit Records, and released his fourth Shady/Aftermath album, Before I Self Destruct, in 2009.
	Cashis Year Signed: 2006 Albums Released: 1 An Orange County-based artist who is currently working on his debut album, The Art of Dying.
	Slim da Mobster Year Signed: 2009 Albums Released: 0 A Los Angeles based artist who is also signed to Aftermath Entertainment, and G-Unit Records.
	Slaughterhouse Year Signed: 2010 Albums Released: 0 A group formed in late 2008. Consists of Royce da 5’9″, Crooked I, Joe Budden, and Joell Ortiz.

Former Artists

	Obie Trice Albums Released: 2 Year Signed:2000 Year of Departure: 2008 Trice was officially signed in 2000. He first received public attention via a freestyle skit on the Devil’s Night album, followed by the deliverance of the opening line “Obie Trice-real name, no gimmicks”, off Eminem’s The Eminem Show lead single, “Without Me”, as well as the song “Drips”. Later in 2002, Obie rapped on songs for the 8 Mile soundtrack, and also got a cameo appearance in the film as a rapper in a parking-lot. Trice’s debut album, Cheers, was released on September 23, 2003 with its first single “Got Some Teeth” being well received on radio in a number of countries. He also released the singles “The Set Up” and “Don’t Come Down”. The album consists of 17 tracks with production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mike Elizondo, Emile, Fredwreck and Mr. Porter. Artists featuring on Cheers include Busta Rhymes, Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg and D12. The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA. In 2005, he began work on his second album, entitled Second Round’s on Me. The album was finally released on August 15, 2006. Following the release of Second Round’s on Me, he released a mixtape called Bar Shots with G-Unit’s DJ Whoo Kid. In June 2008, Obie Trice departed from Shady Records. 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.
	Stat Quo Albums Released: 0 Year Signed: 2003 Year of Departure: 2008 Stat Quo was discovered towards the end of 2003. Dr. Dre and Eminem individually came to know of the Atlanta-based rapper via his Underground Atlanta mixtapes. After Eminem heard his music, he gained interest and passed it on to Dr. Dre, and a joint deal was reached, resulting in Stat Quo becoming the third artist to be signed to Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records. His debut album Statlanta was originally slated to be released in 2003 but has been repeatedly pushed back.In October 2008, he left Aftermath Entertainment, unhappy with the release status of Statlanta. Stat Quo hoped to release the album in 2009, and promoted the album by releasing multiple mixtapes for free download in 2009, including Quo City, Checks & Balance, and The Invisible Man. It is now expected to be released on June 22, 2010. He has already started working on an untitled second album. In 2009, with distribution from The Orchard, producer Sha Money XL founded a new record label, Dream Big Ventures. Quickly upon its creation, Stat Quo was signed to the label. Statlanta will be released on the label.
	DJ Green Lantern Albums Released: 0 Year Signed: 2004 Year of Departure: 2005 As a member of the Shady Records family, D’Agostino also hosted a show on Eminem’s Sirius Satellite Radio channel, Shade 45, along with an accompanying mixtape released in the fall of 2004. As Eminem’s DJ, D’Agostino was responsible for touring with him and spinning at shows such as the Shady National Convention and The Game’s album release party. On “Piggy Bank”, a song off of the album, 50 Cent insulted several artists, including Jadakiss. 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
	Bobby Creekwater Albums Released: 0 Year Signed: 2005 Year of Departure: 2009 As an unsigned artist in 2004, Creekwater appeared with Aasim on the song “Anyway”, from P-Money’s album Magic City. Creekwater was noticed by Shady Records when label executives heard him rapping on a demo by Aasim. Shady Records president Eminem was more interested in Creekwater than Aasim and, in mid-2005, signed him to his label. He is currently working on his debut album, Not Now But Right Now. The album’s executive producer is Eminem. Tracks will be produced by Mr. Porter, The Alchemist, and Don Cannon. In May 2009, Bobby Creekwater released his second EP in six months. The BC Era Deuce, the follow-up to the BC Era EP, was initially scheduled for a limited edition physical release on March 4, but was pushed back to March 18 and then to May 1 so that more features could be added. It was released via Creekwater’s imprint, BGOV, Inc., and contained a collection of eleven new tracks, featuring production by Creekwater, as well. As of August 14, Bobby Creekwater has left Shady Records. His song, “The Day I Got Dropped,” clarified the situation, explaining that he didn’t get dropped by the label.

1999-2004

After Eminem released The Slim Shady LP, he started his own record label in late 1999 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. D12 was 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 and sign the others. In June 2001, D12 released Devil’s Night, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200. Next to be signed to Shady Records was Detroit rapper Obie Trice. Obie Trice was introduced to Eminem through D12 member Bizarre. Eminem signed him in June 2001 as the second Shady Records act. Obie Trice first got public attention via a freestyle skit on the Devil’s Night album.

While working on the film 8 Mile, Eminem had a meeting with then small time New York rapper 50 Cent. Eminem had heard 50 Cent’s early mixtapes, taken them to Dr. Dre and offered him the chance to work together on the artist. 50 Cent became the first artist signed to Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment. The 8 Mile soundtrack was the second Shady Records album to be released. 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. The second single was 50 Cent’s “Wanksta”, which was released as a buzz track and became popular in 50 Cent’s home town. During this time, Eminem had also made a deal with DJ Green Lantern, who released the label’s first mixtape, Invasion!, in 2002. He was to DJ for Eminem during the Anger Management Tour, and by the end of 2003, DJ Green Lantern became the fourth act signed to Shady Records.

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 The Marshall Mathers LP. 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 was involved in several controversies with the likes of the inherited Murder Inc. feud that 50 Cent and G-Unit was involved in, on-going problems with the previous co-owners of The Source magazine, namely Benzino, as well as escalating issues with rapper Royce da 5’9″, who was previously a friend of Eminem and D12.

Near the end of 2003, Dr. Dre and Eminem signed a joint deal with Atlanta rapper Stat Quo. 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. Shady Records DJ, DJ Green Lantern, was given his own show, whilst 50 Cent’s G-Unit DJ, DJ Whoo Kid, co-hosted G-Unit Radio on Saturdays.

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. The album was a commercial success, and was only 32,000 records away from being the best-selling album of the year. On “Piggy Bank”, a song off of the album, 50 Cent insulted several artists, including Jadakiss. 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. 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’s what would interest rap fans. 2005 also saw the signing of Bobby Creekwater to the label, making him the sixth artist and the second Atlanta-based rapper.

In early 2006, Cashis, a Chicago-born Orange County, California-based rapper joined Shady Records, after he managed to get his demo/mixtape heard by Eminem. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. Stat Quo was also released from the label in 2008, citing differences in direction, with 2009 bringing the departure of Bobby Creekwater who had been working on his debut album, A Brilliant Mistake. It has been reported that hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse will be joining Shady Records with member Royce da 5’9″ confirming talks between both sides then later stating that the deal should be done in Late April to early May.