First Slim Shady Song and Its Release
The first Slim Shady song is "My Name Is," which introduced the character and appeared on The Slim Shady LP, released in February 1999 by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The track samples Labi Siffre's "I Got the... Forbes and became the lead single that defined Eminem's early public persona.
Produced by Dr. Dre with additional production from Mel-Man, "My Name Is" was recorded at Aftermath studios in Santa Monica and mixed at Enterprise Studios in Burbank, California. The song's explicit lyrics and satirical tone established Slim Shady as a provocative alter ego, and it was later certified multi-platinum by the RIAA, reflecting strong consumer demand and sustained sales in the United States RIAA.
Chart Performance and Commercial Impact
On the Billboard Hot 100, "My Name Is" peaked at number 36 and remained on the chart for multiple weeks, while reaching number 10 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. In the United Kingdom, the single charted in the top 20 on the Official Singles Chart, contributing to The Slim Shady LP debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and later climbing to number one Billboard.
The commercial success of the first Slim Shady song helped The Slim Shady LP ship over five million copies in the United States alone, according to the RIAA, and drove global sales that positioned Eminem among the best-selling music artists of the late 1990s. Radio play, MTV rotation, and retail distribution amplified the track's reach, and the song's viral hooks and memorable lines became a reference point for subsequent hip-hop releases and pop culture parodies.
Legacy of the First Slim Shady Track
Critics and industry analysts cite "My Name Is" as the song that introduced the Slim Shady alter ego to mainstream audiences and set the tone for Eminem's subsequent albums, including The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show. The track's explicit content sparked public debate on censorship and artistic expression, while its production and delivery influenced a generation of hip-hop artists who adopted similarly aggressive, character-driven personas.
Streaming data from major platforms shows that "My Name Is" continues to accumulate millions of plays annually, and the song remains a staple in curated playlists focused on 1990s hip-hop and classic rap. The track's enduring presence in radio rotation, sync licensing, and retrospective documentaries underscores its role as the foundational Slim Shady release that expanded Eminem's brand into a global entertainment franchise Forbes.