Eminem's Rawkus Records Stint

If you haven't heard of Rawkus Records then you're certainly missing out on some hip hop GEMS. The hip hop label Rawkus Records was founded in 1996, and even though their hip hop domination didn't last for long, they certainly brought up big names that are still giants in the game even today, such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, and they've also had multiple legendary names record to their production, such as Common and Pharoahe Monch, but probably the most notable rapper to make music with them is Eminem. When it comes to Eminem's career, obviously he is seen as one of the most decorated rappers ever, but not many people know about his (more so) underground stuff. Which is why I'm here to shed light on these things (being the rap nerd that I so claim to be). What contributions did Eminem give to Rawkus?  You're about to find out (*Funk Flex bomb drop noise*).

Eminem's hardcore fan base (Stans) would know more than anyone, but before Dr. Dre and Aftermath Records, before D12, and before Shady Records was even a thought, Eminem recorded some pretty bombastic rhymes for Rawkus in the mid to late 90s. This to me seems like the perfect Eminem; very hard raps while still remaining hilarious, and Em rapping over some catchy boom bap production (which has always been a question to many, Em can rap hard and sound even better over the right production).

 ("I liked the shit you did with Rawkus too, that shit was fat." = Stan's complimenting Eminem's earliest work.)

Doesn't this sound more like the hungry, battle rap-ready Eminem?  The high voice may have been more annoying to some, but Eminem is practically the rap game Joker; absolutely hysterical in his rhymes and can make you fall on the floor from laughing, but if you mess with him (diss him), he will MURDER you.

I found this track interesting and had to look into more, and when I did I was hooked. You could ask anyone who calls themselves an Eminem fan, whether that means they've been listening since Infinite or the Slim Shady EP, whether that means they love Relapse and Recovery or they don't, Eminem's work with Rawkus Records is some truly special stuff, and it surely seems like Em is still pretty salty about them not making any offers to sign him, as made evident on the Marshall Mathers LP 2 bonus track "Don't Front." All we are left to wonder is "what could have been?" Surely Rawkus is kicking themselves for not seeing the potential Em had (that is, if they still exist).

So that's the post on Eminem and his little known (again, not to Stans', because they know everything Eminem) Rawkus Records stint. It's definitely something interesting to know if you like to dig into rappers' pasts and like to know how they really got to where they are at (in other words, if you're a proud rap nerd). Plus if you're a Stan (or know about any of Eminem's diss track history), you know that Eminem does not take others' disrespect very lightly, and he actually goes at Rawkus on a track on Marshall Mathers LP 2. Check out "Don't Front" below (you hear the diss around the 2:48 mark).

                                         (*I do not own these songs, or the rights to them*)