For more than two decades, since breaking through with The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has cemented his place in hip-hop culture as one of the greatest rappers of all time. With 11 studio albums, 100 million record sales, and a dozen controversies, Eminem went from unknown to white-hot in a matter of a few years.
This colossal accomplishment and skyrocketing superstardom would never have been achieved without his manager, Paul Rosenberg, who stayed with Eminem through the thick and thin of his career. If you're an avid fan of Eminem, you may recognize him from the numerous skits on Em's albums. However, things between them go a little deeper than this, and these are 10 facts about their friendship.
10 Both Are Proud Motor City Citizens
Eminem is known for his loyalty to Detroit. Even though he was born in Missouri, young Marshall grew up on the streets of Motor City, going from one high school to another. Em's manager, Paul Rosenberg, also grew up in Detroit. In fact, he was born and bred in the city.
Speaking of Detroit, Eminem's love for the city is documented throughout his career, notably from the song Detroit vs. Everybody from the ShadyXV compilation album and the 'Marshall From Detroit' VR interview with Sway Calloway.
9 Prior to Meeting Eminem, Paul Rosenberg Was a Fresh Graduate From the University of Detroit
Before meeting Eminem, Paul Rosenberg was just a recently-graduated Mercy Law School student from the University of Detroit.
Fortunately, his savvy ear for talent landed him a chance to meet young, yet unpolished Eminem, which leads to the next point.
8 Before Becoming a Music Attorney, Paul Wanted to Be a Musician
Prior to graduating from university, young Rosenberg was a part of a grassroots level hip-hop group called Rhythm Cartel from 1989 to 1993 under the moniker 'Paul Bunyan.' Back in the day, he also worked in the mailroom at BMG Distribution in Detroit.
Summing up his short-lived rap career, Rosenberg said that he never meant to be famous. "I obviously wasn't a superstar," he said. "But we were all right. For white rappers, to be accepted by the underground in Detroit, we couldn't have been that bad."
7 Paul Met Eminem At Detroit's Hip-Hop Shop Back In 1997
Eminem would often go from one open-mic spot to the other at night and work as a 9-to-5 cook at noon. One of the well-known spots in Detroit, The Hip-hop Shop, saw Eminem in the making. In an interview with Billboard, Rosenberg recalled the first time he met Eminem at the Shop in '97, with fellow rapper and D12 member,Proof, bringing them together.
"Proof wanted me to check him out because he knew that my goal in law school was to become a music lawyer," said Rosenberg after telling how Proof cleared the area so Eminem could rap, hassle-free, from in the crowd.
6 Paul Bought Eminem's Debut Cassette, 'Infinite,' for 6 Dollars
The two immediately clicked. A few months after their first encounter at The Shop, according to Rosenberg, Eminem released his independent debut album, Infinite, which he bought for only $6 on cassette.
Unfortunately, the album didn't do too well on the market. The rapper sold the tape from door to door, but barely sold 1,000 copies. Radio stations refused to play it, saying that Em 'sounded like AZ and Nas,' which led him to the birth of the notorious, violent Slim Shady persona.
5 During the Early Days of His Career, Em Was So Broke That He Used to Sleep On Paul's Couch
The lackluster reception of Infinite gave fans the Slim Shady EP, and from there, Rosenberg finally saw Eminem's full-growth as a rapper with his own voice. He officially became Eminem's manager, and the rapper would visit his New York apartment from time to time.
"You had cockroaches the size of f*****g mice," Eminem recalled spending the night at Rosenberg's apartment. I slept in that one room where the mattress was on the floor, and I woke up in the morning, and I heard the roach before I f*****g saw it!"
4 Em & Paul Founded Shady Records In 1999 Initially As an Avenue for D12
After the successful release of the Dr. Dre-cosigned Slim Shady LP in 1999 under the former NWA member's Aftermath Entertainment, Eminem and Rosenberg founded their label, Shady Records.
Initially, the boutique label served as a way to showcase Eminem's D12 group, which consisted of Motor City's six sharpest and illest emcees and their violent alter egos. Their 2001 debut, Devil's Night, was the label's first-ever album. Shady Records later expanded its wings by signing controversial rapper 50 Cent, who then scored a whopping 800,000 first-week sales for his debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin.'
3 Eminem Is Younger Than Paul By Only a Year
Marshall Mathers was born on October 17, 1972, while Rosenberg was on August 1, 1971. This means that the rapper is only one year younger than him, so it's clear why the two developed a protective and robust bond.
As Em's manager and attorney, Rosenberg stuck with him through thick and thin, including when Em suffered from deteriorating physical health and addiction from 2005 to 2008.
2 Like Em, Paul Is Also a President of a Music Label
Rosenberg's experience of handling Eminem landed him an opportunity in 2017 to be the president of hip-hop's most prolific label, Def Jam Recordings. A year later, he would resign to focus on his own venture, Goliath Artists.
On the other hand, Eminem, as mentioned, is the head of Shady Records. The label has seen an enormous amount of talent, from 50 Cent to Yelawolf, and it now serves as home to the Griselda group and rapper Boogie from Compton.
1 'Recovery,' 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2,' & 'Music to Be Murdered By' Are the Only Eminem Albums To Not Feature 'Paul' Skits
Paul has been all over Eminem's albums since The Slim Shady LP, telling the rapper to tone down the record and to 'Leave (his) f****ng gun at home.'
Almost every single Eminem album has 'Paul' in the skits, as the opposing character to Slim Shady's over-the-top violent and comical persona. However, Recovery, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, and Music to Be Murdered By are Paul-free.
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