Infinite (Eminem album)
Infinite | ||||
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![]() Artwork of the original 1996 cassette release | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 12, 1996 | |||
Recorded | December 1995 – June 1996 | |||
Studio | Bass Brothers basement | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 37:54 | |||
Label | WEB Entertainment | |||
Producer |
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Eminem chronology | ||||
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Infinite is the debut
Physical copies of Infinite were released on cassette and vinyl, and Eminem sold the copies from the trunk of his car in Detroit. It is not officially available on any online music stores and only the title track, "Infinite", has been made available on Spotify.[2] On November 17, 2016, five days after the 20th anniversary of the album, the official Eminem YouTube channel posted a remix of its title track,[3] made by the Bass Brothers, releasing it digitally for the first time. Retrospectively, the album has received mixed reviews from music critics. It was a commercial failure, selling around 1,000 copies. Since the album was made before Eminem garnered mainstream attention and signed to Interscope Records, physical copies have appreciated in value.
Background and recording
I was driving in my car back in '95 or '96 and heard him on the radio. It was like, "Whoa, who is this?" He was doing an open mic with [WJLB-FM programmer Lisa Orlando] in Detroit. And I was like, "Wow, who is this kid? I've gotta get him over to the studio." That's when I called out to the radio station and asked, "Put me on the phone with the guy."
In 1992, Eminem signed with
Eminem was encouraged by others for the album, noted to sound like Nas and AZ.[8] Mr. Porter produced the majority of the album, while Proof programmed the drums.[9]
Composition and lyrics
Eminem purposely made Infinite's songs "radio-friendly" in hopes of getting played on Detroit radio stations;[9] only around a thousand copies of the album were made.[10] Subjects covered on Infinite included Eminem, him and his grandma's struggle with raising Hailie Jade Mathers, Eminem's newborn daughter, while on limited funds and his strong desire to become rich.[5] After the release of Infinite, Eminem's personal struggles and his abuse of drugs and alcohol resulted in a suicide attempt.[11] Eminem recalled: "Obviously, I was young and influenced by other artists, and I got a lot of feedback saying that I sounded like AZ. Infinite was me trying to figure out how I wanted my rap style to be, how I wanted to sound on the mic and present myself. It was a growing stage. I felt like Infinite was like the demo that just got pressed up."[8]
Release and reception
On November 12, 1996, Infinite was released by Web Entertainment.[4] It is not known exactly how many copies Infinite sold. Eminem stated in his autobiography The Way I Am (2008) that it sold "maybe 70 copies".[12] However, other sources stated that the album sold a few hundred copies[4] or even a thousand copies.[13] Eminem's overall disappointment with Infinite's lack of success inspired him to develop his famous Slim Shady alter ego, which became present in his later works.[1]
On May 14, 2009, thisis50.com re-released it for free download on their website to build anticipation for Eminem's sixth studio album Relapse (2009); this was his comeback album.[7][12][14] On November 17, 2016, a remix of the album's title track "Infinite" was released in commemoration of the album's 20th anniversary five days after the event. The remix was followed by a documentary about the making of Infinite, also released the same day.[1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
RapReviews | 5.5/10[16] |
Retrospective reviews of Infinite from
In a more positive review, Tedd Maider of
Track listing
Track listing and credits taken from album booklet.[20] All songs produced by Denaun Porter, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Infinite" | 4:11 | ||
2. | "W.E.G.O." (Interlude) | 0:26 | ||
3. | "It's O.K." (featuring Eye-Kyu) |
| 3:29 | |
4. | "Tonite" |
| 3:45 | |
5. | "313" (featuring Eye-Kyu) |
| 4:11 | |
6. | "Maxine" (featuring Denaun Porter and Three) |
|
| 3:55 |
7. | "Open Mic" (featuring Thyme) |
| 4:02 | |
8. | "Never 2 Far" | Mathers | 3:38 | |
9. | "Searchin'" (featuring Eye-Kyu) |
| 3:45 | |
10. | "Backstabber" |
| 3:24 | |
11. | "Jealousy Woes II" |
|
| 3:19 |
Total length: | 37:54 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer
Sample credits
- "Tonite" contains a sample of "Let This River Flow" performed by Googie and Tom Cappola.
- "313" contains a sample of "A Secret Place" performed by Grover Washington Jr.
- "Maxine" contains a sample of "Dolphin Dance" performed by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Open Mic" contains a sample of "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" performed by Curtis Mayfield, and "World Go Round" performed by Naughty by Nature.
- "Never 2 Far" contains a sample of "Right on Time" performed by Maze.
- "Searchin'" contains a sample of "The Dude" performed by Quincy Jones.
- "Backstabber" contains samples of "Fuckin' Backstabber" performed by Soul Intent, "Jealous" performed by LL Cool J, and "Get Down" performed by Craig Mack.
- "Jealousy Woes II" contains samples of "Say What" performed by Idris Muhammad, "Jealous" performed by LL Cool J, and "The World Is Yours" performed by Nas.
Personnel
Credits adapted from album booklet.[20]
- Eminem – vocals, production
- Kevin Wilder – mixing, recording
- Robert "Flipside" Handy – mixing, recording
- Mr. Porter – production
- Jeff Bass – executive production
- Mark Bass – executive production
- DJ Butter Fingers – scratches
References
- ^ a b c James, Andy. "How the Failure of 'Infinite' Turned Eminem Into Slim Shady". DJBooth. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Eminem (November 12, 1996). "Infinite". Spotify. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Eminem (November 17, 2016). "Infinite (F.B.T. Remix) [Official Audio]". Retrieved June 8, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d Reeves, Mosi (November 17, 2016). "Eminem's 'Infinite': Producers Revisit, Remix MC's Inauspicious Debut". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- ^ ISBN 1-4000-5059-6.
- ISBN 9781614644996.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Jayson (May 13, 2009). "Eminem's First Album, Infinite, Now Available For Download". MTV. MTV. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ a b "Eminem biography". Eminem.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
- ^ IPC Media. Archived from the originalon November 4, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ Padania, Jesal "Jay Soul" (August 12, 2008). "Eminem: Infinite". RapReviews. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
- ^ a b Michaels, Sean (May 14, 2009). "Eminem's rare debut available for free download". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- ^ "Eminem Total Albums Sold". Brain. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ "Eminem's rare debut album released free online". NME. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Padania, Jesal (August 12, 2008). "Eminem :: Infinite :: Web Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- Complex. Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ Law, Jeannie Ortega (August 31, 2022). "Eminem raps about God, calls Jesus his Savior on No. 1 album in US". The Christian Post. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- Consequence of Sound. Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ Web Entertainment. 1996. 0382556977426.)
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