The revitalization of Shady Records in 2010 marked a new era for Eminem. Coming off the back of personal struggles, including battles with addiction that once left him on the brink, Eminem sought to reconstruct not only his personal life but also his professional realm.
One of the early moves in this rebuilding process was reconnecting with Royce Da 5’9″. Eminem and Royce, who had previously formed the group Bad Meets Evil, had had their differences in the past, but both artists were in a space where they were ready to move past old conflicts and work together again.
Eminem also turned his attention to Slaughterhouse, a supergroup comprised of Royce Da 5’9″, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I. Signing Slaughterhouse was a significant move, as it brought together four talented lyricists under the Shady Records banner.
However, Joe Budden, one of the group’s members, would later become a contentious figure in relation to Eminem. While Slaughterhouse received acclaim for their lyricism and the intensity they brought to tracks, the group faced numerous challenges. Their album under Shady Records, Welcome to: Our House, received mixed reviews, and there was an increasing sense that the artists were struggling to maintain their original identities under the commercial pressures of the label.
Joe Budden, in particular, didn’t shy away from voicing his frustrations. Known for his outspoken nature and later his career as a media personality and podcast host, Budden often commented on the inner workings of the music industry, and sometimes his critiques included Eminem and Shady Records.
This, my friends, is the story of the only rapper that Eminem REGRETTED signing.
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