Infinite (album) 587171 224960005 2008-07-11T05:13:52Z Nolejc 7449874 {{for|the Stratovarius album|Infinite (Stratovarius album)}} {{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = Infinite | Type = [[Album]] | Artist = [[Eminem]] | Cover = Eminem Infinite Cover.jpg | Released = [[1996|November]] [[1996 in music|1996]] | Recorded = [[1995]] | Genre = [[Underground hip hop]] | Length = 37:56 | Label = [[Web Entertainment|Web]] | Producer = [[Bass Brothers|Jeff & Mark Bass]]<br>[[Denaun Porter]]<br>Slim<br>[[DJ Head]] | Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|2.5}} [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kjfqxq90ldhe link] | Last album = | This album = '''''Infinite'''''<br />(1996) | Next album = ''[[The Slim Shady LP]]''<br>(1999) }} '''''Infinite''''' is the debut album by [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] artist [[Eminem]]. Recorded and produced with help from The [[Bass Brothers]] and fellow [[D12]] members Denaun Porter aka [[Kon Artis]], [[Proof]] and [[Eye-Kyu]], along with fellow Rappers Thyme of 5 Elementz and Three, in 1995. == History == "'''''Infinite'''''" is Eminem's first full-length and professionally packaged album. After years of cutting demo tracks with his mentors, the Bass Brothers, at their Ferndale, MI. studio (dubbed "The Bassment"), Eminem was ready to release his debut album. The album was written and recorded in 1995. At the time the album was first conceived, Eminem had been using the stage name M&M. However, he changed his stage name after the release of his first official single, Fuckin' Backstabber in early 1995. Infinite marks the debut of the name "Eminem." The album was only released on [[compact audio cassette|cassette]] and [[Vinyl record|vinyl]]. Only 1,000 cassettes and 100 vinyls were made. Eminem himself, and old friends from around the time Infinite was recorded, have claimed the laid-back and humble nature of the album is due to [[Eminem]] purposely making "radio-friendly" songs in hopes of getting on the air of Detroit's leading Hip Hop radio station, WJLB-98. Bootlegged compact-disc copies are commonly found on sites such as [[eBay]]. The song "Backstabber" is a re-cut version of a song called "Fuckin' Backstabber", which is featured on a demo tape by [[Soul Intent]]. The album received mixed critical reviews and was met with derision from within the local hip-hop community, earning Eminem unfavorable accusations of copying other rappers' styles, particularly [[Nas (rapper)|Nas]] and [[AZ (rapper)|AZ]]. Eminem recalls: {{cquote|Obviously, I was young and influenced by other artists, and I got a lot of feedback saying that I sounded like Nas and 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 a demo that just got pressed up.<ref>[http://www.eminemonline.com/bio.shtml Eminem-Biography]. EminemOnline. Accessed [[August 2]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/content/articles/041109roco01 Eminems Underground debut]. VanityFair. Accessed [[August 2]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.eminem.net/biography/ Eminem Biography]. Eminem.net. Accessed [[August 2]] [[2007]].</ref>}} While it contains some swearing, ''Infinite'' is relatively inoffensive compared to the subsequent albums that would make Eminem famous. In 2003 this album was released, although it seemed legitimate it was most likely pirated, containing many clicks, pops, and other defects in the sound quality. The "European Re-Issue" contains a bonus disc with freestyles and unreleased tracks, no names for these tracks are given on the case. ==Production== On a DVD about Eminem's life, a former friend and collaborator of Eminem's, named DJ Rec, stated that "Infinite" was produced by a variety of producers who were never credited. The album artwork says the album was produced by Denaun Porter and "Slim" for F.B.T. Productions. However, it may be possible that DJ Rec, and others, contributed to the production of "Infinite." It is known that former [[D12]] DJ, [[DJ Head]], produced the "W.E.G.O." skit on the album. [[Proof]] of [[D12]] may have also co-produced the track as well. As his vocals are featured on the skit. Not only that, but on the original cassette artwork, [[Proof]] is credited for doing "Additional Drum Programming" on several tracks. Former [[Bassmint Productions]] and [[Soul Intent]] DJ and co-producer, DJ Butterfingers, also contributed several cuts and scratches to the album. Since he was so involved in that aspect, he may have also done some un-credited production as well. Butterfingers' cuts and scratches appear on "Infinite" and "Tonite." ==Singles== According to a picture on the internet of a supposed "Infinite" promo poster <ref>[http://www.shadygallery.com/displayimage.php?album=11&pos=31 ''ShadyGallery.com'' - ''Infinite'' promo poster]</ref>, the album was supposed to have three singles. In the middle of the poster, it reads: "Featuring The Singles: "It's O.K.," "Tonite," and "Never 2 Far." Also, in the beginning of D12's video for "How Come," footage of Eminem from the mid-90's is shown where he is introducing the song he's gonna perform, and he states that, "The name of this song is Jealousy Woes Pt. 2, it's one of the first singles off the album that's comin'. The album's called, Infinite." So perhaps "Jealousy Woes II" was meant to be released as a single. However, most-likely due to lack of funds and the fact that "Infinite" flopped, no singles were ever pressed or released. ==Samples== '''Open Mic''' *"Give Me Your Love" by [[Curtis Mayfield]] '''Backstabber''' *"Fuckin' Backstabber" by [[Soul Intent]] *"Jealous" by [[LL Cool J]] '''Jealousy Woes II''' *"Jealous" by [[LL Cool J]] *"The World Is Yours" by [[Nas]] ==Track listing== <!--this section is for album credits only--> {| class="wikitable" |- !align="center"|# !align="center" width="150"|Title !align="center" width="50"|Time !align="center" width="150"|Producer(s) !align="center" width="150"|Performer (s) |- |1 |Infinite |4:01 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, Denine |- |2 |W.E.G.O. |0:23 |DJ Head |[[DJ Head]], [[Proof (rapper)|Proof]] |- |3 |It's O.K. |3:29 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, [[Eye-Kyu]] |- |4 |Tonite |3:43 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem |- |5 |313 |4:13 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, Eye-Kyu |- |6 |Maxine |3:56 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Three, Denine, Eminem |- |7 |Open Mic |4:02 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, Denine, Kuniva, Thyme |- |8 |Never 2 Far |3:38 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, Denine |- |9 |Searchin |3:42 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eye-Kyu, Eminem |- |10 |Backstabber |3:25 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem |- |11 |Jealousy Woes II |3:19 |Denaun Porter, Slim |Eminem, Eye-Kyu, Proof, Denine |} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Eminem}} [[Category:Eminem albums]] [[Category:1996 albums]] [[Category:Debut albums]] [[da:Infinite]] [[et:Infinite]] [[es:Infinite]] [[fr:Infinite]] [[it:Infinite (Eminem)]] [[no:Infinite]] [[pl:Infinite]] [[pt:Infinite]] [[fi:Infinite (Eminem)]] [[sv:Infinite]] [[ru:Infinite (альбом Эминема)]]