Eminem '97 Bonnie & Clyde

Last week, it was the 10th anniversary of Kanye West's debut, College Dropout. Today, it's been 15 years since a white trash kid from Detroit released the controversial The Slim Shady LP, another album that would change the course of hip-hop forever.

At the time of The Slim Shady LP release, Eminem was an unknown quantity -- a white rapper signed by rap legend Dr Dre -- and coupled with comparisons to Vanilla Ice, things didn't bode well for the kid from 8 mile. But backed by the success of first single, "My Name Is," Eminem was quickly embraced by the wider hip-hop community, with the album gaining almost universal critical praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and The Source.

Produced by Dr Dre, Bass Brothers and Em, The Slim Shady LP was as controversial as it was innovative, with Eminem's lyrical wit often overshadowed by his absurd stories of underage sex, murder, drug abuse, and bullying. There was nothing off-limits, and his "don't give a fuck" attitude resonated with fans, especially middle class white kids (myself included) who helped the album debut at the #2 spot on Billboard.

Choosing one song to feature is hard; the album, on a whole, is exceptional. From the pop-rap of "My Name Is" and the cautionary drug tale "My Room" to the middle finger flipping "I Just Don't Give A Fuck," there is something for everyone. My personal pick is "'97 Bonnie & Clyde." A parody of Will Smith's "Just The Two Of Us," the song showcases Em at his humorous best, as he describes killing his wife and disposing of her body while talking with his infant daughter.

While many still point to The Marshall Mathers LP as his crowning glory, The Slim Shady LP will always be my favorite Em album, and having caught him live over the weekend, there is no better way to remember how great he is than by re-listening to this album.