Trivia

• “My Name Is” was released as the album’s lead single, following the “street” release of “Just Don’t Give A Fuck.” The latter was strategically issued to build underground buzz ahead of the project’s commercial rollout.
• The track became Eminem’s breakout hit, peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Beyond its success in the US and UK, it also reached the top 10 in several European countries and won Best Rap Solo Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
• The song’s release history is defined by multiple primary versions:
  • Original Version: Initially titled “Album Version” on U.S. pre-album singles, it was later altered after sample creator Labi Siffre requested changes to specific lyrics. It has not appeared on any Eminem releases since, but was later included on The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards 1999 – The Album.
  
  • Album Version: The revised “Explicit Version,” featuring the agreed lyric changes, appeared on post-album singles as well as on The Slim Shady LP and Curtain Call: The Hits.
  
  • Slim Shady Radio Edit: A cleaner alternative to the album version. While used as the clean edit on early US singles, it required additional censoring for radio and post-album clean releases.
  
  • Dirty Version: A hybrid of the album version and the “Slim Shady Edit,” this mix is exclusive to the explicit music video.
• Eminem’s mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, sued him shortly after the song became a hit, claiming he had slandered her on the record. The case was settled out of court for $25,000.
• Due to Eminem’s personal dislike for the song, he stopped performing it live. The same occurred with the next album’s lead single, “The Real Slim Shady.” In more recent years, however, he has reintroduced the songs as part of a medley, often including “Without Me.”
• On May 17, 1999, an official rock remix of the song was released for free on Eminem’s website. The remix was produced by Stretch Armstrong and samples “Back In Black” by AC/DC.

Words from Eminem and Dr. Dre

“

I fell behind the beat too much. I fucking hate that song anyways. […] I didn’t hate that song when I first made it. But the shit that I put my heart and soul into, I don’t get recognized for – like “The Way I Am.” There’s a difference between me being funny and me being real. I feel like I don’t get recognized for my best shit – the shit that’s my real, true feelings and emotions.

“

I had a studio in my house at the time, and I went and put some samples together, did a couple of things on the drum machine. I invited him over and said, “Man, listen – I put this sample together. Tell me if you like it.” […] I hit the drum machine, and maybe two or three seconds went by, and he just went, “Hi! My name is!” […] That’s what happened on our first day, in the first few minutes of being in the studio. […] It’s just one of those things where you just know something special is happening.