Soul Intent

Soul Intent is a four-song cassette EP released in 1992 on the crew’s own Bassmint Productions label. It is one of the earliest documented recordings featuring Marshall Mathers, then rapping as M&M.

The story

The tape came out of the Bassmint Productions circle in the Detroit area, which had been active under that name since around 1989 before taking the Soul Intent name in 1992. Discogs notes that black-and-white and colored versions of the cover exist, and that the black-and-white version was shown in a 2003 Eminem documentary. The tape contains the 1991 version of “One-Handed Juggler” and the original 1992 version of “Soul Intent.” Some Discogs entries credit it as an Eminem solo release with DJ Butterfingers and Manix rather than a group release.

Sound and production

Manix produced the tape and DJ Butterfingers added scratches to “Unrealistically Graphic” and “One-Handed Juggler.” “Unrealistically Graphic” also features Chaos Kid and uncredited vocals by V-Top. Discogs files the release under hardcore hip hop.

Legacy

Discogs describes the EP as Eminem’s first release, and the tracks have been bootlegged repeatedly, including a 2021 unofficial issue. They document the Detroit crew that brought together Eminem, Proof, Manix and DJ Butterfingers years before any of them had national recognition.