Soul Intent
Soul Intent, the Detroit crew of Manix, DJ Butterfingers, Eminem and Proof, known for its 1992 cassette EP and the 1995 single “F#@!in’ Backstabber.”
From Bassmint Productions to Soul Intent
Soul Intent was a Detroit hip hop collective formed by brothers Michael Ruby, who produced as Manix, and Mathew Ruby, known as DJ Butterfingers. According to Discogs, the crew started under the name Bassmint Productions around 1989. A Bassmint Productions cassette, Steppin’ On To The Scene, is dated 1990. Because the members could not afford studio time, they ran their own small label, which operated from 1992 to 1995.
Lineup
Discogs lists the collective’s rappers as M&M (later Eminem), Maximum (later Proof), Chaos Kid, Vitamin C, Caucasian Pimp and MC Howard Funk, with singers Delirious D. and V-Top, DJs DJ Butterfingers and DJ Stezo, and Manix as producer. The group functioned as a loose crew rather than a fixed recording act, and different members appear on different tapes. Eminem’s involvement with DJ Butterfingers predates the group: the two had formed New Jacks in 1988.
The tapes
In 1992 the crew issued a four-song cassette EP, Soul Intent, and the tape Still In The Bassmint. The EP included “Unrealistically Graphic,” “One-Handed Juggler,” “Soul Intent” and “Still In The Bassmint,” produced by Manix with scratches by DJ Butterfingers. On February 25, 1995, Mashin’ Duck Records released the cassette single “F#@!in’ Backstabber” backed with “Biterphobia,” with Proof as guest, Manix producing and arranging, and Mike Nice engineering. Manix said 300 copies were printed.
Aftermath
Eminem reworked “Backstabber” for his 1996 debut album Infinite, and in 1996 he and Proof formed D12. Proof died on April 11, 2006, and Manix died in October 2021. The early tapes have since circulated widely through unofficial reissues catalogued on Discogs between 2017 and 2023.
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