Just Don't Give a Fuck

"Just Don't Give a Fuck" (known as "Just Don't Give" in the clean version) is the debut single by American rapper Eminem. The original version appears as the only single on his only EP, the Slim Shady EP. A re-recorded version appears on his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. According to the book Angry Blonde, this was Eminem's first "real" song, and was when he first came up with the "Slim Shady" theme.

"Just Don't Give a Fuck"
Single by Eminem
from the album Slim Shady EP and The Slim Shady LP
B-side"Brain Damage"
ReleasedOctober 13, 1998
Recorded
StudioBassmint Productions
Genre
Length4:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Just Don't Give a Fuck"
(1998)
"My Name Is"
(1999)
Music video
"Just Don't Give a F***" on YouTube

Disses edit

In the second verse, Eminem disses various rappers such as Everlast, Miilkbone and Vanilla Ice, each of whom later released diss tracks against Eminem. Miilkbone released "Dear Slim" and "Presenting Miilkbone" and Vanilla Ice released "Exhale" and "Hip Hop Rules" in 2001 on his album Bi-Polar. Everlast had a long-lasting feud with Eminem. Although Eminem dissed Vanilla Ice in other tracks (such as "Marshall Mathers" and "Role Model"), he did not reply to either him or Miilkbone after their respective disses.[1]

Critical reception edit

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic marked it as a stand out on LP.[2] RapReviews described the beat of the song as "head nodding" but he also noted that the remix is subpar: the "new one (remix) is lifeless and oddly out of place among an album full of mostly dope cuts" in comparison to the original.[3]

Music video edit

The black-and-white video, interspersed with some color, is set in a trailer park in the summer. A variety of scenes, unrelated to each other, are shown, starting with a boy being stopped by a woman from taking food off a table. The boy returns as Eminem and strangles her. In one version, the video shows him beating her and throwing her on a bed. The video also includes scenes of people drinking and swimming in a pool. Additional scenes include aliens, a clown, and people eating watermelons.

The clean version of the accompanying music video for this single is known as "I Just Don't Give a".

Track listing edit

US 12" Vinyl Single (Slim Shady EP)
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Don't Give a F*ck"4:00
2."Just Don't Give a #?@!" (radio edit)Denaun Porter4:03
3."Just Don't Give a F*ck" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
4:00
Total length:12:03
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Low Down, Dirty"Da Brigade (Denaun Porter and Kuniva)4:44
2."Just the Two of Us"
DJ Head4:58
3."Just Don't Give a F*ck" (acapella)4:00
Total length:13:42
US CD Promo
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Don't Give a F***" (clean version)3:47
US CD Single / US Cassette Single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Don't Give a F***" (album version)4:02
2."Brain Damage" (album version)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:43
Total length:7:45
US CD Maxi Single / US Cassette Maxi Single / US 12" Vinyl Promo
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Don't Give a F***" (album version)4:05
2."Just Don't Give a F***" (clean version)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:47
3."Just Don't Give a F***" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:33
4."Just Don't Give a F***" (acapella)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:33
5."Brain Damage" (album version)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:46
Total length:23:12
US 12" Vinyl Single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Don't Give a F***" (album version)4:05
2."Just Don't Give a F***" (clean version)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:47
3."Just Don't Give a F***" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:33
4."Just Don't Give a F***" (acapella)
  • Mathers
  • J. Bass
  • M. Bass
  • Bass Brothers
  • Eminem[a]
3:33
Total length:14:58
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer.

Charts edit

Weekly charts edit

Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[4] 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 62
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[6] 5

References edit

  1. ^ "Miilkbone :: U Got Miilk? :: Xcaliber Entertainment/Lightyear". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Slim Shady LP - Eminem - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Eminem :: The Slim Shady LP :: Aftermath". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.