Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Marshall Mathers LP was released on the 23rd of May 2000. This third studio album from the American rapper arrived at a moment when the music industry was teetering between the polished pop of boy bands and the gritty reality of hip-hop.
The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.76 million copies in its first week. This figure shattered expectations and cemented Eminem's status as a global phenomenon before the album had even been fully digested by the public.
Production for The Marshall Mathers LP was handled by a collective including Dr. Dre, Mel-Man, F.B.T., Eminem himself, and the 45 King. They created a soundscape that ranged from sparse, stripped-down beats to bass-heavy odes to Detroit.
The album sparked immediate controversy due to references to the Columbine High School massacre in the songs The Way I Am and I'm Back. Future second lady Lynne Cheney criticized the lyrics at a United States Senate hearing as misogynistic and violent against women.
The song Stan details around a crazed fan of the same name and became a cultural phenomenon that gave rise to the Oxford English Dictionary term stan. It became a number 1 hit in both the United Kingdom and Australia and is cited as one of the most influential songs in rap history.
The Marshall Mathers LP is certified 12 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album has sold 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.