Paul Rosenberg Details The First Time He Saw Eminem

Paul Rosenberg's been Eminem's manager for over 20 years, founding Shady Records with him in 1999.

During the Music Biz Conference in Nashville, Rosenberg spoke on meeting a young Marshall Mathers at the Hip Hop Shop in 1996 Detroit and then watching him battle rap there.

“The Red Sea did not part, the sun did not shine out of the heavens and make me realize that this was the next biggest artist,” Rosenberg confessed of his first time watching the future superstar perform. “But I thought he was really good.” The two stayed in touch and soon after when Eminem released his debut independent album “Infinite,” Rosenberg purchased a cassette tape from him for six dollars. “He was selling it literally hand-to-hand to people and to stores, whoever would take it,” Rosenberg recalled.

In addition to his role with Em and Shady Records, Rosenberg manages Danny Brown and Action Bronson and is the CEO of Def Jam.

So it's safe to say his running into Eminem at The Hip Hop Shop changed his life in the best ways possible.