Six album collectibles from Eminem’s early years are being offered for purchase in an auction that runs through October.
Among the items up for sale at the music memorabilia house Wax Poetics is a vinyl copy of “Infinite,” recorded in 1996 at the Bass Brothers’ Ferndale studio when the Detroit rapper was unknown to the wider world. Just 500 units were pressed — half of them vinyl records, half cassettes.
“Infinite,” which turns 30 in November, has become hot among Eminem collectors in recent years: In May, a sealed, autographed copy of one of the original 250 vinyl LPs fetched an eye-popping $104,920 at auction — heralded as a record for a hip-hop album.
Two of the items now being offered come from the collection of Motor City Popcorn founder Ronier
Golightly, known on Detroit’s hip-hop scene as DJ Babe.
Bidding is open through Oct. 8. Along with the “Infinite” record, items include:
∎ A never-opened 1995 cassette single by Soul Intent, a short-lived Detroit hip-hop group featuring Eminem and Proof, features a pair of songs with all lyrics credited to “M&M.”
∎ A promotional cassette distributed to radio stations and retailers ahead of Eminem’s “Slim Shady LP” in early 1999 showcases snippets of 18 songs and skits from the forthcoming album.
∎ DJ Babe’s “7 Mile Album” mixtape series, conceived as a follow-up to 2002’s “8 Mile,” features music by Detroit rappers Eminem, Proof, Obie Trice and Miz Korona alongside other hip-hop stars.
∎ A vinyl edition of “The Slim Shady LP,” Eminem’s major label debut, is encased in its original shrink wrap.
∎ Eminem’s sophomore album, “The Marshall Mathers LP,” is also sealed in its original shrink wrap.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Early Eminem rarities on auction block after record $105k sale
