Eminem's First Vinyl Release To Be Auctioned Off 30 Years Later

A rare artifact from the earliest days of Eminem’s career is entering the collector marketplace, offering hip-hop fans and memorabilia hunters a shot at owning a piece of rap history.

A sealed vinyl copy of Infinite — Eminem’s 1996 debut album — is being auctioned through Goldin on March 11, 2026. The record is widely considered one of the most coveted items among rap collectors because it predates the rapper’s global fame and captures the moment just before his rise from Detroit battle-rap standout to international superstar. 

Released on November 12, 1996 through Detroit’s independent WEB Entertainment, Infinite had only limited distribution and almost no marketing push. Instead, it circulated through grassroots hip-hop culture — most notably a listening session organized by Eminem’s close friend and D12 member Proof at the legendary Hip Hop Shop, where copies were handed directly to local DJs. 

One of those DJs, LaRodney “DJ La’Roc” Bullock, received a copy and made a decision that now looks like foresight bordering on prophecy: he never opened it.

“I never opened it. Something told me this wasn’t just another record. I felt he was going to be special,” Bullock said of the album he preserved for nearly three decades. 

Years later, the sealed record was personally signed by Eminem during a reunion arranged by Mark “Doughboy” Hicks. The vinyl has since been authenticated by Audio Media Grading and James Spence Authentication, confirming both the condition and the rapper’s signature. 

The auction will be handled by Goldin, a major collectibles marketplace known for record-setting sports and entertainment memorabilia sales. The company, founded by Ken Goldin, has gained international attention for auctioning museum-level pop-culture items. 

Collectors see the record as more than merchandise — it represents the grassroots era of Detroit hip-hop before Eminem’s awards, chart dominance, and global recognition. After nearly 30 years in private hands, the vinyl now enters the public market as a physical snapshot of the moment just before rap history changed.