June 29, 2000 – Eminem, the self-described "most meanest MC on this earth," addresses his take-no-prisoners approach to protecting his family and the shootings at Columbine High School in Spin's August cover story. The issue hits newsstands July 6th (don't ask us why they call it "August"). Quotes from the article follow.

Eminem's latest album, The Marshall Mathers LP, sold 1.7 million copies in its first week, the most ever by a solo artist, and according to official SoundScan numbers released yesterday, Eminem hangs on to the top spot for the fifth straight week.

Earlier this month, Eminem (born Marshall Mathers) was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, both felonies. The charges stem from an incident in Detroit in which the rapper allegedly used a gun to assault a man he saw kissing his wife, Kim. Eminem confirms that he's "having trouble dealing with the transition" from novelty white rapper to chart-topping phenomenon. Not being able to walk down the street without facing his fans has also proved challenging.

"I try to be nice," Eminem says, "but there are times I have snapped and pulled guns out on them. It's got to the point where people have tried to come to my house and they get a gun in their face every time. I'll open the door," Eminem explains, "and if I can shove the gun in their mouth, I'll shove it in their mouth. And my gun is legal this year, so nobody better [mess] with me."

Three songs on Eminem's new album allude to school shootings. Interscope, Eminem's label, insisted on blanking out the words "kids" and "Columbine" from his song "I'm Back."

"Columbine is so touchy," Eminem says. "As much sympathy as we give the Columbine shootings, nobody ever looked at it from the point of view of the kids who were bullied – I mean, they took their own life! And it was because they were pushed so far to the edge that they were so mad. I've been that mad!"