Eminem is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor born on October 17, 1972. He’s famous for bringing hip-hop into mainstream Middle America and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers ever. Eminem’s success also broke down racial barriers for white rappers in popular music. His music often controversial resonated with the struggles and frustrations of many Americans influencing numerous artists.
Eminem gained prominence with albums like “The Slim Shady LP” (1999), “The Marshall Mathers LP” (2000), and “The Eminem Show” (2002) which were massive hits globally. Despite a hiatus due to struggles with prescription drugs after his album “Encore” in 2004, he made a comeback with “Relapse” (2009) and “Recovery” (2010) the latter being the best-selling album worldwide in 2010. His subsequent albums including “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” (2013) and “Kamikaze” (2018) also topped the charts.
Beyond his solo work Eminem was part of D12 and collaborated with Royce da 5’9″ in Bad Meets Evil. He starred in the 2002 film “8 Mile” with his song “Lose Yourself” from its soundtrack winning an Academy Award a first for a hip hop artist. He co-founded Shady Records launching the careers of artists like 50 Cent and established his own Sirius XM Radio channel Shade 45.
Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists globally selling over 220 million records. He dominated the 2000s as the top-selling artist in the US and continued his success in the 2010s. With numerous awards including 15 Grammys and recognition from Billboard and Rolling Stone Eminem’s impact on music and culture is profound. In 2022 he was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
| Full Name | Marshall Bruce Mathers III |
| Date of Birth | October 17, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | St. Joseph, Missouri, USA |
| Occupation | Rapper, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) |
| Spouse | Kimberly Anne Scott (ex-wife) |
| Children | Hailie Jade, Stevie Laine Mathers Alaina Marie Mathers |
| Net Worth | $250 million |
Eminem’s Early Life and Education
Marshall Bruce Mathers III known as Eminem was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph Missouri. He grew up with his mother Debbie after his father left the family when Eminem was very young. They moved around a lot living in various places in Missouri and Detroit before settling in Warren a suburb of Detroit.
Eminem faced challenges early on. His mother had health issues during his birth and he had a difficult relationship with her. He also endured bullying and a serious head injury from a bully named D’Angelo Bailey which led to a legal dispute with his school.
Growing up in a mostly black neighborhood in Detroit Eminem was one of the few white kids around which sometimes led to conflicts. Despite these hardships, he developed a passion for storytelling and initially dreamed of becoming a comic book artist. His interest in hip-hop began when he heard a rap song on a soundtrack gifted by his uncle.
By age 14 he started rapping with a friend and adopted the name “Eminem.” He honed his skills in freestyle battles and open mic contests in Detroit’s hip hop scene which was mostly underground at the time. Eminem struggled in school eventually dropping out at 17 to work various jobs including at Little Caesar’s Pizza to help support his family.
Throughout his early years, He used music as an outlet writing songs and practicing rhymes relentlessly. His journey into the music industry was marked by perseverance and a deep passion for hip-hop despite the challenges he faced growing up.
Music career
In 1988, Eminem started as MC Double M and formed his first group, New Jacks. Together with DJ Butter Fingers, they made a demo tape. By 1989 they joined Bassmint Productions later renamed Soul Intent in 1992 including rapper Proof and other friends. They released an EP in 1995 featuring Proof. He also appeared in a music video in 1992 for the song “Do-Da-Dippity” by Champion. In 1996 Eminem and Proof teamed up with four other rappers to form D12 releasing their first album in 2001. He was also connected with Newark’s rap group Outsidaz collaborating on various projects.
Eminem was signed to F.B.T. Productions in the late 90s and recorded his debut album “Infinite” which didn’t do well commercially. The album focused on his struggles raising his daughter on a tight budget. His early style was influenced by rappers like Nas Esham and AZ and was less violent than later in his career. Despite personal challenges and substance abuse, he continued to pursue music eventually gaining attention with his alter ego Slim Shady known for its dark provocative lyrics.
After facing job loss and homelessness Eminem went to Los Angeles in 1997 to compete in the Rap Olympics catching the attention of Interscope Records Dr. Dre was impressed and signed him leading to the release of Eminem’s breakthrough album “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999. Despite controversy over its content, the album was a commercial success. Eminem continued to collaborate with Dre releasing more albums and founding his label Shady Records.
“The Marshall Mathers LP” in 2000 broke records and solidified Eminem’s place in the music industry. It was followed by “The Eminem Show” in 2002 another critically acclaimed album. Eminem’s career saw more success with albums like “Encore” in 2004 although it faced criticism for controversial content. Throughout his career, he has been known for his provocative lyrics and collaborations with other artists influencing the rap genre significantly.
In September 2007, he spoke to a New York radio station during an interview with 50 Cent. He mentioned feeling uncertain about releasing another album saying he was “in limbo” and undecided. Despite personal challenges, he expressed positivity about being back in the studio. By September 2008 Eminem focused on his projects producing tracks and working hard. Interscope later confirmed a new album for spring 2009 titled Relapse. Eminem described reconnecting with Dr. Dre for the album emphasizing their creative synergy.
“Relapse” released in May 2009 included the single “We Made You”. Although it didn’t match his previous sales it was still commercially successful selling over five million copies worldwide. Eminem’s performance at the Voodoo Experience in October marked his comeback to live shows. He then announced a re-release called Relapse: Refill with additional tracks for his fans.
In 2010, he revealed a change in plans tweeting that there would be no “Relapse 2”. Instead he renamed the project Recovery which debuted in June 2010. It quickly became a massive success selling over three million copies in the US alone. Recovery included hits like “Not Afraid” and “Love the Way You Lie” with Rihanna topping charts worldwide and earning critical acclaim.
Continuing his streak Eminem collaborated with Royce da 5’9″ in 2011 for their EP Bad Meets Evil followed by more successes with singles like “Lighters”. His next major album “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” arrived in 2013 also reached number one on the charts and featuring hits like “Berzerk” and “The Monster” with Rihanna.
In February 2017, Eminem featured on Big Sean’s album “I Decided” specifically on the track “No Favors”. In his verse, Eminem criticized President Donald Trump calling him derogatory names, and also made controversial comments about Ann Coulter a Trump supporter. Coulter responded criticizing him for what she saw as promoting violence against women through his lyrics.
Later that year Eminem made headlines again with his freestyle rap “The Storm” at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards. He used the opportunity to heavily criticize Trump’s administration, particularly its handling of issues like NFL player protests and gun control after the Las Vegas shooting. Eminem concluded by saying Trump supporters couldn’t be his fans anymore earning praise from fellow rappers.
In October 2017, he collaborated with Pink on the song “Revenge” from her album “Beautiful Trauma”. His political stance continued to draw attention leading to interviews by the Secret Service over perceived threats in his lyrics towards President Trump and his daughter Ivanka.
Moving forward Eminem released his album “Revival” in December 2017 which received mixed reviews but still debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. He followed it up quickly with “Kamikaze” in August 2018 addressing criticism of “Revival”. “Kamikaze” also topped the charts featuring singles like “Fall” and “Venom”.
Continuing his prolific output he released “Music to Be Murdered By” in January 2020 which included collaborations with various artists and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album received praise for Eminem’s lyrical skill but faced criticism for its formulaic approach and controversial lyrics on tracks like “Unaccommodating”.
His career continued with surprise releases and collaborations including his performance at the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show. He remains a prominent figure in both music and public discourse recently announcing his album “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” set for release later in 2024.
Net Worth
Eminem has an estimated net worth of $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Eminem’s net worth comes from his music career. He’s been incredibly successful as a rapper, selling millions of albums worldwide. This includes money from record sales, concerts, and royalties from his songs being played on the radio, streaming platforms, and in movies.
He’s also earned money from endorsements and business ventures related to his music career. Overall, his net worth reflects his long-standing success in the music industry.
Personal life
Eminem met Kimberly Anne Scott in high school while rapping LL Cool J’s “I’m Bad” shirtless on a table. They began dating in 1989 when Kim and her twin sister moved in with him and his mother. They had a daughter named Hailie Jade in 1995.
Eminem and Kim got married in 1999 but divorced in 2001. Despite Eminem’s earlier aversion to marriage they briefly remarried in 2006 only to divorce again shortly after. They now maintain a friendly relationship.
Their daughter Hailie is now a social media influencer focusing on fashion and beauty. She married Evan McClintock in May 2024 with Eminem Dr. Dre and 50 Cent attending.
Eminem legally adopted and gained custody of Kim’s sister’s daughter Alaina Marie and another child named Stevie from Kim’s previous relationship. He also raised his younger half-brother Nathan.
In the 2000s, he dated actress Brittany Murphy and briefly claimed to have dated Mariah Carey which she denied. He has openly discussed his past struggles with prescription drug addiction including Vicodin Ambien and Valium. He became sober in 2008 after a serious overdose incident.
In 2020, a man broke into Eminem’s house claiming he was there to kill him. The intruder was later sentenced to probation and time served. Eminem was also targeted in a racially motivated attack in 2023.
Eminem has expressed political views aligned with the Democratic Party in his music but has not directly endorsed politicians. He criticized President George W. Bush in his song “Mosh” in 2004 and has been vocal about issues like gun control and women’s rights.
Legal issues
Eminem’s legal history is quite eventful. At age 20 he faced his first legal trouble when he was arrested for shooting a paintball gun during a drive-by incident but the case was dropped because the victim didn’t show up in court.
In June 2000, Eminem was arrested after pulling an unloaded gun during an argument at a car-audio store. The next day he was arrested again for assaulting a man he saw kissing his wife outside a cafe. He pleaded guilty to weapon possession and assault getting probation and a fine.
His mother sued him in 1999 for $10 million claiming he slandered her on his album “The Slim Shady LP.” The court awarded her $1600 in damages in 2001.
In 2000, Eminem’s wife attempted suicide and later sued him over his graphic lyrics about killing her in the song “Kim.”
A sanitation worker sued Eminem in 2001 for $1 million saying his song “Brain Damage” unfairly portrayed him as a bully. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2003.
In 2002, a jazz pianist sued Eminem for $10 million claiming his song “Kill You” used a beat from his music without permission. They settled out of court.
In 2006, Eminem was accused of assaulting someone in a strip club bathroom but was not charged. The accuser sued him for damages in 2008.
In 2007, Eminem’s music company sued Apple and his record label for selling his songs on iTunes without permission. The case was settled in 2009.
In 2010, a court ruled Eminem was owed royalties from his record label’s digital sales. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2011.
In 2013, Eminem used a sample without permission from a rap group’s song for his own hit single. The group sued him for $8 million in 2015.
Awards
Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists ever with over 220 million records sold globally. He’s topped the Billboard 200 with thirteen number-one albums including nine solo efforts two with D12 and one with Bad Meets Evil. From 2000 to 2009 he was the top-selling music artist in the US and he continued as the best-selling male artist of the 2010s. In total, he’s sold 47.4 million albums and 107.5 million singles in the US alone.
Several of his works like “The Marshall Mathers LP”, “The Eminem Show”, and singles like “Lose Yourself” and “Love the Way You Lie” have been certified Diamond or higher by the RIAA. His music videos on YouTube Vevo have garnered over ten billion views and he was named the most-streamed music artist ever by Spotify in 2014.
Eminem’s accolades include 15 Grammy Awards eight American Music Awards and 17 Billboard Music Awards. Billboard honored him as the “Artist of the Decade (2000–2009).” He received the Global Icon Award at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself” becoming the first rapper to achieve this honor.
He’s been recognized in various “greatest” lists including Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Eminem was also named the “King of Hip-Hop” by Rolling Stone in 2011 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
