Eminem

American rap singer and songwriter

• Born: October 17, 1972
• Place of Birth: Saint Joseph, Missouri

A controversial rap artist, Eminem is noted for his high-energy, witty, and offensive lyrics. As a White musician performing in a genre dominated by Black artists, Eminem is often compared to Elvis Presley.

The Life

Marshall Mathers, who later took the name, Eminem, had an unstable childhood, moving repeatedly between Missouri and Michigan. His father left the family shortly after he was born, and his mother, Deborah “Debbie” Mathers, raised him. Eminem had a close relationship with his uncle, Ronald, or “Ronnie,” who was only a few months older. One of Eminem’s tattoos and the military identification tags he has worn to commemorate his uncle's 1991 suicide.

At school, Eminem was the victim of bullying, and one beating left him in a coma for five days. After repeating ninth grade three times, he dropped out of high school, and he held various unfulfilling jobs until his music career became profitable. He maintained a turbulent relationship with Kimberly “Kim” Scott, and they had a daughter, Hailie Jade, in 1995. Many of Eminem’s lyrics refer to the people closest to him: Debbie, Kim, Hailie, and Ronnie.

Eminem spent his teenage years around Detroit, where he began performing hip-hop music with Bassmint Productions, Soul Intent, Royce da 5’9”, and D12. D12, also known as the Dirty Dozen or Detroit 12, comprised six Detroit rappers with two distinct rap personalities. In this context, Eminem rapped as M&M, for Marshall Mathers (which became Eminem), and Slim Shady. Both names stuck. Eminem’s earliest musical success came in improvisational-rap competitions, called battles, in Detroit, and later Eminem finished second in the 1997 Rap Olympics MC Battle in Los Angeles. Around that time, a promotional tape of his performance reached rapper and producer Dr. Dre.

Dr. Dre signed Eminem to his Aftermath record label, and in 1999, he produced Eminem’s first studio album, The Slim Shady LP. The album was an international success. That year, Eminem married Kim; they were married for two years before divorcing in 2001, remarrying in 2006, and redivorcing later that year.

Eminem’s subsequent albums were successful, making him one of rap’s best-selling artists. His performance as the lead character in the 2002 film 8 Mile earned some critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Song. In 2020, Eminem became the first artist to have ten consecutive albums debut at number one in the United States after the release of his eleventh studio album, Words to be Murdered By (2020). Eminem released his twelfth album, The Death of Slim Shady, in 2024. It was his eleventh album to debut at number one in the US.

During his career, he served two years of probation stemming from assault charges, and his mother and his ex-wife, among others, have sued him. Eminem and his lyrics continued to be part of cultural conversations in the United States when they once again played a role in a Supreme Court case being heard by the Court in 2023 concerning stalking and the posting of online threats.

The Music

Eminem developed his signature dense rhyming patterns, frequent use of homonyms, and intricate rhythms through improvised rap battles. An improvisational sound and self-deprecating lyrics were characteristic of his work. While still young, he performed on various albums, including the solo Infinite, although these are generally omitted from discussions of his music. His musical reputation rests primarily on the four studio albums he had completed by 2004.

Eminem’s music has been the source of considerable controversy, earning him accusations of misogyny and homophobia as well as rallying cries for artistic freedom. Various works of his have been banned on the radio, MTV, and Black Entertainment Television (BET), and he appeared before a congressional hearing on violence in the media.

The Slim Shady LP. Produced by Dr. Dre in 1999 and dedicated to Eminem’s daughter Hailie, The Slim Shady LP was Eminem’s first studio album and winner of the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Rappers as role models and the struggles of drug users and poor people are among the main themes of the album. While many of the songs depict scenes that seem real and even autobiographical, one of the last tracks on the album, “I’m Shady,” explains that not all of Eminem’s lyrics are to be taken literally.

“My Name Is” is the hit single from The Slim Shady LP, and this introduced Eminem to a wider audience. “Rock Bottom” is set against a hymn-like musical background, but it is about the willingness to commit crimes when there is no hope of a better life. Eminem attempted suicide around the time he recorded this track. The cover art of The Slim Shady LP depicts the haunting fantasy that Eminem describes in “’97 Bonnie & Clyde”: a man and his young daughter disposing of her mother’s body. Distant, minor melodies and the use of a harp create a mysterious, ethereal background, while the sounds of waves and of Eminem’s daughter, Hailie, add realism. Tori Amos released a cover of this piece in 2001.

The Marshall Mathers LP. In 2000, Eminem released his second studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and earned Eminem his second consecutive Grammy for Best Rap Album. Eminem raps in a more aggressive and angry style on this album. The topic of rappers as role models reemerges, along with songs about Eminem’s rise to fame. Eminem dedicated the album to his daughter Hailie, Polkinghorn, and Cornell Pitts, better known as Bugz, a former D12 rap associate.

The first single released from The Marshall Mathers LP, “The Real Slim Shady,” is a catchy, memorable tune that emphasizes the rapper’s name. “Stan” is one of Eminem’s most critically acclaimed raps: The music samples Dido’s “Thank You,” combined with thunder, rain, and the sound of writing on paper, the story unfolding in the form of three letters from an unstable fan named Stan. At the end of the third verse, Stan performs reckless actions described in “My Name Is,” and he ultimately kills himself and his pregnant girlfriend in a scenario similar to the one described in “’97 Bonnie & Clyde.” The last verse is Eminem’s concerned response that comes too late.

“Lose Yourself.” In 2002, Eminem starred in the motion picture 8 Mile, which at the time had the largest opening weekend for an R-rated motion picture. Eminem played a white Detroit rapper, Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith, although the plot is not strictly autobiographical. The song “Lose Yourself,” which is about Smith’s struggle to become a successful musician, is heard as a work in progress throughout the film, and by the end, Smith finishes it. This was Eminem’s first number-one Billboard single, holding that position longer than any other song by a rap artist. It was also the first rap song to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The Eminem Show.The Eminem Show earned the artist his third Grammy Award for Best Rap Album; he was the first person to win the award three times. The album has a more mature sound, with less distortion and more layering, and some of the lyrics (especially in “White America” and “Square Dance”) are more political than in previous albums. However, there is still a personal side: “Hailie’s Song” is about Eminem’s daughter, and “My Dad’s Gone Crazy” features her singing throughout the track. “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” is mostly about Eminem’s mother, but it also contains references to Eminem’s father and uncle.

“Without Me,” a high-energy hit, could be likened to “My Name Is” and “The Real Slim Shady” from previous albums. “Without Me” contains one of the best examples of Eminem’s lyrical virtuosity. After a rapid-fire succession of rhymes woven into a complex pattern, he concludes the second verse with the sound being sent with five different meanings. Rappers as role models is a central theme in “When the Music Stops” and “Sing for the Moment.” The latter rap samples “Dream On” by Aerosmith, and it features Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Here Eminem offers a coherent defense against the accusations that his music is dangerous for children, and further, he argues that his music could be beneficial to them and that those who censor his lyrics could be harming children by limiting their artistic outlets.

Encore. Dr. Dre served as executive producer for Encore, which Eminem released in 2004. Critics attacked Encore for being more heavy-handed and less clever than his previous albums. Nevertheless, “Mockingbird” is perhaps Eminem’s most personal and touching rap. While previous albums included a catchy single from the perspective of Slim Shady, Encore contains “My First Single,” a blatant mockery of that formula. Like The Eminem Show, Encore features some political content. “Mosh,” for instance, is a harsh, detailed criticism of the George W. Bush presidency, and it encourages political activism. The video was released shortly before the 2004 U.S. presidential election as a way to recruit young voters. “Like Toy Soldiers” is a call for an end to violence among rappers. The music is characterized by its persistent, militant snare drum and its sample of “Toy Soldiers” performed by Martika. The music video concludes with images of rappers who had been killed recently: Tupac Shakur, the Notorious B.I.G., Big L, and Bugz, formerly of D12. The video also includes images of the fictional killing of Proof, a member of D12 and the best man in Eminem’s second wedding. In 2006 Proof would, in fact, be shot and killed in a Detroit nightclub.

Relapse. In 2007 Eminem overdosed on prescription medications and entered rehab for his addiction to them. His subsequent albums, Relapse (2009), Relapse: Refill (2009), and Recovery (2010), allude to these experiences. The lattermost album topped the Billboard 200 chart upon its release, while one of its singles, “Not Afraid,” went straight to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Eminem followed Recovery with Hell: The Sequel in 2011. The EP was Eminem’s first to be released under the name Bad Meets Evil, his partnership with Royce da 5’9”.

The Marshall Mathers LP 2. In November 2013, Eminem released a solo album consisting of new songs. The album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 includes the hit “The Monster,” a collaboration with Rihanna, as well as the songs “Berzerk,” “Rap God,” and “Survival.” To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of starting his record label, Shady, Eminem released a double-disc set entitled Shady XV in 2014.

Revival. Released in December 2017, Eminem’s ninth studio album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The album was preceded by the hit single “Walk on Water,” featuring singer Beyoncé. Other singles from the album include “River,” featuring Ed Sheeran, and “Nowhere Fast,” featuring Kehlani. Regardless of its commercial success, however, the album received polarizing critical reviews.

Kamikaze. Eminem released the album Kamikaze in August 2018 with no prior announcement. Despite this, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Three singles were released from the album: “Fall,” “Lucky You,” and “Venom,” which was featured in the 2018 antihero film of the same name. “Lucky You” earned Eminem a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song.

Music to Be Murdered By. On January 17, 2020, Eminem released his eleventh studio album, again with no prior announcement. Featuring an assortment of collaborators, including Sheeran and deceased rapper Juice Wrld, the album received mixed to positive reviews. Several songs, however, caused controversy by discussing the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Despite the criticism, the album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, making Eminem the first person to have ten consecutive albums debut at number one in the US. He also beat his previous record for fastest verse on a charted rap song by rapping 10.65 syllables per second on the album’s track “Godzilla.” Later that year, in December, he released more music without warning, a collection of sixteen tracks that were listed under the title Music to Be Murdered By—Side B, a deluxe edition of his previous record. These songs, with guest appearances by artists such as Dr. Dre and Skylar Gray, largely received mixed to negative reviews, particularly in comparison to Music to Be Murdered By.

The Death of Slim Shady. Released in July 2024, Eminem's twelfth album was preceded by months of teases, including a video in the style of crime show Unsolved Mysteries released during the NFL draft in April, an obituary for his Slim Shady persona, and a collaboration video with magician David Blaine. The album featured an assortment of collaborators, including White Gold, Dem Jointz, Sly Pyper, and Big Sean, among others. A concept album that Eminem encouraged listeners to play in order from beginning to end, The Death of Slim Shady explores Eminem's relationship with and the death of his alter ego. While it debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, the album received mixed reviews from critics.

Musical Legacy

Eminem was the first rap artist to win an Academy Award for Best Song, and he has also won several Grammy Awards. In February 2022, he appeared alongside longtime collaborators Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, along with Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, at that year's Superbowl Halftime Show; this marked the first time that any rap act had headlined this event. Eminem is known for his sometimes witty, sometimes tragic lyrics, which feature dense and intricate rhyming patterns. Eminem expanded the traditional topics of rap music to include personal, psychological, and political content rather than the more typical focus on drugs, violence, and women. He responded to critics who accused him of homophobia by performing live with Elton John on “Stan” on numerous occasions. In addition to his musical legacy, Eminem challenged censorship in America and violence among rappers. He was one of the factors in a cultural shift that has turned away from judging rappers by their skin color or violent reputation, paving the way for White rappers such as Paul Wall and Bubba Sparxxx as well as Black rappers with nontraditional backgrounds such as Kanye West. Often praised and often attacked, Eminem has been one of the most significant figures in rap music in the early twenty-first century. In 2022, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By the same year, he won fifteen Grammy Awards.

Principal Recordings

ALBUMS (solo): Infinite, 1996; The Slim Shady EP, 1997; The Slim Shady LP, 1999; The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000; The Eminem Show, 2002; Encore, 2004; Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, 2006; So U Wanna Freestyle?, 2008; Relapse, 2009; Relapse: Refill, 2009; Recovery, 2010; The Marshall Mathers LP 2, 2013; Shady XV, 2014; Revival, 2017; Kamikaze, 2018; Music to Be Murdered By, 2020; The Dealth of Slim Shady, 2024.

ALBUMS (with D12): Devil’s Night, 2001; D12 World, 2004.

ALBUMS (with Royce da 5’9”): Hell: The Sequel, 2011.

Bibliography

Als, Hilton, and Darryl A. Turner, eds. White Noise: The Eminem Collection. Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2003.

Bozza, Anthony. Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem. Three Rivers Press, 2003.

Doggett, Peter. Eminem: The Complete Guide to His Music. Omnibus, 2005.

Eminem. “Eminem: The Home Body.” Interview by Mark Healy. Men’s Journal, 4 Dec. 2017, www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/eminem-the-home-body-20150731. Accessed 12 July 2024.

Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. “Eminem: Biography.” AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/eminem-mn0000157676/biography. Accessed 12 July 2024.

Friskics-Warren, Bill. “License to Ill: The Stooges, the Sex Pistols, PiL, and Eminem.” I’ll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence. Continuum, 2005.

Green, Jared, ed. “Case Study in Controversy: Eminem and Gay Bashing.” In Rap and Hip-Hop: Examining Pop Culture. Greenhaven Press, 2003.

Hasted, Nick. The Dark Story of Eminem. Omnibus, 2003.

Kitwana, Bakari. “Fear of a Culture Bandit.” In Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop: Wankstas, Wiggers, Wannabes, and the New Reality of Race in America. Basic Civitas Books: 2005.

Klasfeld, Adam. “Supreme Court Hears Coles Whalen True Threat Appeal.” Law & Crime, April 2023, lawandcrime.com/supreme-court/scotus-justices-consider-coffee-dates-eminem-lyrics-and-edible-arrangement-memes-in-case-of-singers-convicted-stalker/. Accessed 12 July 2024.

Petrusich, Amanda. "Rap Takes Center Stage at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show." The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2022, www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/rap-takes-center-stage-at-the-2022-super-bowl-halftime-show. Accessed 12 July 2024.

Tsiopos-Wills, Katherine V. “Eminem.” In Icons of Hip-Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, edited by Mickey Hess. Greenwood Press, 2007.