Eminem

Who Is Eminem?

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is a globally renowned rapper, songwriter, and music producer. Widely regarded as one of the best-selling musicians of the 21st century, he has earned 15 Grammy Awards throughout his career. Eminem’s rise to fame came with the release of his breakthrough album The Slim Shady LP in 1999. His subsequent album, The Marshall Mathers LP, set a record as the fastest-selling rap album in history. In addition to his music career, Eminem has ventured into acting, most notably starring in the 2002 semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, for which he wrote and performed the Academy Award-winning song “Lose Yourself.”

Early Life: Eminem’s Real Name, Mother, and Father

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. His stage name, Eminem, is derived from the initials of his first and last names. Eminem’s father, Marshall Mathers Jr., abandoned the family when Eminem was an infant, leaving his mother, Deborah “Debbie” Nelson, to raise him. Throughout his childhood, Eminem lived a nomadic lifestyle, frequently relocating between Missouri and Detroit, often residing in public housing. He attended numerous schools, where he struggled with bullying and alienation, a consequence of his frequent relocations.

Eminem attended Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, where he faced academic challenges, including failing the ninth grade three times before dropping out at 17. Despite his struggles in school, he developed a strong affinity for language, immersing himself in comic books and even studying the dictionary. He later attributed his success as a rapper to his deep passion for words and language.

Eminem’s relationship with his mother has been fraught with tension. He has accused her of neglect and emotional abuse, as well as being addicted to prescription drugs. His mother has denied these allegations and, in 1999, filed a defamation lawsuit against him, which was settled for $25,000. In 2008, Debbie published a memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, in which she provided her side of the story, asserting that she never exploited her son and was solely concerned for his well-being.

Ex-Wife Kim Scott and Daughters

Eminem’s personal life has been equally tumultuous, particularly his relationship with Kim Scott, whom he married and divorced twice. The couple first met when Eminem was 15 and Kim was 13. Kim, who had a troubled background involving the absence of a father and sexual abuse by her stepfather, moved in with Eminem and his mother. Their relationship was marked by significant ups and downs, with the pair frequently breaking up and reconciling.

In 1999, just before embarking on his first major tour, Eminem and Kim married. However, their relationship was fraught with public conflict, including a highly publicized custody battle over their daughter Hailie. The couple divorced in 2001, a period during which Eminem famously released the song “Kim,” reflecting his feelings about their turbulent relationship.

Eminem and Kim remarried in January 2006, but their second marriage was short-lived. Within three months, Eminem filed for divorce, and their separation was finalized later that year. Despite their rocky relationship, Eminem has remained involved in the lives of his daughters, including Hailie, whom he has often referenced in his music.

Children

Eminem, alongside Kim Scott, raised three children: Alaina, Hailie Jade, and Stevie. Of these, Hailie, born in December 1995, has garnered the most public attention. Eminem has referenced Hailie frequently throughout his career, notably in the 2004 song Mockingbird and on his 2017 album Revival.

In the early 2000s, Eminem took on greater parenting responsibilities after adopting Alaina, born in February 1993 to Kim’s sister, Dawn Scott. Due to Dawn’s struggles with drug addiction, Eminem and Kim stepped in to raise Alaina. Tragically, Dawn Scott passed away in January 2016 from an apparent heroin overdose.

Eminem also adopted Stevie, Kim’s child from her previous relationship with Eric Hartter. Stevie, born in April 2002 and identifying as nonbinary, uses all pronouns. Eminem formally became their father in 2005.

Rap Career

Despite dropping out of high school, Eminem found a powerful outlet for his passion for language and his frustrations through hip-hop, an emerging genre at the time. He adopted the stage name “M&M,” a playful nod to his initials, which he later began spelling phonetically as “Eminem.” Influenced by the raw, rebellious spirit of late-1980s and early-1990s rap, especially the controversial N.W.A., Eminem immersed himself in Detroit’s competitive rap battle scene. His exceptional talent in these impromptu verbal duels earned him respect in the underground community, even though, as a white rapper, he was an anomaly in a genre dominated by Black artists.

Eminem reflected on his rise: “I finally found something that… I could do better than anyone else, and it started to feel like maybe Marshall’s gettin’ a little respect.”

This period of his life—working low-wage jobs while relentlessly battling for a record deal—was dramatized in the 2002 semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, where Eminem starred as Jimmy, opposite Brittany Murphy.

Eminem’s breakthrough came in 1997 when he traveled to Los Angeles and finished as the runner-up in the Rap Olympics MC Battle. Impressed by his independent release The Slim Shady EP, Dr. Dre signed him to Interscope Records, setting the stage for Eminem’s rise to prominence. Today, Eminem is regarded as one of the most influential rappers in the genre, instrumental in bringing rap into the mainstream.

Albums and Songs

Eminem’s career includes 12 studio albums, along with two early self-released projects. His two greatest hits compilations are Curtain Call (2005) and Curtain Call 2 (2022). Below is a list of his albums:

Independent Releases:

• Infinite
• The Slim Shady EP

Studio Albums:

• The Slim Shady LP (1999)
• The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
• The Eminem Show (2002)
• Encore (2004)
• Relapse (2009)
• Recovery (2010)
• The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013)
• Shady XV (2014)
• Revival (2017)
• Kamikaze (2018)
• Music to Be Murdered By (2020)
• Side B (2020)

In addition to his solo work, Eminem is a founding member of the rap group D12, which formed in 2001. D12’s debut album, Devil’s Night, produced the popular track “Purple Pills.” Though the group is mostly inactive, their 2015 mixtape Devil’s Night: Reloaded featured Eminem on a single track.