EMINEMBy: Delainey Van Horn

Early Life

Born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972 in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

He was the first and only child for Deborah Nelson Mathers-Briggs and Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr.

His father abandoned him and his mother when he was only 18 months old.

By age 12, Eminem and his mother had moved between various cities in Missouri before settling down in Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

Early Life

At age 14 he became a battle rapper, competing against other Detroit MC’s.

In 1995 he made his recording debut with a group called Soul Intent, which introduced him to a rapper named Proof.

Eminem and Proof soon started a new group called D12 with four other rappers.

Eminem was simultaneously launching his solo career at the same time.

Early Important Events

In 1996, he debuted his first solo album called, Infinite. Jimmy Lovine, CEO of Interscope Records requested a demo

tape of Eminem’s after Eminem placed 2nd at the 1997 Rap Olympics.

Eminem also won the Wake Up Show’s Freestyle Performer of The Year award, helping him acquire a record deal.

Jimmy Lovine played the tape for record producer Dr. Dre. Eminem and Dre began recording tracks for Eminem’s

upcoming major-label debut, The Slim Shady LP.

Important Events Slim Shady LP debuted in 1998. It went on to be one of the most popular albums of 1999, going triple

platinum by the end of the year. His next album was The Marshall Mathers LP which was released in

May 2000. It sold 1.76 million copies in its first week. Breaking the records set by Snoop Dogg’s Doggy Style as the fastest

selling hip hop album and Britney Spear’s Baby One More Time as the fastest selling solo album in the United States history.

In July 2000, Eminem became the first white person to be featured on the cover of Source magazine.

The Marshall Mathers LP has been certified 9x platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)

Important EventsImportant Events► Eminem’s third major album, The Eminem Show Eminem’s third major album, The Eminem Show

was released in summer 2002.was released in summer 2002.► It proved to be another hit for the rapper. Reaching It proved to be another hit for the rapper. Reaching

number one on the charts and selling well over 1 number one on the charts and selling well over 1 million copies in its first week of release.million copies in its first week of release.

► Eminem made his official Hollywood acting debut Eminem made his official Hollywood acting debut with the semi-autobiographical movie, 8 Mile.with the semi-autobiographical movie, 8 Mile.

► He has said the movie is not an account of his life, He has said the movie is not an account of his life, but a representation of growing up in Detroit.but a representation of growing up in Detroit.

► The song, “Lose Yourself”, from the soundtrack to 8 The song, “Lose Yourself”, from the soundtrack to 8 Mile, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Mile, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Awards for Best Male Rap Solo and Grammy Awards for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song.Performance and Best Rap Song.

Important EventsImportant Events

In 2004, Eminem released his 4In 2004, Eminem released his 4 thth major album, Encore. The album major album, Encore. The album was another chart topper.was another chart topper.

In 2005, some industry insiders In 2005, some industry insiders speculated that Eminem was speculated that Eminem was considering ending his rapping considering ending his rapping career after six years and several career after six years and several multi-platinum albums.multi-platinum albums.

In December 2005, Eminem denied In December 2005, Eminem denied that he was retiring, but implied that that he was retiring, but implied that he would at least be taking a break he would at least be taking a break as an artist.as an artist.

Important Events

In the early summer of 2005, he embarked on his first US tour in 3 years.

It was called The Anger Management Tour.

In August 2005, he cancelled the European leg of the tour and subsequently announced he had entered rehab for, “dependency on sleep medication”.

The Comeback

On March 5, 2009, after being off the map for about four years, Eminem reported in a press release that he would be releasing two new albums that year.

Relapse was the first album to be released on May 19, 2009.

It didn’t manage to sell as well as Eminem’s previous albums, but it was still a commercial success and received critical acclaim.

It also re-established his presence in the hip hop world.

The Comeback

On June 21, 2010, Eminem released his 7th studio album called Recovery.

In the U.S. it sold 741,000 in its first week. The first single, “Not Afraid”, was released on April 29 th and

debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The next single released was, “Love The Way You Lie”,

which debuted number two and then rose. Recovery was the 5th best selling album of 2010 in the U.S.

as of July 15th As of August 1st the album had sold 1.828 million copies.

Family Life

Eminem was married twice to Kimberly Anne Scott, whom he met in highschool.

They began their on-and-off again relationship in 1989, getting married by 1999.

In 2000, Kim attempted suicide and sued Eminem for defamation after he depicted her violent death in his song “Kim”.

The couple first divorced in 2001, but remarried in January 2006.

Their second divorce was finalized in December of 2006.

Family LifeFamily Life

► Eminem has one daughter Eminem has one daughter with Kim, her name is Hailie with Kim, her name is Hailie Jade Scott.Jade Scott.

► He also has two adopted He also has two adopted daughters Alaina “Lainey” daughters Alaina “Lainey” Mathers who is Kim’s Mathers who is Kim’s sister’s daughter & Whitney, sister’s daughter & Whitney, Kim’s daughter from a Kim’s daughter from a previous marriage.previous marriage.

► He is also a legal guardian He is also a legal guardian of Nathan, his younger half-of Nathan, his younger half-brother.brother.

Eminem with his daughter Hailie.

Work Cited

• "wikipedia.org." wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem. wikipedia, 10/7/10. Web. 8 Oct 2010.

• Parker, Lyndsey. "Eminem Biography." Biography of Eminem. Fan Site, 12 09 2010. Web. 18 Oct 2010. <eminem.net/biography>.

• "Eminem Official Website." Official Eminem Website. Official Fan Site, 16 10 2010. Web. 18 Oct 2010. <eminemrx.com>.