Marshall Mathers

Marshall Mathers

Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, was born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri to a single mother. He spent the majority of his youth living in various states before eventually settling down in the harsh streets of Detroit at the age of 12. At age nine, Em was first introduced to rap by his Uncle Ronni who played the Breakin’ soundtrack for him and immediately Em loved it. He began obsessively studying and lip-synching LL Cool J‘s and Ice T’s skilled and complex rhyme schemes and styles. At a young age Em found his niche now all he had to do was discover his voice.

After failing 9th grade three times for lack of involvement, Em eventually just dropped out of school all together and started to pursue a career in rap more seriously. He began battling MC’s at open-mike nights at bars or clubs. In 1995 he released his first single with the group Soul Intent. In the recording process for the song, Em was introduced to another young rapper, Proof, who asked him to join his six-member crew of D12. Em then on the rise released his debut album, Infinite, in late 1995. What was supposed to be his breakthrough moment ended up resulting in the worst two years of his life.

Em’s personal life hit rock bottom in 1996. He and his longtime girlfriend, Kim, separated. Em wasn’t allowed any visitation rights to see his newborn daughter, Hallie. Because of financial reasons, Em was forced to move back in with his mother. His volatile relationship with his mother later fueled his writing by rapping about her drug addiction and the physical abuse he suffered from her as a child. In this time period Em created his alter ego of Slim Shady. It was a way for him to deal with his situation and try t...

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...ut album on Shady Records, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ making Em’s credentials even more impressive by producing the number 1 multi-platinum record of 2003.

The story of Em’s rise to success is motivational and inspirational to all. The kid who used to get picked on because of his color and was told he was a loser and would never amount to anything never quit until his dream became reality. Em persevered through whatever adversity or obstacles he faced. Who ever thought that a kid who could rhyme would one day revolutionize the music industry.

Works Cited

"Eminem Biography." . . Rolling Stone. 9/20/03 http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=6395.

"Eminem-Biography." . . Yahoo! Movies. 9/20/03 http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1802147734&cf=biog&intl=us.

"Eminem Biography." . . . 9/20/03 http://www.50-cent-eminem-fans.com/eminem-biography.htm.