Eminem

Eminem was raised by his mother, Deborah Mathers, after his father, Marshall Mathers Jr., abandoned the family in his infancy. His relationship with his mother was volatile and frequently contentious, eventually leading her to file a $10 million defamation lawsuit against him in 1999 over his song lyrics and interview comments, which was settled for $25,000.

He met Kimberly Anne Scott during his teenage years, and the two had a daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, in December 1995. Mathers and Scott married in June 1999, divorced in 2001, remarried in January 2006, and divorced again later that same year. In addition to Hailie, he adopted and raised his niece, Alaina Marie Scott, as well as Kimberly's child from another relationship, Whitney Scott Mathers.

Following years of intense career pressures and domestic turmoil, he developed severe dependencies on alcohol, sleeping aids, and prescription painkillers. After surviving a near-fatal drug overdose in December 2007, he entered rehabilitation and achieved sobriety in early 2008.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III spent his childhood moving between Missouri and the Detroit metropolitan area before settling on the Eastside of Detroit at age 12. Frequent school transfers made social connection difficult, and he was regularly targeted by bullies, an experience he later referenced in the song "Brain Damage". He developed an interest in language and storytelling through comic books and the dictionary, and he was introduced to hip-hop by his uncle Ronnie Polkingharn, who gave him a copy of Ice-T's single "Reckless".

By age 14, he began competing in lunchroom rap battles at Osborn High School and performing under the stage name M&M, which evolved into Eminem. Due to chronic truancy and failing ninth grade three times, he dropped out of Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, at age 17 to pursue music while working odd jobs, including at Little Caesars. He honed his craft at open mic nights at the Hip-Hop Shop on West 7 Mile Road and performed in early groups such as Soul Intent, the New Jacks, and D12 alongside fellow Detroit rapper Proof.

In 1996, Eminem recorded his independent debut album, Infinite, through FBT Productions. The release was a commercial failure and drew criticism for stylistic similarities to rappers Nas and AZ. In response, he developed his aggressive alter-ego, Slim Shady, channeling his frustrations into The Slim Shady EP in 1997. His breakthrough came later that year when he placed second at the Rap Olympics in Los Angeles, catching the attention of Interscope Records executives and label head Jimmy Iovine.

After hearing The Slim Shady EP, producer Dr. Dre signed Eminem to Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The duo immediately collaborated in the studio, creating tracks including the hit single "My Name Is". Released in February 1999, The Slim Shady LP became a multi-platinum success and earned Eminem two Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.

His follow-up, The Marshall Mathers LP, was released in May 2000 and sold nearly two million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling hip-hop album in history. The album featured hit singles such as "The Real Slim Shady", "The Way I Am", and the critically acclaimed narrative track "Stan". Despite its massive commercial and critical triumph, the record generated significant backlash over violent and transgressive lyrics. Eminem addressed allegations of homophobia by performing "Stan" alongside Elton John at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001, where the album won three trophies.

In 2002, Eminem released The Eminem Show, which debuted at number one globally and featured major singles such as "Without Me", "Cleanin' Out My Closet", and "Sing for the Moment". The project solidified his status as the best-selling music artist of the decade and marked his third consecutive Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

Later that year, Eminem made his feature acting debut starring as Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. in the drama 8 Mile, directed by Curtis Hanson. The film presented a fictionalized account of his early struggles in Detroit's rap battle circuit. The soundtrack's lead single, "Lose Yourself", became his first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and made him the first hip-hop artist to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. He followed this era of success with his fifth studio album, Encore, in 2004.

Following a five-year hiatus from solo albums, Eminem returned with Relapse in 2009, which included the Grammy-winning single "Crack a Bottle". In 2010, he released Recovery, an introspective project detailing his journey through addiction, rehabilitation, and personal renewal. Featuring the chart-topping collaborative hits "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie" with Rihanna, the album won Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards.

In 2013, he released The Marshall Mathers LP 2, featuring the hit single "The Monster", which earned him another Grammy Award. He continued releasing major studio projects, including Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024). In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in recognition of his enduring influence on hip-hop and popular culture.