Eminem

The best-selling rapper and one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. Known for his rap flow and conscious rap, which includes political criticism and social commentary, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, often credited with popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and the acceptance of white rappers. While much of his transgressive art during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, Eminem has become a representation of popular angst in lower-income America.

Quick Facts

Video premiere date: November 2, 2006

Lore & Background

Eminem was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, the only child of Deborah Nelson and Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. His father abandoned the family when Eminem was a year and a half old, and his mother raised him in poverty. He and his mother moved frequently, eventually settling in Detroit when he was 12. He dropped out of Lincoln High School after spending three years in ninth grade. He later received a GED. Eminem worked at several jobs, including at Little Caesar's Pizza, to help his mother pay bills. He began rapping at age 14 with friend Mike Ruby, adopting the name 'M&M' which evolved into 'Eminem'. He was a member of the hip-hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, as well as the duo Bad Meets Evil with Royce da 5'9".

Reader's Guide

After the release of his debut album Infinite (1996) and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and achieved mainstream popularity with The Slim Shady LP (1999). Each of his next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), sold over one million copies in a single week; the latter became the best-selling album worldwide in 2002 and the best-selling hip-hop album of all time.

After Encore (2004), he took a hiatus due in part to struggles with prescription drug addiction. He returned with Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010); the latter was the best-selling album worldwide in 2010. Each of his subsequent releases—The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024)—has debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart. In 2002, he starred in the drama film 8 Mile.

'Lose Yourself', a song from the 8 Mile soundtrack, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first hip-hop act to ever win the award. His other ventures include co-founding Shady Records, establishing the Sirius XM Radio channel Shade 45, and opening the restaurant Mom's Spaghetti.

Did You Know?

Eminem is the best-selling rapper and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 220 million records.
He has 11 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eminem has seven diamond certifications from the RIAA.
His accolades include 15 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Billboard named him the Artist of the 2000s.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eminem's role in The Re-Up?

Eminem serves as the architect behind the Shady compilation album, uniting both veteran artists and new recruits. He delivers the lead single "You Don't Know," which acts as a chart-topping posse cut for the project.

Who appears alongside Eminem on the track 'You Don't Know'?

The song features collaborations with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Cashis, marking the introduction of new vocals from Cashis. This lineup creates an all-star single that highlights the strength of the Shady roster.

How do critics describe Eminem's performance on this single?

AllMusic praised the track as an excellent all-star single that underscores its significance within the album. Additionally, B. Love noted that when Eminem takes the lead, he makes a strong case for being the tightest emcee in the game.