Eminem (b. Marshall Bruce Mathers III, St. Joseph, MO) is one of the most controversial and prolific rap artists to emerge at the end of the twentieth century. Coming from a white working class background, Mather’s childhood is marred by a broken home, suicide of a close relative and a move to Detroit. It is in this industrial heartland where he is introduced to the local rap movement and quickly becomes a dominant force. In 1995 he joins the D-12 collective while his daughter Hailie is born out of his fraught relationship with his future wife Kim. In 1996, the Eminem debut album ‘Infinite’ is released to mixed reviews. In response the lyrical content of his raps starts to become more cynical and Mathers creates another alter ego in the ‘Slim Shady’. While his personal life is in turmoil the ‘Slim Shady EP’ is released as an outlet of this anger – to much critical acclaim.
At a showcase in LA, Eminem is approached by Interscope’s Jimmy Iovine for a demotape. Iovine presents the tape to the nestor of West Coast hiphop, Dr. Dre who promptly invites the rapper to his studio complex. Dre is to remain central to the Eminem career and the two record the hitsingles ‘My Name Is’ and ‘Just Don’t Give a F***’. Mathers signs to Interscope, marries the mother of his child and appears on the Kid Rock track ‘Devil Without a Cause’. The Interscope debut ‘The Slim Shady LP’ is released in 1999 and brings worldwide acclaim. The subject matter also courts controversy as it is criticised for the use of graphic violence and obscenities. Particularly the narrative displayed in the video’s cause outrage and are heavily censored in the UK.
In the summer of 2000 the profile is raised further with ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ which contains the global hit ‘Stan’ featuring the English singer Dido and ‘The Real Slim Shady’. Controversy continues with various courtcases, a public spat with Christina Aguilara and allegations of homophobic lyrical content. A tour follows where the rapper wields a chainsaw on stage which provides further press attention. On his return to the US, his wife divorces him after a suicide attempt and a custody battle ensues. At the MTV awards he puts on a show with a large number of extra’s dressed up in the ‘Slim Shady’ caricature, while at the Grammy’s Mathers duets with Elton John. After an eventual year, Eminem retired from the limelight to appear on Dr. Dre’s solo effort and reform the D-12 collective to go on tour. He spends much 2001 filming the autobiographical ‘8 Mile’ with director Curtis Hanson.
The film and the OST are reasonable success while Mathers also steps into the production chair for Interscope. The controversy is dying out and the release of ‘The Eminem Show’ and the single ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’ inject humour in the angry content. A successful tour follows while the Eminem/Dre production of 50ct now brings controversy and further global success. In 2004 Eminem returns with the album ‘Encore’ to re-establish himself as the premier rap-act of this day, setting consecutive No. 1’s with ‘Just Lose It’ and ‘Toy Soldiers’ – the latter containing a heavy sample of the Martika hit of the same title. The controversy is never far away and Micheal Jackson protests heavily at the portrayal of his character in the video for ‘Just Lose It’ as the trial for his child abuse case gets under way. The love-hate relationship between America and its most prolific rapper is likely to continue for some time.
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