Eminem is a multi-awarded American rapper and actor who gained worldwide recognition for his controversial rap lyrics and his alter ego Slim Shady during his early work at the turn of the millennium. His widely popular single My Name Is ranked at top 39 in the 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time in April 2016 according to Rolling Stone.
Eminem was 30 years old when he starred in his film debut, 8 Mile. The film also featured the late actress Brittany Murphy, whom he dated briefly in 2002.
Eminem has reached legend status in his career as a rapper – let’s look back at his career beginnings as well as the significance of the movie 8 Mile to his personal and professional life.
What is Eminem’s age in 2022?
Eminem’s real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on October 17, 1972 to a musical couple who played in a band together called Daddy Warbucks, which toured Ramad Inns. The couple parted ways and young Marshall was left with his mom, while his dad went to California. Eminem has 2 half siblings with his father and 1 half brother with his mom.
Eminem turned 50 years old in 2022. The rapper was 24 years old when his first studio album Infinite was released in 1996.
Eminem had a rough childhood, wherein he and his mom, Debbie, would stay with family and move around a lot. In Michigan, Eminem was a victim of bullying by D’Angelo Bailey, which resulted in him incurring serious head injuries, which he later would rap about in his song Brain Damage.
His mother reportedly sued the school, but the judge dismissed it for reasons that a school is immune from lawsuits.
Early Career
Growing up in a primarily black middle-class neighborhood influenced the young Eminem heavily. He was beaten up by some black youths and yet he has learned to love rap music. Writing songs was his escape and rapping became a passion he shared with his high school friend Mike Ruby.
He adopted the moniker, M&M, which later evolved into his current professional name, Eminem. Lunchroom freestyle rap battles and open mic contests paved the way for recognition in a primarily-Black industry. He gained a following from the underground hip-hop audiences and continued to perform with his rapper friend, Proof.
The Rise of Eminem
In 1997, he won second place in the freestyle category in the 1997 Rap Olympics in LA. He was spotted by Dr. Dre who took him under his wing. This collaboration established his credibility as a rapper and made his second album, The Slim Shady LP, sell millions of copies. The album was both a commercial and critical success, earning Eminem 2 Grammy Awards and 4 MTV awards.
There’s no stopping Eminem when his next album, The Marshall Mathers LP turned Diamond according to RIAA. Songs like “The Real Slim Shady” and “Stan” were massive hits that caused a lot of controversy due to its explicit lyrics and rated themes. Despite all, the album became one of the fastest-selling hip-hop albums, even surpassing Snoop Dogg’s Doggy Style.
Nearly as popular as his third album, Eminem released The Eminem Show in 2002. It also was certified Diamond by RIAA and sold millions of copies in its first week. True to its nature, the 4th album depicted anger at the effects of fame on Eminem and his family.
His excessive use of profanity in his lyrics have been heavily criticized by different groups but haven’t dampened the public’s interest in the star and his music. The album sold 27 million worldwide and became the best-selling album of 2002.
During the same year, Eminem also had his movie debut in the semi autobiographical film titled 8 Mile. It tells the story of a man and his pursuit of a rap career muddled by his personal affairs and foes. The movie raked in more than $200 million in the box office. The movie’s cast include Mekhi Phifer, Kim Basinger, and Brittany Murphy.