Eminem biography, net worth, daughter, girlfriend. net worth, age, young 2025

Eminem Biography

Eminem (real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III) is an American rapper, music producer, and songwriter. He's one of the best-selling music artists of all time, has won fifteen Grammy Awards, and took home an Oscar for Best Song for "8 Mile," the film he starred in.

Early Life

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1972, in the small town of St. Joseph, Missouri. His parents, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. and Deborah Rae (Nelson) Mathers-Briggs, were musicians who performed at Ramada hotel restaurants. They married when Deborah was 15, and she soon gave birth to her son.

The birth was grueling and drawn-out — lasting 73 hours and nearly killing Deborah. Six months later, Marshall's parents split up; his father moved to California, started a new family with two children, Michael and Sarah, and completely abandoned his older son. Years later, as a teenager, Marshall tried reaching out to his father and wrote him several letters, but his father wouldn't even open them — just sent them back.

Trying to sort out her personal life, his mother abandoned her son when he was less than a year old, and from 1973 to 1977, the boy was raised by his cousin's grandmother, Edna. Then Deborah came back, but during her time away, she'd developed a drinking problem, and she brought home a series of stepfathers who never stuck around long.

Eminem's childhood could not be called easy

Marshall and Deborah were constantly on the move, mostly crashing with relatives, rarely staying in one place longer than a year. A few years later, his mother had another son, Nathan. Finally, when Marshall turned 12, the family settled in a Detroit suburb. People who knew him then remembered Eminem as a "generally happy kid, but introverted."

The house in Detroit where Eminem spent his childhood

Life in the new neighborhood was tough because the teenager wasn't accepted by the local kids, mostly black children from working-class families. The kid was constantly bullied and beaten up almost daily. Later, these painful experiences would surface in Eminem's lyrics, particularly in the song "Brain Damage": "Every day, I was hunted by the fat boy DeAngelo Bailey — he was an eighth-grader and behaved rudely because his father was a boxer."

In 1983, this kid hit Marshall so hard in the head that he spent 10 days in a coma, and doctors nearly gave up hope for his recovery. Bailey, the bully immortalized in the song, later admitted in an interview: "We had a whole gang, and we took him in... Well, you know, we teased him and all that. Once we hit him right on the head, on the back of the head. When we saw that he was not moving, we ran away. And then we lied and said that he slipped on the ice."

In the center: Eminem's younger brother, Nathan

Early Career Pursuits

Marshall discovered rap through his uncle Ronnie Polkingharn, who was just a few months older and became his first musical mentor. "My uncle was really my best friend," Eminem said with gratitude.

Marshall Mathers and his Uncle Ronnie (1983)

Ronnie made several rap tapes for his nephew. "And I thought, damn, this is what I want to do!" the artist recalled. Beyond rap, the boy loved writing stories and drawing homemade comics.

At 14, the teenager formed his first rap duo with friend Mike Ruby and created the pseudonym "M&M" (from his initials), which later evolved into "Eminem."

First Eminem song ever

The teenagers regularly hit up local underground freestyle battles. Slowly earning respect in a scene that had been exclusively dominated by Black artists, they built a growing fanbase.

Adolescence

Marshall struggled in school, especially in his later years - not from lack of ability, but because he had zero interest in academics. All he cared about was rap. After failing 9th grade three times at Lincoln High School, he dropped out for good at 17.

In 1991, his uncle Ronnie took his own life over a broken relationship, leaving Eminem so devastated he couldn't speak for days.

The teenager's mother Deborah constantly fought with him. From an early age, Marshall worked to help support the family, yet she still frequently kicked him out of the house. She had a troubled personality that one social worker described as "extreme suspicion bordering on paranoia." Still, in 1987, she took in her son's runaway friend Kimberly Scott, who would later become Eminem's wife.

Eminem met his future wife at the age of 15

Later, the rapper revealed that Deborah also suffered from Munchausen syndrome - a mental disorder where someone fabricates or deliberately causes illness in a loved one to gain attention, sympathy, and help from others.

Because of this disorder, his perfectly healthy 9-year-old brother Nathan spent an entire year hospitalized. Eventually, to end this abuse and get his mother proper help, Marshall had to testify against her in court and then raise his brother himself. His troubled childhood and teenage struggles became the driving force behind Eminem's creativity.

Musical career

In 1995, Eminem made his professional debut as a member of the group "New Jacks", and then, when it disbanded, in the group "Soul Intent", where his friend Proof and DJ Butterfingers also participated.

Unreleased New Jacks album + photo of a young Eminem

But he was more interested in going solo, and by 1996 he'd recorded his first album "Infinite". The album didn't attract much attention, as Detroit's hip-hop scene was already oversaturated at the time.

The film '8 Mile' starring Eminem is largely autobiographical

Eminem was pretty crushed by his debut's failure, but he later admitted his style hadn't fully formed yet, and the recording was basically a trial run. The album's main theme was his struggles raising a newborn daughter on almost no money - which earned him the snarky comment: "Maybe you should try rock 'n' roll instead?" Eminem realized his lyrics needed to get sharper, more biting, with real anger behind them.

This new mindset led to a whole new persona - an alter ego called Slim Shady. Slim literally glorified violence, drugs, and murder with sadistic glee, but beneath that shocking exterior, he tackled deeper themes of social injustice, poverty, love, and family struggles.

In this new headspace, he recorded "Slim Shady EP" in spring 1997. The album was finished but sat without any promotion, so Eminem headed to the "Rap Olympics" - an annual national rap battle competition held in Los Angeles. In this massive competition, he placed second, catching the attention of organizers.

Eminem – The Real Slim Shady

One of them, Jimmy Iovine, listened to "Slim Shady EP" and passed it along to legendary rapper and producer Andre Romelle Young, better known as Dr. Dre. Dre immediately took Eminem under his wing, and in 1999 "The Slim Shady LP" was reissued to massive success: it went triple platinum before year's end and earned Eminem his first Grammy.

Dr. Dre later recalled:

In all my time in the music industry, I've never come across anything worthwhile on demo recordings or discs. But when Jimmy put this on, I immediately said: Find him, right now». Colleagues tried to reason with the producer and warned him against working with a white, i.e., «unreal» rapper, to which he responded: «I don't care if he's purple. If he raps well, I'll be with him.

Eminem was stunned by this turn of fate, as Dr. Dre had been one of his idols for many years: "I didn't want to act like a fanboy or kiss up to him too much... I was just a regular white guy from Detroit, and before meeting Dr. Dre, I'd never been around any stars". In one of his later interviews, the artist admitted that if it hadn't been for Dr. Dre's life-changing support and his sudden rise in popularity, he would have been ready to give up and leave music to build a career in some other, less creative field: his daughter was only a year old, and his family desperately needed a stable income.

Eminem and Dr. Dre became friends and partners

By the end of 1999, Interscope Records gave the artist his own record label, under which he released music, along with allied artists like Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Cashis, Bobby Creekwater, Yelawolf, D12, and "Slaughterhouse" and others, later released their works.

The next album "The Marshall Mathers LP" was released in 2000, and in the first week, 1,760,000 copies were sold. The album became the fastest-selling in hip-hop history, breaking the previous records of Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle" and Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time".

Several singles from this album drew heavy criticism for their homophobic undertones, as well as for insulting famous artists: notably, the track "The Real Slim Shady" includes controversial claims about the sex life of Christina Aguilera, while in the track and especially its music video "My Name Is", Eminem brutally mocked rock star Marilyn Manson.

Eminem – My Name Is

Eminem's most haunting music video was for "Stan", where he explored the dark side of fame through an obsessed fan who murders his pregnant girlfriend before killing himself. This powerful track earned recognition as the "third best rap song" from Q magazine and ranked 296th in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 greatest songs of all time". At the 43rd Grammy Awards, Eminem and "Stan" won three categories.

Eminem ft. Dido – Stan

In 2001, Eminem launched the massive "Up in Smoke Tour" alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and rappers Xzibit and Ice Cube. After the tour, he focused on creating his next album, "The Eminem Show", which dropped in May 2002 and quickly shot to #1. Despite the usual criticism for its "vicious tone", misogyny, and heavy profanity, the album achieved global sales exceeding 30 million copies, cementing its status as the highest-selling album of 2002.

Eminem then released the album "D12 World" with rap group D12, followed by his next solo album "Encore" in November 2004. Critics and fans agreed this album was less successful than its predecessor, with first-week sales hitting just one-third of his previous releases. The lukewarm reception likely stemmed from the album's more comedic tone and softer, less "angry" lyrics that lacked his trademark brutality.

Eminem's plan to distance himself from his dark alter-ego Slim Shady was highlighted by the album cover, which featured his farewell bow. Still, his love for mocking celebrities hadn't changed: the "Just Lose It" music video was a satirical attack on Michael Jackson.

Eminem – Just Lose It

While making "Encore", Marshall struggled with substance abuse, which left him confused about his artistic direction. After finishing the album, he decided to take a creative break. He only broke his silence with the re-release of older tracks in "Curtain Call: The Hits" and the compilation "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up", where he introduced new artists Boby Creekwater and Cashis.

In 2007, Eminem lent his voice to the track "Peep Show" for the renowned rapper 50 Cent's new album, "Curtis". After that, he disappeared from the music scene for a year and a half. The silence was broken in February 2009 with the release of the song "Crack a Bottle", featuring 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. A few more singles followed, and finally in May, his highly anticipated album "Relapse" dropped. The album's main theme, reflected in its promotional campaign, was Marshall's battle to overcome drug addiction. Eminem himself described the album as a return to the "good old days".

We've holed up in the studio with Dre, just like old times. Dre is going to produce most of the tracks on Relapse. We're having fun again... That's the plan.

While the album was well-received by fans and achieved major success, critics were more reserved. "Eminem had the chance to bring new quality to his music. What he's presenting now is still powerful, but very narrow in form," some noted. Others noted that "... the album leaves an aftertaste of joyless fatigue - too prominent to signal the artist's return to his previous form."

Despite the mixed reception, the album still garnered positive reviews and earned the artist yet another Grammy award. By year's end, the second part, "Relapse: Refill", dropped, featuring both familiar tracks and entirely new material, including the track "Forever", performed alongside rappers Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem – Forever

In June 2010, another "sequel" was released - the album "Recovery". It proved far more successful than its predecessor, with critics finally acknowledging the return of the "old Eminem" with his "dark, dramatic beats", "acrobatic signature rhymes" and an "escalating quality of anger".

The album "Recovery" marked the return of the "old Eminem"

Next, the artist recorded "Hell: The Sequel" with his childhood friend, rapper Royce da 5'9", reforming the duo "Bad Meets Evil" - a collaboration that had already been seen in 1997, though their joint creativity didn't gain widespread recognition at that time. This time, however, the album instantly shot up the charts, catapulting both artists to new heights of fame.

The follow-up album, "The Marshall Mathers LP 2," dropped in August 2013 and quickly became one of the most eagerly anticipated records in years. Hailed as Eminem's most "atmospheric" album, it's steeped in nostalgia for his youth. The recording sessions saw collaborations with a host of famous artists, including not just fellow rappers but also singers from various genres, such as Rihanna. The album was a universal success, with even the harshest critics struggling to find any flaws.

Eminem's performance was noted for its vigor — more aggressive and yet fully conscious — surpassing all his previous works over many years. «The rhymes here... this album has more rhymes than many rappers find throughout their entire careers.

In 2014, Eminem's label "Shady Records" released the double compilation "Shady XV." The first disc is packed with fresh tracks from Eminem himself, as well as groups he has been involved with and his friends: "Slaughterhouse," "Yelawolf," "D12," "Bad Meets Evil," and others. The second disc compiled the best hits from the label's 15-year history, featuring artists such as Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Bobby Creekwater, Ca$his, and Stat Quo. Between 2015 and 2017, Eminem dropped several hits: "Campaign Speech," "Kill For You," and others.

In 2017, Eminem was working on his new album "Revival" — his first solo release since "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" in 2013. Earlier that year, he dropped a video where he passionately slammed US President Donald Trump in a rap verse.

Eminem Rips Donald Trump In BET Hip Hop Awards Freestyle Cypher

Eminem also launched his own fashion line available for purchase through his official website. One of his latest collections, "Camp Shady," even includes gear for hiking and sports tourism.

The summer of 2018 reached its peak with Eminem dropping his explosive tenth studio album, "Kamikaze," packed with 13 brand-new tracks. One of them, the last one, was included in the soundtrack for the movie "Venom" with Tom Hardy. The rap legend went after everyone: mumble rappers, critics who trashed his previous album, Donald Trump, the band Die Antwoord (their vocalist Yolandi Visser had mocked his name in one of their tracks), and his former band D12.

While working on his own material, he helped singer Nicki Minaj record her album "Queen." Around the same time, Eminem broke his own speed record, spitting 123 syllables in just 12 seconds. On Nicki's track "Majesty," he rapped even faster than on his own "Rap God."

Nicki Minaj and Eminem – Majesty

In January 2020, he surprised everyone with his new album, "Music To Be Murdered By," featuring 20 tracks. The Dr. Dre-produced record caught fans off guard, especially with the unexpected Ed Sheeran collaboration on "Those Kinda Nights."

"Music To Be Murdered By" – Eminem's new album

The rapper switched up his look and appeared with a beard in the "Darkness" video (addressing mass shootings in the US), matching his new album cover.

Film Appearances

Eminem made his movie debut with a small role in the comedy "The Wash" (2001), starring alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The film, however, didn't make much of an impact, with critics slamming it as amateurish and unfunny.

Eminem's Threats - The Wash (2001)

His biggest film breakthrough came with the starring role in Curtis Hanson's drama "8 Mile" (2002), co-starring Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy. The film follows a young Detroit rapper named Rabbit, a character that's basically Eminem's own story.

8 Mile - Ending Battles

Audiences loved the film, especially Eminem's powerful performance. Critics praised the brilliance of Rabbit accepting his own flaws, calling Eminem's performance pure magic. Eminem also wrote and performed five songs for the movie, including "Lose Yourself," which earned him an Oscar. He also snagged two MTV Movie Awards for "Breakthrough Male Performance" and "Best Male Performance."

Eminem's song from '8 Mile' won an Oscar

After that, Eminem had a cameo in "Funny People" (2009) with Adam Sandler and appeared in season seven of "Entourage." He also voiced characters in the video game "50 Cent: Bulletproof" and the animated series "The Slim Shady Show."

In 2008, Eminem published his autobiography, "The Way I Am," and established his own charity, "The Marshall Mathers Foundation," to provide assistance to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Eminem's Personal Life

Marshall and his high-school sweetheart, Kimberly Anne Scott, started dating in 1989, beginning an on-and-off romance that would span years. Their daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, was born on December 25, 1995.

In the early years, before Eminem's music career took off, the young family struggled with serious money problems. To make ends meet, Eminem had to work as a dishwasher in a restaurant.

The couple officially tied the knot in 1999, only to divorce in 2001. In one interview from that time, Eminem declared, "I would sooner have a baby through my penis than get married again."

However, in January 2006, he and Kim got married again, but by April of the same year, they had separated, with the divorce finalized in December. The ex-spouses agreed to co-parent their daughter Hailie, and Marshall gained sole custody of two other children he adopted: Alaina Scott (Kim's niece, daughter of her deceased sister) and Whitney Scott (Kim's daughter from another man).

During his off-and-on relationship with Kim, Eminem had brief flings with several women, including former Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell, his "8 Mile" co-star Brittany Murphy, porn star Brittany Andrews, and singer Mariah Carey, amongst others.

After his final divorce, he repeatedly said he has no interest in romantic relationships because he can't fully trust anyone. Marshall worries that women might have hidden motives, might not be completely honest with him, and might not stay faithful. In 2008, he briefly dated Tracy McNew, an employee at Shady Records, but nothing is known about his subsequent relationships.

Eminem's half-brother Nathan Kane, who he had guardianship over, followed in his footsteps and also became a well-known rapper. Eminem's relationship with his mother remains complicated; she has repeatedly sued him and later published a book about him, "My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem," in which she claimed he has suffered from bipolar disorder his entire life.

Eminem Now

In 2021, Eminem joined the cast of the film "Black Mafia Family," produced by rapper 50 Cent. Eminem was cast as Rick, a drug dealer tricked by federal agents and later imprisoned.

That same year, Eminem celebrated his 13th year of sobriety from drugs and alcohol, still calling it the best decision of his life.

In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He joked, "Maybe I shouldn't be here - after all, I'm a rapper, and this is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," just before performing duets with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler (Sing for the Moment) and Ed Sheeran (Stan).

Eminem - Full Live at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022

Shortly before this, he released a new compilation of his greatest hits, "Curtain Call 2," featuring songs such as "Rap God," "Love the Way You Lie," "Not Afraid," "Won't Back Down," and other hits from the past 12 years.

Eminem: latest news and articles

16 Biographical Films About Musicians Who Changed the World

4 Dec 2024

Kyle Jordan Bryant

Many time ago I would sell my soul for the Eminem`s CD or a hoodie with the print of him. My room was full of the posters with Eminem.

2021-05-09 22:11:26
Frederick Osborne

When I was a teenager, I was skateboarding and listening Eminem, that time it was the coolest! I heard that he is making something now and writing.

2021-04-22 13:53:20
Carl Wilson

I am a real slim shady! I remember my 17yo like it`s now, Eminem is a legend!

2021-03-10 23:00:59
Alex Ryan Murphy

Em is cool, he didn`t gave up on the creative work and on his label has many talented musicians, respect.

2021-02-23 13:13:35
Roger Hall

Eminem is a legend of hip-hop, it`s hard to argue and he still making a good stuff.

2021-02-17 12:57:16

Photos: Eminem