The reason for selecting Marshall Mathers as the subject of my research paper stems from his reputation as a remarkable young rapper and my admiration for his carefree attitude towards life’s happenings. Despite not being an exemplary role model, what captivates me is his skill to disregard criticism and infuse humor into his persona. Moreover, the hardships he faced during his upbringing still have a profound impact on his music, resulting in exceptional albums and songs that vividly depict his life experiences.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known as Eminem, was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 17, 1974. He coined his nickname, Eminem, pronounced M&M, using his initials M.M. Marshall endured a difficult and harsh childhood, frequently relocating between Kansas City and Metro Detroit.
As a child, Eminem resided with his mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, and he has never encountered a photograph of his father.
Both Eminem and his mother were always on the go, never settling in one place for longer than six months. She worked tirelessly at multiple jobs to provide for both herself and Marshall.
Due to his genuine expression, Eminem faced ongoing physical abuse from a particular group during his schooling. The severity of this mistreatment reached a point where it jeopardized his life and resulted in him being in a coma. Upon recovering and leaving the hospital, his tormentors relocated yet again.
From a young age, Eminem moved back and forth between living with his mothers and grandmothers. However, when he turned 11 years old, he and his mother finally decided to settle down in Detroit.
Marshall developed a strong love for rap during his teenage years and was greatly influenced by acclaimed artists like the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Run DMC.
Eminem frequently hustled radio stations to play his self-made tapes in order to gain publicity for his rapping career.
Marshall believed his rap career was on the rise as he received invitations to perform in prominent venues, leading him to assume that his popularity was growing.
Shortly after, Eminem met Kim, and together they welcomed a baby girl named Hailie Jade on December 25, 1995. In 1996, Eminem released his first full-length album called Infinite, which was an experimental endeavor but did not generate any sales. Consequently, Eminem had to remove all the CDs from stores, resulting in significant financial losses. Due to this setback, Kim left Eminem with Hailie as he was unable to provide for them due to financial difficulties. Although frustrated, Eminem used this disappointment as motivation to work harder and pursue his dreams of becoming a rapper.
Shortly after, Eminem’s friend and biggest role model, Ronny, tragically took his own life, leaving Marshall in a deeply distressed state where he felt immobilized.
In 1998, Eminem achieved success by releasing the underground hit The Slim Shady EP and taking second place in the Rap Olympics. During a live performance on a radio station in California, Dr. Dre, a renowned rapper, heard and discovered Slim Shady, promptly signing him to Dre’s Aftermath/Interscope record label.
Released on February 23, 1999, Eminem’s long-awaited album, The Slim Shady LP, quickly climbed to the second spot on the Billboard charts. This pivotal release catapulted Eminem to great success, with nearly 3 million copies sold so far. Impressively, the album stayed on the Billboard charts for an astonishing 38 weeks.
After Eminem regained his success, Kim came back holding Hailie, motivated by her longing for his wealth and fame. If I were him, instead of allowing her in, I would leave her waiting at the doorstep. Regrettably, he chose to marry her foolishly.
Eminem, a widely recognized rapper, has established a great reputation in the music industry. His most recent album, The Marshall Mathers LP, was released on May 23, 2000 and is considered superior to his previous works.
Black rappers often encounter criticism and discussions about their race, but this rapper pays no heed to others’ opinions. He strongly believes that talent cannot be denied and possesses the desired talent.
Eminem’s songs contain explicit language and mockery towards others, making him an inappropriate figure to look up to. Nevertheless, I appreciate his unapologetic expression of genuine emotions. At present, Eminem is facing a lawsuit from his mother, Debbie, who is demanding 10 million dollars in compensation for being accused of neglectful parenting. The legal case is currently ongoing and no decision has been reached yet.
The lyrics below are from the track “My Name Is” on Eminem’s successful album, The Slim Shady LP. This song was chosen for its popularity and recognition of Eminem as a rapper, showcasing his personal feelings about certain topics and establishing himself as Slim Shady. The repeating chorus of “My name is….Slim Shady,” emphasizes his identity and dedication to staying relevant. This song marked a crucial moment in Eminem’s career, affirming that he is truly Slim Shady.
www.eminem.com and www.eminem2000.com are websites related to Eminem.
