EMINEM

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known as Eminem is an American rapper, record
producer, and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his debut album,
The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The following
album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling solo album in United
States history. It brought Eminem increased popularity, including his own record label,
Shady Records.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1972 in Saint Joseph, Missouri, he
was the only child of Deborah R. Nelson Mathers-Briggs and Marshall Bruce Mathers.
His father abandoned the family when he was 18 months old, and he grew alone with
his mother in poverty. By the age of 12, Marshall and his mother had moved between
various cities and towns in Missouri.

After procuring a copy of the Beastie Boys album Licensed to Ill as a teenager, Mathers
became interested in hip hop, performing amateur raps at age 14 under the
pseudonym "M&M" and joining the group called "Bassmint Productions". They later
changed their name to "Soul Intent" and around 1995 they released their first single
called "Fuckin' Backstabber" under the record label Mashing' Duck Records. Although
he was enrolled at Lincoln High School in Warren, he frequently participated in
freestyle battles at the now-defunct Osborn High School on Detroit's east side. Despite
a well-documented struggle succeeding in a predominantly African-American industry,
he gained the approval of underground hip hop audiences. After repeating the ninth
grade twice due to truancy and near-failing grades, he dropped out of high school at
age 17.

His hard childhood and the suicide of his uncle, Ronald "Ronnie" Nelson in 1991 who
was much attached to were the events that ended up shaping his personality.