Eminem 1972–

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Eminem 1972–

[A pseudonym]

(Marshall Mathers, Marshall Bruce Mathers, III)

PERSONAL: Born Marshall Bruce Mathers, October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, MO; son of Debbie Mathers; married Kim Scott, June 14, 1999 (divorced, October 10, 2001; remarried January 14, 2006; separated, April, 2006), children: Hailie Jade Scott (daughter).

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records, 2220 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404.

CAREER: Rapper. Previously member of groups D-12, New Jacks, and Soul Intent. Actor in film 8 Mile.

AWARDS, HONORS: Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance, 1999, for "My Name Is," and for Best Rap Album, for The Slim Shady LP, both 1999; Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim Shady," for best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Forgot about Dre," and for Best Rap Album for "The Marshall Mathers LP," all 2000; Academy Award for Best Song, 2003, for "Lose Yourself."

WRITINGS:

Angry Blonde (autobiography), Regan Books (New York, NY), 2000.

LYRICIST; SOUND RECORDINGS

Infinite, 1996.

The Slim Shady LP, Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records (Santa Monica, CA), 1999.

Eminem, Aftermath Entertainment (Santa Monica, CA), 1999.

The Marshall Mathers LP, Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records (Santa Monica, CA), 2000.

The Eminem Show, Aftermath Entertainment (Santa Monica, CA), 2002.

Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile, Shady/Interscope Records (Santa Monica, CA), 2002.

Encore, Aftermath Entertainment (Santa Monica, CA), 2004.

Contributor to Grammy Rap Nominees 2000, Grammy Recordings (New York, NY), 2000, Confused, Warner/Chappell Music (Los Angeles, CA), 2000, The Blueprint, by Jay-Z, Roc-a-fella (New York, NY), 2001, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Shady/Aftermath/Interscope (Santa Monica, CA), 2003, Resurrection: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Tupac, Interscope Records (Santa Monica, CA), 2003, The Massacre, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records (Universal City, CA), 2005, and The Documentary, Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope (Santa Monica, CA), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Eminem is the stage persona of Marshall Mathers, a rapper who has gained international recognition for his biting wit and contempt for the media, as well as for being white in a musical field that is dominated by African Americans. Born in Missouri, Eminem spent much of his childhood moving back and forth between the Kansas City area and Detroit, Michigan, the city with which he has come to be identified. He began working on raps with a friend while in high school, and in time started entering "battle raps" at clubs, in which one rapper would be pitted against another in a contest of improvisation. His career was beginning to gain momentum when the birth of his first child required him to take a break, in order to support his family. In 1996, his debut album Infinite was released, but it was not well received by critics. In his next release, he created the persona of "Slim Shady," and used it as a vehicle to express dark, bitter sentiments. The Slim Shady LP went to the top of the music charts despite the accusations of misogyny and racism that some people directed toward its creator because of its harsh lyrics. His next album, The Marshall Mathers LP, sparked more media attention, and even drew a lawsuit from the rapper's mother, who claimed defamation of character. The song "Kim" depicted the violent murder of Kim Scott, Eminem's wife, and it reportedly drove her to attempt suicide. The couple divorced, though they later remarried. In 2001, Eminem's life story was the basis of the film 8 Mile, in which he played a white rapper struggling for success in Detroit's rap world. Mainstream success was his, and he maintained his gritty edge. Reviewing his fourth album, Encore, People reviewer Chuck Arnold wrote that Eminem is still "one of the most provocative pop artists on the planet." Eminem sketches the stories behind his lyrics in his autobiographical book Angry Blonde, published in 2000.