From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Eminem made an impact.
Eminem, born Marshall Mathers III, is a highly influential American rapper, songwriter, and producer. Widely considered one of hip-hop's greatest, he is recognized for popularizing the genre in Middle America and challenging racial barriers, paving the way for white rappers. Although his controversial lyrics sparked debate in the late 90s and early 2000s, he became a voice for the angst of the American underclass.
In 1988, Eminem, using the stage name MC Double M, formed his first group, New Jacks, and made a self-titled demo tape with DJ Butter Fingers.
In 1989, New Jacks joined Bassmint Productions, marking an early step in Eminem's musical career.
In 1992, Bassmint Productions changed their name to Soul Intent, and Eminem made his first music video appearance in "Do-Da-Dippity" by Champtown.
In 1995, Eminem was signed to Jeff and Mark Bass' F.B.T. Productions, setting the stage for his debut album.
In 1995, Soul Intent released a self-titled EP featuring Proof, marking another step in Eminem's early career.
In 1996, Eminem and Proof teamed up with four other rappers to form The Dirty Dozen (D12), further solidifying his presence in the Detroit hip-hop scene.
In 1996, Eminem recorded and released his debut album, 'Infinite' for Web Entertainment, which was a commercial failure.
In 1996, Eminem released his debut album, 'Infinite'. This marked an early stage in his career before his mainstream success.
In 1997, Eminem competed in the Rap Olympics in Los Angeles, placing second and attracting the attention of Interscope Records.
In 1997, Eminem released the 'Slim Shady EP'. This was the extended play released before signing with Aftermath Entertainment.
In 1997, The Dirty Dozen (D12) released 'The Underground E.P.', marking an important milestone for the group and Eminem's collaborative work.
In the spring of 1997, Eminem recorded his debut EP, the Slim Shady EP, which was released that winter by Web Entertainment, introducing his alter ego and raw lyrical style.
On March 9, 1998, Eminem signed to Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records, marking a turning point in his career after Dr. Dre discovered his talent.
In March 1998, hip-hop magazine 'The Source' featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column, bringing him more attention in the hip-hop community.
In 1998, Eminem and Royce da 5'9" initially formed the duo Bad Meets Evil. This early collaboration laid the groundwork for their later work together.
In 1998, Eminem appeared as an extra in Korn's music video for "Got the Life," during which he gave the band a demo tape, showcasing his early efforts to break into the music industry.
In 1998, during his beef with rapper Cage, Eminem met New York rapper Necro, who gave him a CD with the beat that would become "Black Helicopters" by Non-Phixion. Although Eminem didn't use it, Necro maintained a positive view of him and would later appear on Shade45.
In February 1999, Eminem released 'The Slim Shady LP', which became a very popular album and led to controversy over its lyrics. By the end of the year it was certified triple platinum.
From 1999 to 2000, Eminem recorded 'The Marshall Mathers LP', setting the stage for its release in May 2000.
In 1999, Eminem achieved mainstream popularity with 'The Slim Shady LP' after signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
In his 1999 single "My Name Is", Eminem hinted that he avoided drug use due to his mother's history of drug abuse.
In late 1999, after releasing 'The Slim Shady LP', Eminem started his own record label, Shady Records, with his manager Paul Rosenberg.
In May 2000, Eminem released 'The Marshall Mathers LP', which sold 1.76 million copies in its first week, breaking U.S. records. It was certified Diamond by the RIAA in March 2011.
In July 2000, Eminem became the first white artist to appear on the cover of 'The Source' magazine, marking a significant moment in his career and hip-hop history.
On November 21, 2000, Eminem published Angry Blonde, a non-fiction book containing commentary on his own songs and previously unpublished photographs.
Eminem was the best-selling music artist from 2000 to 2009 in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan, marking a decade of commercial success.
In 2000, Eminem appeared in the Up in Smoke Tour and the Family Values Tour, headlining the Anger Management Tour with Papa Roach, Ludacris, and Xzibit.
In 2000, Eminem released 'The Marshall Mathers LP', which became a worldwide success and broke records for the fastest-selling hip-hop album.
In 2000, Eminem released the song 'The Way I Am', which later inspired the title of his autobiography.
In 2001, D12 released their debut album, Devil's Night. The album marked a significant milestone for the group and showcased their unique style.
In 2001, D12 released their first album 'Devil's Night', signifying a significant achievement in Eminem's career with the group.
In 2001, Eminem had a small role in the film The Wash, marking one of his early appearances in cinema.
In 2001, Eminem performed with Elton John at the 43rd Grammy Awards ceremony. This performance was controversial due to criticism of Eminem's lyrics and was considered a memorable moment.
In 2001, during rehearsals for their "Stan" duet at the Grammy Awards, Elton John experienced intense goosebumps upon Eminem's entrance, comparing the feeling to seeing Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin for the first time and praising Eminem's talent and stage presence.
In May 2002, The Eminem Show was released. The album was a massive success, reaching number one on the charts and selling over 1.332 million copies in its first full week. The album addresses Eminem's rise to fame, his relationship with his wife and daughter, and his status in the hip-hop community, also addressing an assault charge from 2000.
Eminem won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile, co-written with Jeff Bass and Luis Resto, making him the first rapper to receive the award.
In 2002, Eminem made his Hollywood debut in the semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, playing a character representing his experience growing up in Detroit.
In 2002, Eminem released 'The Eminem Show,' which became a worldwide success and the best-selling album worldwide that year, remaining the best-selling hip-hop album in history.
In 2002, Eminem signed 50 Cent to Shady Records in a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label, marking a significant addition to the label's roster.
In 2002, Eminem starred in the musical drama film '8 Mile', playing a dramatized version of himself. The movie's soundtrack included the song "Lose Yourself".
In 2002, the movie Narc was released.
In 2010, with the success of Recovery, Eminem joined 2002's bestseller 'The Eminem Show' in having two worldwide year-end number-one albums. It solidified his position as a leading artist in the music industry.
In 2003, Eminem won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" from the 8 Mile soundtrack, becoming the longest-running No. 1 hip-hop single in history.
On October 25, 2004, a week before the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, Eminem released the video for "Mosh" on the Internet. The video shows Eminem gathering an army of Bush-administration victims and leading them to the White House to register to vote.
In 2004, D12 reunited and released their second album, D12 World, which featured the hit singles "My Band" and "How Come", contributing to their continued success.
In 2004, Eminem co-executive produced 2Pac's posthumous album, Loyal to the Game, alongside Shakur's mother, Afeni, marking a significant contribution to the legacy of the late rapper.
In 2004, Eminem promoted his station with a mock national convention, the "Shady National Convention" in New York City, where Donald Trump endorsed him.
In 2004, Eminem released 'Encore'. Following its release, he went on hiatus, largely due to a prescription drug addiction.
On December 6, 2005, Eminem's greatest hits album, Curtain Call: The Hits, was released by Aftermath Entertainment. It sold nearly 441,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week and became Eminem's fourth consecutive number-one album on the Billboard Hot 200.
In 2005, Eminem signed Atlanta rapper Bobby Creekwater and West Coast rapper Cashis to Shady Records, further diversifying the label's artist base.
On December 5, 2006, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, a compilation album by Shady Records, was released. Originally intended as a mixtape, Eminem elevated it to album status due to the quality of the material, using it to introduce Stat Quo, Cashis, and Bobby Creekwater.
In September 2007, Eminem discussed his career on New York radio station WQHT, stating that he was "in limbo" and "debating" about when (or if) he would release another album, leading to uncertainty about his future in music.
In September 2008, Eminem stated on his Shade 45 Sirius channel that he was concentrating on producing tracks and improving his production skills.
On October 21, 2008, Eminem's autobiography The Way I Am was published by Dutton Adult, featuring previously unpublished photos and named after his 2000 song.
On March 5, 2009, it was announced that Eminem would release two new albums that year. The first album, Relapse, was scheduled for release on May 19, marking a significant return to the music scene.
Eminem was the best-selling music artist from 2000 to 2009 in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.
From 2009 to 2010, Eminem recorded Recovery. It was an important period of creativity and production that led to the release of a highly successful album.
In 2009, Eminem made a cameo appearance in the film Funny People, marking another appearance in a comedic role.
In 2009, Eminem returned to the music industry with the release of the album 'Relapse'.
In 2009, Interscope confirmed that Eminem would release a new album in the spring, signaling his return to the music scene after a period of uncertainty.
In a 2009 interview, Eminem openly endorsed Barack Obama, marking a moment where he expressed political views, though he refrained from doing so in his music at the time.
On April 14, 2010, Eminem announced on Twitter that there would be no 'Relapse 2,' but then revealed that he had changed the album's title to 'Recovery.'
In June 2010, Eminem and Jay-Z announced that they would perform together in Detroit and New York City in concerts called The Home & Home Tour. Due to high demand, additional shows were added after the first two concerts quickly sold out.
As of November 21, 2010, Eminem's album 'Recovery' had sold three million copies in the U.S., further cementing its status as a commercially successful album.
In December 2010, it was announced that "Space Bound" would be the fourth single from the album Recovery. The music video, which features former porn actress Sasha Grey, was released on June 24 on the iTunes Store.
In 2010, Eminem and Royce da 5'9" began collaborating again, leading to their first EP as Bad Meets Evil. They originally formed the duo in 1998.
In 2010, Eminem released 'Recovery', which became the best-selling album worldwide of that year.
In 2010, Recovery was released, selling 741,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart and achieved number-one status in several other countries, marking a significant achievement in Eminem's career.
In a 2010 interview with Jonathan Ross, Eminem stated his passion for music and intention to prioritize it, without ruling out future film roles.
In March 2011, Eminem's album 'The Marshall Mathers LP' was certified Diamond by the RIAA, having sold 21 million copies worldwide.
In March 2011, within days of each other, The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP were certified diamond by the RIAA, making Eminem the only rapper with two diamond-certified albums.
On April 8, 2011, Eminem was featured on Royce da 5'9"'s song "Writer's Block", marking another collaboration between the two artists.
On June 14, 2011, Bad Meets Evil, consisting of Eminem and Royce da 5'9", released their first EP, titled Hell: The Sequel.
On August 14, 2012, Eminem's song "Survival," featuring Liz Rodrigues, premiered in the multi-player trailer for the video game Call of Duty: Ghosts. This event marked the introduction of the first single from Eminem's upcoming eighth album.
In 2013, Eminem released 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2', which debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
In 2013, Eminem was named the first YouTube Music Awards Artist of the Year. He also received the Global Icon Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Eminem became the first artist to receive two digital diamond certifications from the RIAA and played two concerts at Wembley Stadium in July. At the 57th Grammy Awards, he won Best Rap Album for 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2' and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for 'The Monster'.
In 2013, Eminem was offered the lead role in the science-fiction film Elysium, but he turned it down because the director would not change the location from Los Angeles to Detroit.
In 2013, during the MTV Video Music Awards, Eminem announced that his upcoming album would be titled The Marshall Mathers LP 2. This announcement created significant anticipation for the album's release.
In his 2013 song "Headlights", Eminem reiterated his love for his mother and apologized to her for some of the lyrics from his songs, specifically mentioning "Cleanin' Out My Closet".
In 2014, Eminem had a cameo appearance as himself in the film The Interview, marking another comedic appearance.
In 2014, Spotify named Eminem the most-streamed music artist ever, highlighting his digital popularity.
Throughout the summer of 2014, Eminem and Rosenberg began teasing a new Shady Records compilation album, using the hashtag #SHADYXV. Eminem also wore a T-shirt with the hashtag onstage. The first single from the album, "Guts Over Fear" featuring Sia, was released and the track list was released on October 29.
On March 12, 2015, 'The Official Eminem Box Set', a 10-disc vinyl collection spanning Eminem's career, was released. This box set includes seven of his eight studio albums (excluding Infinite), the 8 Mile soundtrack, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, and Curtain Call: The Hits.
In June 2015, it was revealed that Eminem would serve as the executive producer and music supervisor on the TV series 'Motor City,' based on the 2002 film Narc.
On July 1, 2015, Eminem was interviewed by Zane Lowe in the inaugural Beats 1 interview, which was streamed online.
On October 19, 2016, Eminem released 'Campaign Speech,' a political hip-hop song, and announced he was working on a new album.
On November 17, 2016, Eminem released a remastered version of his album 'Infinite' on his YouTube VEVO channel.
On November 22, 2016, Eminem released a trailer for a 10-minute short documentary called 'Partners in Rhyme: The True Story of Infinite'.
In 2016, during the United States presidential election, Eminem released "Campaign Speech", which criticized presidential candidate Donald Trump, marking his return to expressing political views in music.
In February 2017, Eminem appeared on 'No Favors' from Big Sean's album 'I Decided', where he made controversial remarks about Donald Trump and Ann Coulter, leading to public backlash.
Starting in late October 2017, Eminem and Paul Rosenberg began teasing a new album titled 'Revival' through advertisements for a fake medication of the same name, building anticipation for the release.
On December 15, 2017, Eminem's album 'Revival' was released, despite an online leak two days prior. The album received mixed to negative reviews.
In 2017, Eminem criticized Donald Trump in a freestyle titled "The Storm", expressing support for Colin Kaepernick and his displeasure for any of his fans that support Trump.
In 2017, prior to the establishment of the permanent restaurant, Mom's Spaghetti was a pop-up food event in Detroit, offering fans a taste of the iconic lyric made real.
On January 5, 2018, the second single from 'Revival', 'River' featuring Ed Sheeran, was released. The album topped the U.S. Billboard 200, making Eminem the first musical act to have eight consecutive entries debut atop the chart.
On August 31, 2018, Eminem released his tenth studio album, 'Kamikaze,' as a surprise album. It topped the Billboard 200, making it his ninth album in a row to do so.
On October 15, 2018, Eminem performed the song 'Venom' on Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building to promote his album 'Kamikaze' and the 'Venom' film.
In 2018, Eminem released 'Kamikaze', which debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
In 2018, Mom's Spaghetti was featured as a pop-up food event at Coachella, expanding the reach of the culinary concept beyond Detroit.
On February 23, 2019, Eminem released a re-issue of 'The Slim Shady LP' to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The re-issue included acapellas, instrumentals and radio edited versions of tracks from the album.
On January 17, 2020, Eminem released 'Music to Be Murdered By', another surprise album. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making him the first artist to have ten consecutive albums debut at number one in the U.S.
On February 9, 2020, Eminem performed 'Lose Yourself' at the 92nd Academy Awards.
On March 9, 2020, the music video for the song 'Godzilla' was released on YouTube through Lyrical Lemonade's channel.
On March 11, 2020, Eminem's album 'Music to Be Murdered By' was certified Gold.
On July 9, 2020, Kid Cudi's daughter Vada announced via social media that he was releasing a song with Eminem called 'The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady' the coming Friday.
On December 18, 2020, Eminem released a deluxe edition of his album titled 'Music to Be Murdered By – Side B' without any prior announcement. It included a bonus disc with sixteen new tracks and was accompanied by a music video for "Gnat".
Eminem's 2020 song "Darkness" heavily references the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and at the end of the music video he expresses support for gun control.
In 2020, Eminem released 'Music to Be Murdered By', which debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eminem contributed to relief efforts by donating a pair of rare Air Jordan 4 Retro Eminem Carhartt shoes to be raffled off for charity, and by donating spaghetti meals to healthcare workers at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, referencing his song "Lose Yourself".
In 2020, the week before the presidential election, Eminem approved his song "Lose Yourself" to be used in a campaign video for Joe Biden.
On September 29, 2021, Eminem and Union Joints opened Mom's Spaghetti, a spaghetti restaurant in Detroit at 2131 Woodward Ave, referencing the lyrics "His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy / There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti" from his song "Lose Yourself".
On September 30, 2021, Eminem was featured in 'Last One Standing' by Skylar Grey, with Polo G and Mozzy, for the soundtrack of the film 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage'.
On February 13, 2022, Eminem performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige.
On June 24, 2022, Eminem and Snoop Dogg released the song 'From the D to the LBC' and reconciled.
On July 11, 2022, Eminem announced his second greatest hits album, 'Curtain Call 2', which is a sequel to his first compilation 'Curtain Call: The Hits'.
On August 5, 2022, 'Curtain Call 2' was released, including 'The King and I', 'From the D 2 the LBC', and an additional new track named 'Is This Love ('09)' featuring 50 Cent.
In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with his mother publicly paying tribute to him during the ceremony.
At the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Eminem named over 100 artists who contributed to the artist he would become. He cited several MCs as influencing his rapping style, including Esham, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Tupac Shakur.
In July 2023, Eminem's Shady Records signed Ez Mil in a joint deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
On August 4, 2023, Ez Mil released the song 'Realest', featuring Eminem. In the song, Eminem responded to Melle Mel's claim that Eminem is considered a top-five rapper only because he is white.
In 2023, Eminem announced the launch of a jarred pasta sauce product under the name "Mom's Spaghetti", extending the brand into retail food products.
In 2023, Eminem requested that Republican election candidate Vivek Ramaswamy stop rapping his song "Lose Yourself" at campaign rallies, sending Ramaswamy a cease and desist letter.
On March 19, 2024, during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Dr. Dre stated that Eminem intended to release a new album that year.
On May 31, 2024, Eminem released 'Houdini', the lead single from his upcoming album 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)'. It topped the charts in many countries and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Global 200.
On June 28, 2024, Eminem posted a teaser for the second single from his album 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)', titled "Tobey" and featuring fellow Detroit rappers Big Sean and BabyTron.
On July 12, 2024, Eminem's concept album 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)' was released through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. It was met with mixed reviews from critics.
On August 31, 2024, rapper LL Cool J released the single 'Murdergram Deux', featuring Eminem, marking the pair's first ever collaboration.
In December 2024, Eminem featured on the track 'Gunz N Smoke' from Snoop Dogg's album, Missionary, alongside 50 Cent and production from Dr. Dre.
During the 2024 United States presidential election, Eminem endorsed Kamala Harris, speaking at a Huntington Place rally in October, discussing the importance of voting in Michigan and expressing his belief that Harris "supports a future for this country" in which freedom of expression is protected.
In 2024, Eminem released 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)', which debuted atop the US Billboard 200.
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