Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Eminem
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Eminem made an impact.
Eminem, or Marshall Mathers III, is a highly influential American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He's recognized for popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and breaking racial barriers within the genre. Known for transgressive work that stirred controversy in the late 90s and early 2000s, Eminem's music is known for conscious lyrics expressing political criticism, social commentary, and his signature rap flow. He has become a prominent voice representing the angst of lower-income America.
22 hours ago : Eminem's Grandmother, Betty Kresin, Dies at 87: Rapper Receives Support
Eminem is mourning the loss of his grandmother, Betty Kresin, who passed away at the age of 87. Fans and fellow artists are offering their condolences and support to the rapper during this difficult time.
1988: Formation of New Jacks
In 1988, Eminem, using the stage name MC Double M, formed his first group, New Jacks, and made demo tape recordings with DJ Butter Fingers.
1989: Joined Bassmint Productions
In 1989, New Jacks joined Bassmint Productions.
1992: Soul Intent Formation and First Music Video Appearance
In 1992, Bassmint Productions changed their name to Soul Intent with rapper Proof and other Detroit artists. Eminem also made his first music video appearance in "Do-Da-Dippity" by Champtown.
1995: Signed to F.B.T. Productions
In 1995, Eminem was signed to Jeff and Mark Bass' F.B.T. Productions.
1995: Release of Soul Intent Single
In 1995, Soul Intent released a two track single on cassette featuring Proof.
1996: Formation of D12
In 1996, Eminem and Proof teamed up with four other rappers to form The Dirty Dozen (D12).
1996: Release and failure of debut album Infinite
In 1996, Eminem and Proof teamed up with four other rappers to form The Dirty Dozen (D12). Eminem also recorded his debut album Infinite for their independent Web Entertainment label, which was a commercial failure upon its release.
1996: Debut album Infinite released
In 1996, Eminem released his debut album, Infinite. This marked an early stage in his career before he gained mainstream recognition.
1997: Release of The Underground E.P. by D12
In 1997, D12 released The Underground E.P.
1997: Rap Olympics
In 1997, Eminem competed in the Rap Olympics, a nationwide battle rap competition, and placed second.
1997: Slim Shady EP released
In 1997, Eminem released the extended play Slim Shady EP.
1997: Recorded Slim Shady EP
In the spring of 1997, Eminem recorded his debut EP, the Slim Shady EP, which was released that winter by Web Entertainment.
March 9, 1998: Signed to Aftermath and Interscope
On March 9, 1998, Eminem signed with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
March 1998: Featured in "Unsigned Hype" column
In March 1998, Hip-hop magazine The Source featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column, increasing his visibility.
1998: Korn Music Video Appearance
In 1998, Eminem appeared as an extra in the Korn music video for "Got the Life", giving the band a demo tape.
1998: Formation of Bad Meets Evil
In 1998, the duo Bad Meets Evil was formed by Eminem and Royce da 5'9".
1998: Met New York Rapper Necro
In 1998, when his beef with rapper Cage was still happening, New York rapper Necro met Eminem and gave him a CD with the beat to what eventually became the beat for the song "Black Helicopters" by rap group Non-Phixion. Despite Eminem never using it, Necro still said positive things about Eminem.
February 1999: Release of The Slim Shady LP
In February 1999, Eminem released The Slim Shady LP, which became one of the year's most popular albums, though it was also met with controversy over its lyrics.
1999: Recording of The Marshall Mathers LP
From 1999 to 2000, Eminem recorded The Marshall Mathers LP.
1999: Mainstream popularity with The Slim Shady LP
In 1999, Eminem achieved mainstream popularity with the release of The Slim Shady LP after signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
1999: Hinted at Avoiding Drugs
In 1999, Eminem hinted in his single "My Name Is" that he avoided the use of drugs after experiencing his mother's history of drug abuse.
1999: Founded Shady Records
In late 1999, Eminem and Paul Rosenberg founded Shady Records after Interscope offered Eminem his own label.
May 2000: The Marshall Mathers LP release
In May 2000, The Marshall Mathers LP was released, selling 1.76 million copies in its first week and breaking U.S. records for fastest-selling hip-hop album and solo album.
July 2000: Appeared on the cover of The Source
In July 2000, Eminem was the first white artist to appear on the cover of The Source.
November 21, 2000: Angry Blonde Publication
On November 21, 2000, Eminem published Angry Blonde, a non-fiction book featuring commentary on his songs and unpublished photographs.
2000: Appearances in Tours
In 2000, Eminem appeared in the Up in Smoke Tour and the Family Values Tour. He also headlined the Anger Management Tour with Papa Roach, Ludacris, and Xzibit.
2000: The Marshall Mathers LP released
In 2000, The Marshall Mathers LP was released and became a worldwide success, selling over one million copies in a single week.
2001: Release of Devil's Night by D12
In 2001, D12 released their first album Devil's Night.
2001: D12's Debut Album Release
In 2001, D12's debut album, Devil's Night, was released.
2001: Rehearsal With Elton John
In 2001, Elton John had goose bumps during the "Stan" duet rehearsal with Eminem at the Grammy Awards and praised his talent.
2001: The Wash Role
In 2001, Eminem had a small role in the film The Wash.
2001: Performance at the Grammy Awards
In 2001, Eminem performed with Elton John at the 43rd Grammy Awards ceremony. This performance, however, was met with controversy, as GLAAD condemned John's decision due to Eminem's perceived homophobic lyrics. GLAAD held a protest outside the Staples Center on February 21, the day of the awards ceremony. Eminem also produced and rapped on the song "Renegade" on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001.
May 2002: Release of The Eminem Show
In May 2002, Eminem released The Eminem Show, which reached number one on the charts and sold over 1.332 million copies during its first week. The album explores Eminem's rise to fame, his relationship with his wife and daughter, and his status in the hip-hop community. It also addresses an assault charge from 2000.
2002: Academy Award for "Lose Yourself"
For his work in the film 8 Mile, Eminem won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself", becoming the first hip-hop artist to receive the award.
2002: 8 Mile Debut
In 2002, Eminem made his Hollywood debut in the semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile.
2002: Signed 50 Cent to Shady Records
In 2002, Eminem signed 50 Cent to Shady Records in a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label.
2002: Starred in 8 Mile and won Academy Award
In 2002, Eminem starred in the drama film 8 Mile, receiving critical acclaim. He also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" from the 8 Mile soundtrack, making him the first hip-hop act to win the award.
2002: The Eminem Show released
In 2002, The Eminem Show was released, becoming a worldwide success and the best-selling album worldwide of that year, selling over one million copies in a single week.
2002: Bestselling Album Worldwide
In 2010, with Recovery, Eminem broke the record for the most successive U.S. number-one albums by a solo artist. This joined 2002's bestseller The Eminem Show to give Eminem two worldwide year-end number-one albums.
2003: Smack You Recording
Around 2003, Eminem recorded "Smack You", a diss track aimed at Ja Rule and Suge Knight.
October 25, 2004: Release of "Mosh" Music Video
On October 25, 2004, a week before the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, Eminem released the music video for "Mosh" on the Internet. The video features Eminem leading an army of Bush-administration victims to the White House to register to vote. After Bush's reelection, the video's ending was changed to show the protesters invading the White House during a speech by the president.
2004: "Mosh" Release
Ahead of the 2004 United States presidential election, Eminem released the protest song "Mosh", which criticized then-President George W. Bush.
2004: D12 World Album Release
In 2004, D12 reunited for their second album, D12 World, which included the hit singles "My Band" and "How Come".
2004: Shady National Convention
In 2004, Eminem promoted his station at the "Shady National Convention" in New York City, endorsed by Donald Trump.
2004: Co-Executive Producer of 2Pac's Album
In 2004, Eminem was the co-executive producer of 2Pac's posthumous album Loyal to the Game, along with Shakur's mother, Afeni.
2004: Release of Encore and subsequent hiatus
In 2004, after the release of Encore, Eminem took a hiatus due to struggles with prescription drug addiction.
December 6, 2005: Release of 'Curtain Call: The Hits'
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, marking Eminem's fourth consecutive number-one album on the Billboard Hot 200. Eminem suggested at the time he would be taking a break as an artist, due to uncertainty about his career path.
2005: Signed Bobby Creekwater and Cashis
In 2005, Eminem signed Atlanta rapper Bobby Creekwater and West Coast rapper Cashis to Shady Records.
December 5, 2006: Eminem Presents: The Re-Up Release
On December 5, 2006, the compilation album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up was released on Shady Records.
September 2007: Eminem Talks About His Future
In September 2007, Eminem said in an interview with New York radio station WQHT that he was "in limbo" and "debating" about when (or if) he would release another album.
September 2008: Eminem Concentrates on His Own Stuff
In September 2008, Eminem appeared on his Shade 45 Sirius channel, saying that he was concentrating on producing tracks and improving his production skills.
October 21, 2008: The Way I Am Autobiography Publication
On October 21, 2008, Eminem's autobiography The Way I Am was published by Dutton Adult, featuring previously unpublished photos.
2008: Considered for Lead Role in Jumper
In 2008, Eminem was considered for the lead role in the film Jumper.
March 5, 2009: Announcement of New Albums
According to a press release on March 5, 2009, Eminem announced that he would release two new albums that year. The first album would be titled Relapse.
2009: Recording of Recovery Album
From 2009 to 2010, Eminem recorded his album 'Recovery'.
2009: Support for Barack Obama
In 2009, Eminem expressed support for Barack Obama in an interview.
2009: Funny People Cameo
In 2009, Eminem had a cameo appearance in the film Funny People.
2009: Release of Relapse
In 2009, Eminem returned to the music industry with the release of Relapse.
2009: New album confirmed to be released in spring
In 2009, Interscope confirmed that a new album would be released in spring.
April 14, 2010: Announcement of Recovery Album
On April 14, 2010, Eminem announced via Twitter that there would be no "Relapse 2", but instead a new album titled Recovery.
June 2010: The Home & Home Tour Announcement
In June 2010, Eminem and Jay-Z announced The Home & Home Tour, with concerts in Detroit and New York City. Due to the success of Recovery, Eminem was named the 2010 Hottest MC in the Game by MTV and Emcee of the Year by HipHopDX.
November 21, 2010: U.S. Sales of Recovery
By November 21, 2010, Eminem's album Recovery had U.S. sales of three million copies.
December 2010: "Great Eminem Recovery" Named Top Music Moment
In December 2010, the "Great Eminem Recovery" was named number one on Billboard's Top 25 Music Moments of 2010. That month it was announced that "Space Bound" would be the fourth single from Recovery, with a music video released June 24 on the iTunes Store.
2010: Collaboration on Bad Meets Evil EP
In 2010, Eminem began collaborating with Royce da 5'9" on their first EP as Bad Meets Evil, a duo formed in 1998.
2010: Release of Recovery
In 2010, Eminem released Recovery, which became the best-selling album worldwide of the year.
2010: Jonathan Ross Interview
In a 2010 interview with Jonathan Ross, Eminem stated that music is his passion, but he may act in a movie again.
March 2011: Diamond Certification of Albums
In March 2011, The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP were certified diamond by the RIAA. This made Eminem the only rapper with two diamond-certified albums. He also had more than 60 million "likes" on Facebook.
April 8, 2011: Eminem Featured on Royce da 5'9"'s "Writer's Block"
On April 8, 2011, Eminem was featured on Royce da 5'9"'s "Writer's Block".
June 14, 2011: Release of Hell: The Sequel
On June 14, 2011, the Bad Meets Evil EP, Hell: The Sequel, was released.
August 14, 2013: "Survival" premiered in Call of Duty: Ghosts trailer
On August 14, 2013, Eminem's song "Survival" featuring Liz Rodrigues and produced by DJ Khalil, was first heard in the multi-player trailer for the video game Call of Duty: Ghosts, and a press release announced the impending release of Eminem's eighth album.
2013: "Headlights" Release
In 2013, Eminem reiterated his love for his mother and apologized to her for some of the lyrics from his earlier songs, including "Cleanin' Out My Closet", in his song "Headlights".
2013: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 released
In 2013, Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP 2, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
2013: Considered for Lead Role in Elysium
In 2013, Eminem was considered for the lead role in the film Elysium.
2014: The Interview Cameo
In 2014, Eminem had a cameo appearance in the film The Interview.
March 12, 2015: Release of The Official Eminem Box Set
On March 12, 2015, The Official Eminem Box Set, a 10-disc vinyl collection spanning Eminem's career, was released. The set included seven of his eight studio albums (excluding Infinite), the 8 Mile soundtrack, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, and Curtain Call: The Hits.
July 1, 2015: Eminem's Interview on Beats 1
On July 1, 2015, Eminem was the first interview of Zane Lowe in Beats 1, a radio station. The interview was streamed online on Beats 1.
October 19, 2016: Release of "Campaign Speech" and New Album Announcement
On October 19, 2016, Eminem released a political hip-hop song called "Campaign Speech" and announced that he was working on a new album.
November 17, 2016: Remastered Version of 'Infinite' Released
On November 17, 2016, Eminem released a remastered version of his album 'Infinite' on his YouTube VEVO channel.
November 22, 2016: Trailer Release for Partners in Rhyme: The True Story of Infinite
On November 22, 2016, Eminem released a trailer for a 10-minute short documentary called Partners in Rhyme: The True Story of Infinite.
2016: "Campaign Speech" Release
During the 2016 United States presidential election, Eminem released "Campaign Speech", a freestyle attacking Republican candidate Donald Trump.
February 2017: Eminem Featured on "No Favors" and Controversy
In February 2017, Eminem appeared on "No Favors" from Big Sean's album I Decided. His lyrics, which attacked Donald Trump and referenced Ann Coulter, sparked controversy and criticism.
October 2017: Teasing of Revival Album
Beginning in late October 2017, Eminem and Paul Rosenberg teased what fans speculated to be the title of his next album, Revival, through advertisements for a fake medication of the same name.
December 15, 2017: Release of Revival Album
Despite an online leak two days prior, Revival was released on December 15, 2017, as scheduled and received mixed to negative reviews.
2017: Eminem's BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher: The Storm
In 2017, Eminem delivered a freestyle called "The Storm" at the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, criticizing President Trump and his administration. This verse received widespread praise from other rappers.
2017: "The Storm" Performance at BET Hip Hop Awards
In 2017, Eminem performed "The Storm", an anti-Trump freestyle, at the BET Hip Hop Awards, supporting Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem protests.
2017: Revival released
In 2017, Eminem released Revival, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
2017: Mom's Spaghetti Pop-Up in Detroit
In 2017, Mom's Spaghetti was previously a pop-up in Detroit.
January 5, 2018: Release of "River" Single
On January 5, 2018, the second single from Revival, "River" featuring Ed Sheeran, was released.
August 31, 2018: Release of Kamikaze Album
On August 31, 2018, Eminem released his tenth studio album, a surprise release titled Kamikaze, just eight months after Revival. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
October 15, 2018: Eminem Performs "Venom" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
On October 15, 2018, Eminem performed "Venom" live from the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the album Kamikaze.
December 1, 2018: Release of "Kick Off" Freestyle
On December 1, 2018, Eminem released an 11-minute freestyle titled "Kick Off" on his YouTube channel.
2018: Kamikaze released
In 2018, Eminem released Kamikaze, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
2018: Mom's Spaghetti Pop-Up at Coachella
In 2018, Mom's Spaghetti was a pop-up at Coachella.
February 23, 2019: Re-issue of The Slim Shady LP
On February 23, 2019, Eminem released a re-issue of The Slim Shady LP to mark its 20th anniversary, including acapellas, instrumentals, and radio edits of tracks from the album.
January 17, 2020: Release of Music to Be Murdered By
On January 17, 2020, Eminem released another surprise album, Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking his tenth consecutive album to do so in the United States.
February 9, 2020: Eminem Performs "Lose Yourself" at the 92nd Academy Awards
On February 9, 2020, Eminem performed "Lose Yourself" at the 92nd Academy Awards.
March 9, 2020: Release of "Godzilla" Music Video
On March 9, 2020, the music video for Eminem's song "Godzilla" was released via Lyrical Lemonade's YouTube channel.
March 11, 2020: Music to Be Murdered By Certified Gold by RIAA
On March 11, 2020, Eminem's album Music to Be Murdered By was certified Gold by the RIAA.
July 9, 2020: Announcement of Collaboration with Kid Cudi
On July 9, 2020, Kid Cudi's daughter Vada announced that he would release a song with Eminem titled "The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady" the following Friday.
December 18, 2020: Release of Music to Be Murdered By – Side B
On December 18, 2020, Eminem released the deluxe edition of his album, Music to Be Murdered By – Side B, without prior announcement. It featured a bonus disc with sixteen new tracks, along with a music video for "Gnat."
2020: Music to Be Murdered By released
In 2020, Eminem released Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
September 29, 2021: Mom's Spaghetti Restaurant Opening
On September 29, 2021, Eminem and Union Joints opened a spaghetti restaurant called Mom's Spaghetti in Detroit, referencing the lyrics from his song "Lose Yourself".
September 30, 2021: Feature on "Last One Standing"
On September 30, 2021, Eminem was featured alongside Polo G and Mozzy on Skylar Grey's song "Last One Standing" for the soundtrack of the film Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
October 30, 2021: Performance with LL Cool J at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony
On October 30, 2021, Eminem performed with LL Cool J at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
February 13, 2022: Performance at Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
On February 13, 2022, Eminem performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige.
June 24, 2022: Release of "From the D 2 the LBC" and Reconciliation with Snoop Dogg
On June 24, 2022, Eminem and Snoop Dogg released the song "From the D 2 the LBC" and publicly reconciled.
July 11, 2022: Announcement of Curtain Call 2
On July 11, 2022, Eminem announced his second greatest hits album, Curtain Call 2, covering albums from Relapse through Music to Be Murdered By, collaborations, and soundtrack songs.
August 5, 2022: Release of Curtain Call 2
On August 5, 2022, Curtain Call 2 was released, including his two precedent singles and the unreleased track "Is This Love ('09)" featuring 50 Cent.
2022: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
At the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Eminem named over 100 artists from hip-hop's golden age who contributed to his development as an artist.
2022: Christian Lyrics in "Use This Gospel" Remix
In 2022, Eminem delivered explicitly Christian lyrics on the remix of Kanye West and DJ Khaled's "Use This Gospel", thanking Jesus and rapping about salvation.
2022: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
July 2023: Ez Mil Signed to Shady Records
In July 2023, Eminem's Shady Records signed rapper Ez Mil in a joint deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
August 4, 2023: Release of "Realest" featuring Eminem
On August 4, 2023, Ez Mil released the song "Realest," featuring Eminem, in which Eminem responds to comments from Melle Mel and The Game.
2023: Mom's Spaghetti Jarred Pasta Sauce Launch
In 2023, Eminem announced the launch of a "Mom's Spaghetti" jarred pasta sauce.
March 19, 2024: Dr. Dre Announces Eminem's New Album on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
During an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 19, 2024, Dr. Dre stated that Eminem intended to release a new album that year.
May 31, 2024: Release of "Houdini"
On May 31, 2024, Eminem released the lead single, "Houdini", from his upcoming album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). It topped the charts in many countries and debuted high on the Billboard charts.
June 28, 2024: Album Teaser
On June 28, 2024, Eminem posted a teaser for his album's second single, "Tobey", featuring Big Sean and BabyTron.
July 12, 2024: Concept Album Release
On July 12, 2024, Eminem released his concept album through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, which became his eleventh number-one album on the Billboard 200.
August 31, 2024: Murdergram Deux Release
On August 31, 2024, LL Cool J released "Murdergram Deux", featuring Eminem, marking their first collaboration.
October 2024: Endorsement of Kamala Harris
During the 2024 United States presidential election, Eminem publicly endorsed Kamala Harris. In October 2024, he appeared at a rally in Detroit, voicing support for her stance on civil liberties and freedom of expression.
December 2024: Feature on Snoop Dogg's Album
In December 2024, Eminem was featured on the track "Gunz N Smoke" from Snoop Dogg's album Missionary, alongside 50 Cent.
2024: The Death of Slim Shady released
In 2024, Eminem released The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
June 2025: Animals (Pt. I) Release
In June 2025, "Animals (Pt. I)", a collaboration between Eminem and JID, was released.
July 2025: Stans Documentary Announcement
In July 2025, Eminem announced the release of the documentary film Stans, focusing on his career through the eyes of his fans, along with a soundtrack album.
November 2025: Hitman Collaboration and Thanksgiving Performance
In November 2025, Eminem collaborated with IO Interactive for an appearance in Hitman: World of Assassination and performed at the Detroit Lions's halftime show with Jack White.
2025: Happy Gilmore 2 Cameo
In 2025, Eminem had a cameo appearance in the film Happy Gilmore 2.
Mentioned in this timeline
Apple Inc founded in and headquartered in Cupertino California is...
Pepsi is a cola-flavored carbonated soft drink and the flagship...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr professionally known as Snoop Dogg is...
Tyler the Creator born Tyler Gregory Okonma is an influential...
Chris Brown is a highly successful American singer songwriter rapper...
Trending
9 minutes ago Amy Griffin faces lawsuit over memoir 'The Tell,' accused of stealing classmate's story.
10 minutes ago Donovan Mitchell Prioritizes Coco Jones Over Basketball, Declares His Love Publicly.
1 hour ago Nathan Lane's 'Death of a Salesman' Sees Strong Broadway Debut and Box Office Success.
1 hour ago Portsmouth: Double shooting on Patriot Way injures man and woman; police investigate.
1 hour ago Jacob Martin signs with Tennessee Titans after leaving Washington Commanders.
1 hour ago Smiljan Radic, Chilean Architect, Awarded the Prestigious Pritzker Prize in Architecture 2026
Popular
Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights activist politician and...
Markwayne Mullin is an American politician and businessman serving as...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
Corey Lewandowski is an American political operative lobbyist commentator and...
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is an American politician She was...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...