Eminem, born as Marshall Mathers, has proven that with a lot of desire, drive and dedication, anybody can accomplish even their greatest of goals. Eminem was raised in the ghettos of East Detroit. He was bullied and victimized by other students in school. He worked to achieve his goal, against the odds. As a result, what he has become is one of America's most popular and successful music artists.

Marshall "Eminem" Mathers was born on October 17, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan. After moving to Kansas, he and his family returned to Detroit and settled in a Black neighborhood. Records show that Marshall, while in school, was attacked and beaten by school bullies, on numerous occasions. On two occasions, Marshall was beaten into unconsciousness. Eminem's rap song "Brain Damage" is a true story of when a bully hit Marshall on the head and knocked him unconscious on the school playground. His ear began bleeding and he was hospitalized. It was discovered that he had a brain hemorrhage. He was in and out of consciousness for five days. (Rolling Stone)

For Marshall, the road to success was long and hard. Marshall began rapping in 1990 at the "Hip Hop Shop" where he would participate in rap battles. On December 25, 1995 Eminem's girl friend, now wife, Kimberly Scott gave birth to his daughter, Haile. Eminem continued rapping and worked at a family restaurant in Detroit. Eminem, Kim and Haile lived in a crack-infested neighborhood where stray bullets and residential burglaries occurred often. In 1997 Eminem became unemployed, had no high school diploma and couldn't afford to support his family. He was tired of not having a record deal. He considered giving up rap. He decided to record the "Slim Shady EP" as his last hope to make it. His last attempt landed him a deal with Interscope Records and the next year, in 1998, with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label.

On February 23, 1999 Eminem's "The Slim Shady LP" was released. The LP went triple platinum. Later he went on to win two Grammies. One for best rap solo performance ("My Name Is"), and another for best rap album ("The Slim Shady LP"). On May 23, 2000 Eminem released his second full-length album, "The Marshall Mathers LP". The second LP sold 1.76 million copies in its first week out, making a new record for the biggest one-week sales of any artist. Eminem recently featured in Dr. Dre's "Up In Smoke" tour, which is widely recognized as the biggest and best hip-hop tour ever. Judging by his unfortunate earlier life, who would have thought Eminem would grow to become one of America's most recognizable characters and one of the music industries most successful rappers? (Eminem Zone)

Works Cited

Eminem Zone Copyright 1999-2000. Sept. 6, 2000 <http://eminemzone.com/timeline.html>.

CLICK HERE FOR HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS

User Comments

rob8665 2001-01-03 08:00AM	No Rating
	tight
rob8665 2001-01-03 08:00AM
	it was okay but there could of been more info
odd_dogg 2002-10-09 10:00AM
	Dude datz pretty tight. like otha guy said more info--.
estephanie 2006-01-02 07:32PM
	omg these guy has been thruogh a shit load of shit i give im props cuz he is my idol and i luv im a lot.whenever i hear his songs i cry cuz they so dam deep and i no that he doesnt need shit 4rm others.pplz think that he actaully rapes and he doesn't put urself in his head he is the king he would do that.those bitches that protest 4 him that he does that that is bull shit 101 i hat that shit he is the man and if u dont like im than go fuck urself.dam he needs props cuz he worked hard and then pplz give im shit wat bs appreciate cuz he doesnt like it and he ain't sing'n anymore.4 me he is my lover my wish is to die 2 see im and to talk 2 im but i think that sumtimes it might not happen but i will try and try hard just like im and i will 1 day.
eminem_is_mine 2006-01-08 06:23PM
	iz good but needs more info and details. eminem is like the love of my life and i love him more than anyone. from posters in my room, to t-shirts, to beanies, i got it all. all his albums, everything. the thing i want most is to meet him and i agree with everything u said estephanie. the biography i read is similar to most i've read before but less info. i pretty much know everything about eminem. i think he's the finest guy in the world!!!!!!!!!!!! im listening to him right now... hes the best rapper eva and he went through so much shit to get into the postion he is in now. hes my idol my favorite song of his is "sing for the moment" becasue it touches me so much. i've been through shit in my life and what he says is excatly like what i felt like. he expresses himself so much.
eminem_is_mine 2006-01-08 06:23PM	No Rating
	iz good but needs more info and details. eminem is like the love of my life and i love him more than anyone. from posters in my room, to t-shirts, to beanies, i got it all. all his albums, everything. the thing i want most is to meet him and i agree with everything u said estephanie. the biography i read is similar to most i've read before but less info. i pretty much know everything about eminem. i think he's the finest guy in the world!!!!!!!!!!!! im listening to him right now... hes the best rapper eva and he went through so much shit to get into the postion he is in now. hes my idol my favorite song of his is "sing for the moment" becasue it touches me so much. i've been through shit in my life and what he says is excatly like what i felt like. he expresses himself so much.

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