Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Detroit, Michigan. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12, and with Royce da 5'9" is one half of the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the 2000s in the United States. Rolling Stone ranked him 83rd on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, calling him the King of Hip...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRapper
Date of Birth17 October 1972
CitySaint Joseph, MO
CountryUnited States of America
I grew up listening to 2 Live Crew and N.W.A. and I never went out and shot nobody.
I felt like I had a really bad case of writer's block... Music is so therapeutic for me that if I can't get it out, I start feeling bad about myself - a lot of self-loathing.
When 'Paul's Boutique' came out, I was one of the fans that didn't get it.
I always try to be smart. I try to treat all the money I'm making like it's the last time I'm going to make it.
Being a student of hip-hop in general, you take technical aspects from places. You may take a rhyme pattern or flow from Big Daddy Kane or Kool G Rap.
I was going to McDonald's and Taco Bell every day. The kids behind the counter knew me - it wouldn't even faze them. Or I'd sit up at Denny's or Big Boy and just eat by myself. It was sad. I got so heavy that people started to not recognize me.
I always say this about my music, and music in general: Music is like a time capsule. Each album reflects what I'm going through or what's going on in my life at that moment.
Five or six songs leaked from the original version of 'Encore.' So I had to go in and make new songs to replace them.
There was certainly, like, a rebellious, like, youthful rage in me. And there was also the fact of no getting away from fact that I am white, and you know, this is predominantly black music, you know.
I don't think I've ever read poetry, ever. I'm not really book-smart.
Hip-hop saved my life, man. It's the only thing I've ever been even decent at. I don't know how to do anything else.
It's kind of like a challenge to myself to be able to hear somebody else's hook and kind of interpret the words. Because my own hooks, I already know what I mean when I write them.