Eminem's career highlights from 'The Slim Shady' to performing at the Super Bowl
Here's a look back at the rapper's career
Eminem is one of the most prolific rappers in the game. He's put on some incredible performances throughout his career, including his amazing performance of 'Lose Yourself' at the 2020 Oscars just before winning the award for Best Original Song – the same award he won in 2003 for the track which appeared on 8 Mile.
After 12 studio albums, including his latest 'The Death of Slim Shady' featuring his new song 'Houdini', 220 million records sold worldwide and 15 Grammy Awards, Eminem has become the bestselling hip hop artist of all time. Let’s look back at how Eminem has shaped music history...
How old is Eminem?
His birthday is 17th October 1972, making him currently 52-years-old and meaning that he celebrated his 50th birthday in 2022.
What was Eminem's first song?
23rd February 2024 marks 25 years since Eminem released his ‘The Slim Shady LP’. The then-26-year-old Detroit-born Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, released his major label debut album and music was never quite the same.
The stand out hit of the album was ‘My Name Is’ which garnered Eminem widespread acclaim and catapulted him to mainstream success. ‘The Slim Shady LP’ introduced us to Eminem’s alter ego ‘Slim Shady’, who he voices the album’s dark and violent tracks with a comical twist.
‘The Slim Shady LP’ put Eminem in the spotlight, however he was close to quitting music altogether before he got his big break. Three years before ‘The Slim Shady’ and its lead single ‘My Name Is’, Eminem had released album ‘Infinite’ which only sold a few hundred copies. None of the tracks from the album were released as singles.
The failure of ‘Infinite’ prompted Eminem to develop his alter ego ‘Slim Shady’. As Slim Shady, Eminem released his first song ‘Just Don’t Give a F’ in 1998.
When did Eminem work with Dr Dre?
Dr Dre signed Eminem to his label Aftermath Entertainment in 1998. It was the start of a lifelong friendship and professional relationship. Dre produced Eminem’s debut album and the pair continued to work together on a number of tracks on Dre’s 2001 album such as ‘What’s the Difference’ and ‘Forget About Dre’. Most recently, they’ve served up 2011’s ‘I Need A Doctor’ and 2015’s ‘Medicine Man’.
Who is Eminem's daughter?
Any fan of Eminem’s music will be familiar with his daughter Hailie. Since the beginning of his career, the rapper has covered his relationship with his daughter and her mother Kim in his music.
In fact, Eminem references Hailie in over 20 of his tracks, the most famous being 2004’s emotional 'Mockingbird', in which Eminem sings to his daughter, ‘Now hush, little baby, don’t you cry. Everything’s going to be alright. Stiffen that upper lip, little lady, I told ya, Daddy’s here to hold you through the night.’ Eagle-eared listeners might also recognise Eminem's reference to ‘Lanie’, Hailie’s cousin, who Mathers has legal custody of.
Hailie is also mentioned in ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’, ‘When I’m Gone', and ‘Hailie’s Song’. Hailie herself even provides vocals in 2002’s ‘My Dad's Gone Crazy’ and in ‘’97 Bonnie & Clyde’ Hailie features on a track in which Eminem describes dumping Kim’s body with the help of his then-infant daughter. Hailie Jade Scott Mathers is now 28 and is quite the budding Instagram influencer with 3.3 million followers.
In May 2024 she tied the knot, and posted some gorgeous pics online with her new husband.
Is Eminem a grandfather?
He's about to be! In October 2024, Eminem shared the news via a new music video for his track 'Temporary' that his daughter Hailie was expecting a baby. The home footage showed Hailie reveal the news to her dad by handing him a sports shirt personalised with the name Grandpa and baby scan photo.
You can watch the video for 'Temporary' here...
What are Eminem's albums called?
Over his decades-long career, Eminem has released 12 solo studio albums. After ‘The Slim Shady LP’ came ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’, which served up tracks ‘Stan’ featuring Dido and ‘The Real Slim Shady’.
Next, Mathers cleaned out his closest in 2002’s 'The Eminem Show', which was certified 7x Platinum by the BPI in June 2024, translating to 2.1 million sales in the UK alone. In November 2004, Eminem’s fifth album ‘Encore’ leaked online, and he made fans wait five years for his next album, returning with ‘Relapse’ with included hits ‘Crack A Bottle’ and ‘We Made You’.
His writer’s block was clearly gone as seventh album ‘Recovery’ followed the next year. Eminem released his 10th studio album ‘Kamikaze’ in 2018 when no-one was expecting - just casually tweeting out a link to the album and setting the internet on fire. It earned Eminem his 10th Number 1 album and was the best-selling hip hop album of 2018.
His 11th album, 'Music to Be Murdered By', was released in January 2020 and went to the top spot in plenty of countries around the world, including the UK and the US.
The 12th and most recent album from the rapper is called 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)' and was released on 12th July 2024. The album includes the hit single 'Houdini', which went Platinum within four months of its release.
In 2005, Eminem released a greatest hits album 'Curtain Call - The Hits', which has since gone 11x Platinum!
Eminem in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Eminem was inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by his long-time collaborator and friend, Dr. Dre in 2022. He performed a 10-minute medley of his biggest hits, including 'My Name Is' and 'Not Afraid', as well as 'Sing for the Moment' with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and 'Stan' featuring Ed Sheeran.
WATCH: Eminem's full performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
🚨 WARNING - explicit language! 🚨
Was Eminem in D12?
Eminem has also enjoyed success with group D12. The six members knew each other from growing up in Detroit, and are best known for their tracks ‘Purple Pills’ and ‘My Band’, which parodied Eminem’s reputation as the lead singer of the group.
Eminem announced D12 had disbanded on the track ‘Stepping Stone’ from his ‘Kamikaze’ album. In the track, Eminem explored his guilt at having the most successful career of the group.
What is Eminem's net worth?
Eminem’s net worth is currently thought to stand at $230 million (approximately £169 million). He reportedly rakes in between $10 to $20 million per year. This makes Eminem one of the richest rappers of all time joining the likes of Jay-Z, Dr Dre and P Diddy.
Is Eminem on tour?
Eminem is not currently on tour, with his last concert tour being the 'Rapture 2019' tour. His most successful was the 'Monster Tour' with Rihanna in 2015 for which he made $36 million. Eminem also toured with Jay-Z in 2010 for ‘The Home & Home Tour’.
Is 8 Mile based on a true story?
Eminem made his acting debut in 2002’s film 8 Mile. The film is loosely based on Eminem’s early years trying to make it as rapper in Detroit. Eminem plays Jimmy or ‘B’, a rapper trying to launch his career.
The film also stars Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy. The film is best known for its rap battle scenes to the soundtrack of ‘Lose Yourself’, which Eminem wrote for the film. Hands up who knows all the words?!
Did Eminem perform at the Super Bowl?
Yep, he sure did! In September 2021, it was confirmed that he would perform at 2022 Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg.
The event took place at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday 13th February 2022 and saw Eminem join the other musicians on a specially crafted stage to perform 'Lose Yourself' with a live band.
Watch Eminem perform 'Lose Yourself' at the 2022 Super Bowl:
What an amazing performance!
Check out these artists Eminem has collaborated with:
‘Guilty Conscience’ with Dr Dre
Released in 1999, 'Guilty Conscience' was Eminem's first ever collaboration with Dr Dre. The track, which ended up reaching Number 1 in the UK and Number 56 in the US, came about after the pair bumped into each other at the gym and decided to write a song together.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Remember Me?’ with RBX and Sticky Fingaz
'Remember Me?' featured on Eminem's 'The Marshall Mathers' LP in 2000, spending eight weeks at Number 1 in the US. Teaming up with RBX and Sticky Fingaz, the song sent shock waves through the music industry for its hardcore rap lyrics about women.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Renegade’ with Jay-Z
'Renegade' was a rap battle song between Eminem and Jay-Z on Jay-Z's sixth studio album, 'The Blueprint.' The song was never released as a single.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Stan’ with Elton John
Originally a collaboration with Dido, 'Stan' has become well-known because of Eminem and Elton John's performance of the song at the 2001 Grammy Awards. The song reached Number 1 in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Patiently Waiting’ with 50 Cent
'Patiently Waiting' was released in 2003 on 50 Cent's 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' album. Eminem wrote the track, which led to him featuring on the record.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Go To Sleep’ with DMX and Obie Trice
In 2003, DMX and Obie Trice collaborated to rap about artists Eminem had beef with at the time, including Ja Rule and Benzino.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Airplanes, Part II’ with BoB and Hayley Williams
'Airplanes, Part II' was the second version release of 'Airplane' of BoB and Paramore's Hayley Williams. It featured Eminem, taking the song to another level and introducing it to a bigger audience. The song went to Number 1 in the UK and Number 2 in the US.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Love The Way You Lie’ with Rihanna
In 2010, Eminem dropped his first collaboration with R&B icon Rihanna. 'Love The Way You Lie' reached Number 1 in 29 countries, including the US, and Number 2 in the UK. We're hard to please in England, aren't we?
Watch the music video on YouTube.
'No Love' with Lil Wayne
'No Love' was also released in 2010, selling over one million digital copies of the single, and being named 8th best single of 2010 by Complex. The song charted at Number 23 in the UK and Number 9 in the US.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
'Monster' with Rihanna
Three years after their successful debut collaboration, Eminem teamed back up with Rihanna to release the banger 'Monster.' Like 'Love The Way You Lie', it topped the charts in 29 countries, including the US and the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
‘Walk On Water’ with Beyoncé
Following a musical hiatus, Eminem came back with a bang in 2017 and released 'Walk On Water', a collaboration with Beyoncé. It was the lead single from Eminem's ninth studio album, 'Revival', and landed in the Top 10 in both the UK and the US.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
'River' with Ed Sheeran
Serving as the fifth single from his ninth album 'Revival', Eminem collaborated with the legendary Ed Sheeran on the track 'River' in December 2017. It's no surprise that the song flew straight to the Number 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
'Revenge' with P!nk
P!nk and Eminem have collaborated together several times before including P!nk's 2017 track 'Revenge' from her 'Beautiful Trauma' album. Other songs the two have worked on together include 'Need Me', 'Won't Back Down' and 'Here Comes the Weekend'.
Listen to 'Revenge' by P!nk and Eminem on YouTube.
'Those Kinda Nights' with Ed Sheeran
Eminem teamed up once again with Ed Sheeran for 'Those Kinda Nights', released as a single in 2020 and appearing on his 11th album 'Music to Be Murdered By'. It's been certified Silver in the UK and Gold in the US.
Watch the video on YouTube - warning, there's explicit language!
Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show with Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg
Eminem performed at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. He got the crowd going with his amazing performance, rapping one of his biggest hits of all time - 'Lose Yourself'.
Watch the incredible moment on YouTube.
You can hear songs by Eminem on Hits Radio.
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