Eminem: The Real Slim Shady

As a senior in college, I was granted the opportunity to create a blog for one of my courses in my department. I wanted to create and share something that I was truly passionate about. I've always had a strong connection with music. Many people don't know the artist behind the art. I have decided to dedicate this blog towards the background stories of modern hip-hop/rap icons. Over the next eight entries I will cover the life story of eight different rappers. My name is Andrew Slifka and this is The Come Up.

Kicking off our first entry is no other than Detroit's own, Slim Shady.

Despite what your parents say about him, Eminem has solidified himself as one of the greatest emcees in the history of hip-hop/rap music. His controversial, offensive lyricism and world play has been triggering listeners since his name started popping up in record stores; nonetheless, he's cemented himself as one of the greats. We all know Eminem. The real question is, who is Marshall Mathers?

Marshall Bruce Mathers III grew up in the city of Detroit, Michigan despite being born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived in a trailer park called the 8 Mile Mobile Court, which was later a filming location for his movie titled, "8 mile."

Eminem's upbringing in Detroit was surrounded by dysfunction. Marshall never met his father, was significantly struggling financially and was raised in an environment that was consistently hostile. Over his career, Eminem has considerably disturbing songs about his mother, father, ex-wife, and his adversity being a poor white kid in Detroit.

In his younger years, Marshall was severely bullied by his classmates. On Eminem's first official album, The Slim Shady LP, the rapper calls out one of his former classmates that bullied him as a child.

"Way before my baby daughter Hailey, I was harassed daily by this fat kid named D'Angelo Bailey. An eighth grader who acted obnoxious, cause his father boxes, so everyday he'd shove me in the lockers." - Brain Damage, The Slim Shady LP.

The obscenity of the lyrics make it seem like a story that Eminem made up. It is not as far-fetched as one would think. The story of D'Angelo Bailey giving him Brain Damage is actually factual. At the age of nine years old, Marshall was beaten so badly that he was unconscious and hospitalized for four days for cerebral hemorrhage.

Eminem has expressed his difficult relationships with both his Mother (Debbie) and ex-wife (Kim). Early in his career, songs were written about both of them, fully expressed his anger and frustration. He's made multiple songs referring to murdering Kim. He's made numerous songs where he verbally attacks his mother's parenting. Eminem has never been the type to put a filter on his music and he certainly did not hold back against the two women that he received the most pain from. The songs are dark and disturbing reflections of Marshall's reality.

Marshall dropped out of high school when he was 17 years old. He worked low-end jobs while living with his mother in a trailer park home. He rapped at local venues where he built up some local respect by rap battling. He stuck with his craft for years without any recognition outside of Detroit. In 1995, Marshall Mathers gave birth to his first daughter, Hailie Jade Scott Mathers.

In that same year Eminem joined a rap group in his area that went by Soul Intent. Eminem continued to grow as a lyricist and released a song with rapper and friend, Proof, along with other artists.

In 1996, Em and others left Soul Intent and created The Dirty Dozen, better known as D12. Eminem's music production increased at this point and was able to release his first solo EP. An EP is a very short music project that does not classify as an actual album. His first album came out later that year under the name Infinite. The album did not receive much attention and did not find its way to record stores or radio play.

It was not until 1999 when Eminem finally got his break. Producer and rapper, Dr. Dre of N.W.A. and Aftermath Entertainment, was struggling at his newly created label and was looking for the next big name. He came across one of Eminem's tapes after Marshall came in second place at the Rap Olympics competition. After doing some research, Dr. Dre flew Marshall out to Los Angeles to meet him in person.

Dre was desperate for someone that could change the rap game the way he did. He needed someone unique and risky. Eminem was the answer. On the first day that Eminem and Dr. Dre met, the chemistry was already there. The first beat that was played turned into a song named, My Name Is, which happened to sell over 2,000,000 copies. Below is video from HBO's the Defiant Ones. It tells the first hand perspective from both Dr. Dre and Eminem when they first met one another.

Soon after came his debut album, the Slim Shady LP. The album went on to win a Grammy for best rap album and went 5x platinum, selling over 5,000,000 total units. From that moment, the drugged up and mentally unstable rapper started his career as a global icon. The rest is history.

In the next entry of the Come Up, we will cover rapper and producer, Kanye West. The misunderstood college dropout from Chicago, Illinois.