Prepare yourself to “Lose Yourself”: Eminem is fifty. On October 17, 2022, the acerbic Detroit rapper who has sold platinum records will turn one. For a look back at the controversial rapper’s career, including this image from the 2022 Super Bowl, keep scrolling.
Eminem’s debut album, “The Slim Shady LP,” was released in 1999 and achieved triple platinum sales. Slim Shady, the rapper’s manic alter ego and insulting rap machine, was debuted in this Dr. Dre-produced song. Eminem is seen here performing in 2000 during his Up in Smoke tour.
Eminem released “The Marshall Mathers LP” in 2000. The album generated multiple hit singles, including “The Real Slim Shady,” sold over a million copies in its first week, and won the Grammy for best rap album.
Eminem has had 44 overall nominations and 15 Grammy awards during his career. He is seen here accepting the trophy for the year’s best rap album.
The LGBT community was outraged by Eminem’s irreverent lyrics. In response to accusations of homophobia, Eminem and Elton John sang a duet at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
Action, camera, lights In 2002, Eminem starred in “8 Mile.” Sounds familiar? The movie is about a young, white rapper from Detroit who is seeking to break into the music industry.
The movie received favorable reviews, and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” which he composed for the soundtrack, won an Oscar for best original song. Eminem can be seen in this photo attending the “8 Mile” premiere.
Eminem reunited with his old rap group D12 after he rose to fame in the rap industry. Since the passing of member Proof in 2006, the group has been less active and has only issued two successful records. Swift, Kuniva, Proof, Bizarre, and Kon Artis are shown (clockwise from bottom right).
From 2004 until 2009, Eminem took a vacation from solo music after releasing four blockbuster albums. The rapper was struggling with substance abuse difficulties at the time and spent some time in rehab.
Eminem’s comeback album “Relapse” was released in 2009, and it was swiftly followed by “Recovery” in 2010. Both were commercial and critical hits, and they each received a Grammy for best rap album. Eminem is shown here with his trophy from the 2011 awards ceremony.
Eminem performed at the BET Awards in June 2010.
Nearly 17 years after the original, in 2013, he released “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.”
At the 2014 MTV Movie Awards, Rihanna and Eminem performed their popular song “Monster” together on stage.
At the 2020 Academy Awards, 17 years after the song won him an Oscar, Eminem gave a performance of “Lose Yourself.”
The lyrics from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” song, which are frequently parodied, “His palms are sweating, knees weak, arms are heavy / There’s puke on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti,” provided the inspiration for the rapper to start a new company. He started “Mom’s Spaghetti,” a Detroit restaurant, in 2021.
Eminem joined 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and others to perform in the Super Bowl halftime performance on February 13, 2022.
Eminem will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in May 2022, joining artists such as Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and others.
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/