Eminem’s rise to become one of the best-selling artists of all time and one of the most influential rappers was no overnight success story. It was a journey that spanned over a decade, starting in the underground hip-hop scene of Detroit in the late 1980s. Along the way, Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, faced many obstacles but persevered through it all by honing his skills and developing his unique style and persona.

Early Beginnings (1988-1996)

Eminem first started rapping as a teenager in 1988 under the moniker M&M, later changing it to MC Double M. In high school, he began entering rap battles and freestyling with his high school friend Proof. During this time, hip hop was just starting to gain mainstream popularity but the genre was still underground in Detroit. Undeterred by the lack of opportunities, Eminem formed several rap groups like New Jacks and Soul Intent to further develop his skills through live performances and releasing underground mixtapes and albums.

Some of Eminem’s earliest releases included the Fool’s Gold cassette in 1991 with Soul Intent and the independent album Infinite in 1996 under Web Entertainment. While Infinite received critical acclaim for Eminem’s technical rapping ability, wordplay, and storytelling, it did not achieve any commercial success. Part of the reason was that Eminem’s style on the album was more mellow and introspective compared to his later persona. He was still searching to find his authentic artistic voice.

Outside of music, Eminem faced many personal struggles during this time as well. He was living in poverty in a crime-ridden neighborhood in Detroit. He also had a turbulent relationship with his girlfriend Kim, with whom he had a daughter Hailie at a young age. All these real life experiences and struggles would later profoundly influence Eminem’s lyrics and fuel his rise.

The Birth of Slim Shady (1997)

After the lackluster commercial performance of Infinite, Eminem realized he needed a change of approach. He decided to develop an edgier alter ego named Slim Shady, which allowed him to freely express his frustrations, dark humor, and storytelling through a more provocative and controversial lens.

In 1997, Eminem self-released the Slim Shady EP on Web Entertainment. Right from the opening track “Public Service Announcement,” it was clear Eminem had found his new voice with Slim Shady. The EP featured shock-value lyrics addressing topics like murder and drugs over fast-paced, chaotic beats. It marked a significant departure from the more restrained style on Infinite.

Word of the EP quickly spread in the underground hip hop scene. One of the people who came across it was Dr. Dre, the legendary rapper and producer who helped launch the careers of Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Dre was immediately impressed by Eminem’s raw talent, lyrical dexterity, and audacious Slim Shady persona. He saw Eminem’s potential to crossover to the mainstream. Dre decided to sign Eminem to his record label Aftermath Entertainment, making Eminem the label’s first white artist.

The Slim Shady LP and Breakthrough Success (1998-1999)

With Dre now in his corner as a mentor and producer, Eminem was poised for major success. In early 1999, Interscope Records released Eminem’s first major label album – The Slim Shady LP. From the opening track “Public Service Announcement 2000” it was evident Eminem had taken his Slim Shady alter ego to new extremes. He tackled provocative topics like murder, drugs, rape, and homophobia with shocking honesty and dark humor over intense beats produced by Dre.

The lead single “My Name Is” took off, rising to #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its memorable hook, fast rhymes, and surreal music video made it a crossover hit. More controversy followed with songs like “Guilty Conscience” that addressed topics like murder in an entertaining but unsettling way.

Soon, the album’s success could not be denied. The Slim Shady LP debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and went triple platinum. Eminem had broken through to the mainstream in a major way. He won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and cemented his status as the brash enfant terrible of rap. Eminem’s unique brand of offensive yet clever lyrics delivered through the Slim Shady alter ego had resonated massively with disenfranchised white suburban youth.

Overnight Fame and Backlash (2000-2001)

Following the immense success of The Slim Shady LP, Eminem was catapulted to A-list celebrity status. His fame exploded globally and he became one of the biggest pop culture figures in the world. However, the acclaim was accompanied by immense backlash over his controversial lyrics addressing topics like murder, rape, and homophobia. Eminem was accused of glorifying violence and disrespecting women and the LGBTQ community.

Politicians and activists groups held protests and called for his music to be censored. Despite the criticism, Eminem refused to tone down his persona. He addressed the backlash head on with songs like “The Way I Am” where he doubled down on offending people and his right to creative expression. The controversy only served to increase interest further in his next album.

In 2000, Eminem released his third studio album The Marshall Mathers LP, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 1.76 million copies in its first week. It went on to become the fastest-selling hip hop album of all time. Lead singles like “The Real Slim Shady” and “Stan” featuring Dido received massive airplay on radio and MTV. They showed off Eminem’s wit, pop sensibilities, and storytelling ability.

The Marshall Mathers LP cemented Eminem’s mainstream popularity but also intensified the backlash. He was sued for defamation by the bands D12 and Insane Clown Posse for lyrics on the album. However, Eminem refused to change and stayed true to his Slim Shady persona. He addressed the controversies head on with songs like “I’m Back” and used the attention to his advantage. By the end of 2000, Eminem had become the best selling artist in the world.

Maturity and Continued Success (2002-present)

As Eminem’s fame reached new heights, he also began facing more personal issues. His relationship with Kim further deteriorated and they divorced in 2001. Eminem also struggled with prescription drug addiction that was exacerbated by the stresses of fame. These personal battles would influence his next albums.

In 2002, Eminem released The Eminem Show, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over 1.32 million copies in its first week. It featured more mature and introspective songs addressing his fame and personal issues. Singles like “Without Me” showed off his technical skills while “Cleaning Out My Closet” confronted his family demons.

Eminem took a hiatus after that to recover from drug addiction at a rehabilitation facility. He returned in 2004 with Encore, which featured the massive global hit “Just Lose It” addressing the backlash and his battles with addiction. This was followed by a series of mostly well-received albums like Relapse (2009), Recovery (2010) and The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013) that saw him move past his addiction issues and mature as an artist.

In the late 2010s, Eminem collaborated with artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran. He executive produced the 2018 Oscar-winning film 8 Mile which was loosely based on his life. Eminem’s 2020 album Music to Be Murdered By paid homage to Alfred Hitchcock and included the Billboard Hot 100 number-one “Godzilla.”

Over the course of his decades-long career, Eminem has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has won 15 Grammys including being the first rapper to ever win Best Rap Album twice. Eminem is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time due to his technical ability, storytelling, and influence on the genre.

While Eminem faced immense obstacles early on, he persevered through it all by honing his craft in Detroit’s underground scene. The development of his Slim Shady alter ego allowed him to freely express himself artistically. With Dr. Dre’s guidance and the success of The Slim Shady LP, Eminem broke through to mainstream popularity in a major way. His authenticity and willingness to push boundaries made him a crossover success, though it also attracted much controversy that he addressed head on. Through it all, Eminem stayed true to himself, which allowed him to sustain a legendary career spanning over three decades. His journey exemplifies that true talent and perseverance can overcome any obstacles.