Eminem: The Truth Behind the Artist

Father of three girls, recovering addict of drugs, and one of the greatest rappers and entertainers of all time resides all in the soul of one individual. Growing up in the ghetto of Detroit, Michigan, Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem, only way to success was one that took him many places, with many peaks, but never brought him to the “promise land.” Unlike many young, Caucasian teenagers, Eminem had an addiction to music that brought him to the highest point in his life, but also the lowest.
Being a minority in a country where white skin is all around, Eminem grew up in a life style of drugs and hip-hop. With the world against him, Eminem brought a whole new name to the stereotype of a “white rapper” despite the troubles it brought to the individual, Marshall Mathers. Coming from a torn down household, Mathers was an entrepreneur in his first album, “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999. Unlike others from his surroundings, Eminem took on the challenge of not praising his road to success in his lyrics, but creating pictures of pain and anger lyrically through his alter-ego, “Slim Shady.” In his song, “Guilty Conscience”, Eminem and Dr. Dre are described lyrically to succeed in convincing a man to murder his wife and her lover. In other songs, he touches on murdering his wife, or getting rid of her corpse by trashing it in the ocean.
Catching many individual’s attention with the Slim Shady album, Eminem received mixed opinions from all over. With parents wanting his cds trashed, and his radio play ended, young teenagers leeched their life from Eminem’s lyrics like a parasite in need of power. Unlike sell-out artists, Eminem stuck with his persona through his next album, “The Marshall Mathers LP.” Not leaving his aggressive nature from his first album, Eminem expanded his anger and aggression not only towards his high-school sweetheart, and ex-wife, but to famous people in general. In his top-selling single, “The Real Slim Shady”, Eminem not only bashes celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears about their private lives, but also bashes his own fans. By saying “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up,” he is referring to the fact that there is only one Eminem. There is only one Marshall Mathers, and that adolescent white boys who die their hair blonde do not have the same talent or drive that he possesses for his music.
Taking a chance with that album, Eminem topped the pedestal of hip-hop by bashing celebrities, family, and his fans. Instead of rapping about sex, drugs, or money, Mathers spoke the truth about his past life, others fake personas, and his fan’s ability to be lackeys of his. Knowing no limits, Eminem showed his versatility as an artist stretches farther than the eye can see. In his movie, “8 mile”, Eminem played himself as he portrayed his struggle as a white male in the ghetto of Detroit aspiring to be a rapper. Knowing that his past struggles are behind him, Eminem shows his soft side in his 2004 album “Encore.”
Being a father, Eminem took a side-step in his single “Mockingbird” to recognize his love for his daughters, Hailie and Lainey. Recognizing the fact that things between Eminem and his ex-wife Kim did not work out, he understands that he is human. Although he is rich, Mathers knows that what a child really needs is a stable house. Mockingbird was more than a song for single fathers; it was a message to his children apologizing for the troubles he has caused. It also expresses his soft side, knowing that his daughters are the only people who inspire him to keep on going. Known for being able to switch the message of an album within the snap of a finger, Eminem went political with his release of his single “Mosh.” Although just a rapper, Eminem obtained respect through his harsh lyrics towards the country’s political decisions during the Bush administration. Demanding a resistance to follow what Eminem thought was poor leadership for our country, the lyrics to a slow, demanding beat of a drum convinced plenty towards the cause.
Conquering everything from capturing his fans through bashing celebrities to taking a strong political stand, Eminem captured everything any artist could aspire to become. Because of this, Eminem decided to step down from the rap game as an artist, and give it a try as a producer. Although his artists including D12 were successful, Eminem was not meant for just being a producer. Of course he can produce big hits; he’s been doing that his whole career with the great Dr. Dre himself. On the other hand, Marshall was never a leader without his lyrics to back him up. Nor a leader or follower his whole life, his absence from creating his own music took its toll on the individual Marshall Mathers.
As any Hollywood artist, Eminem had his fair share of encounters with the law and drugs. Being sued several times by ex-wife, and mother for defamation through lyrics, Eminem seemed to have grown throughout his career to a more mature individual. As soon as one was ready to put a stamp on that opinion, Marshall decided to become addicted to something else other than number one hits: zolpidem, a type of sleeping pill. Like a seesaw, Eminem’s sober lifestyle depends on the weight music has on his life. When he is away from writing his lyrics, he depends on drugs and alcohol for a sort of high while when he is in the studio, his voice is all he needs.
Eminem’s career is far from over. With the releases of his albums Relapse and Relapse 2, Eminem showed that he still has what it takes to be on the top. With his past not far behind, we all know trouble isn’t far from Marshall Mathers. As an individual, Mathers is no better than any average Joe. Then again, as an artist, there is no one near as enthusiastic and meaningful with their lyrics. Words spoken through his songs have touched people all over the world. The pace, content, and meaning behind his lyrics change like a river’s current. Yet, they always lead to capture his audience in some shape or form, just like a river always feeds into the ocean.