I was introduced to Eminem right around the time my parents got divorced. His music helped me through some incredibly difficult times and for that, I will always be grateful .
I figured I’d try to honor him in the only way that I know.
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Let’s wish this legend a very happy birthday with these 10+ random facts about Eminem that fans didn’t know.
1. The Beastie Boys were a huge influence on Eminem’s music.
When Eminem dropped his most recent surprise album, Kamikaze, many people were quick to point out that the cover bore similarities to the Beastie Boys’ classic, License To Ill .
Marshall has since confirmed that the homage was intentional.
2. Marshall’s mother sued his school.
Eminem had a rough childhood. He was taunted, bullied, and beaten nearly every day of his life.
His mother sued the school for $10,000 for not being able to provide a safe and stable learning environment.
His mother also sued him for defamation.
On Eminem’s breakthrough single, “My Name Is,” there’s a line where he raps “I just found out my mom does more dope than I do.”
His mother got a lawyer and sued Marshall for $10 million ; she walked away with $1600.
3. Eminem got into a lot of rap beefs.
Let’s run the list, shall we? Of course, everyone knows about Chris Kirkpatrick. Then, there was DJ Lethal and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit.
But what a lot of people don’t know is that Eminem had serious beef with an underground rapper by the name of Cage.
Ironically, Cage and Eminem had a lot in common.
They both had a dark side to their music. Neither was afraid to push the envelope or question the status quo.
Cage has also openly accused Eminem of ‘biting’ his production and style. If you listen to the Eminem song ” Role Model ” compared to Cage’s “Down The Left-Hand Path,” you’ll understand why.
4. Marshall and Elton John formed an unlikely friendship.
It happened after the pair performed together at the 2001 Grammy Awards .
At the time, Eminem was facing heavy backlash for homophobia in his lyrics. The performance was a statement to the contrary and to this day is one of the most memorable Grammy performances of all time.
5. Elton John helped Eminem get sober.
For years, Marshall had problems with prescription drugs, and his predilection for Vicodin was becoming dangerous.
Marshall has said that he reached out to Elton because of his own past experiences with drugs and alcohol. He goes on to express how he needed someone who understood the pressures of the music business.
Now, he’s more than 12 years sober.
Marshall has been in recovery for more than 12 years. It hasn’t always been easy but he’s dedicated himself to his sobriety .
What you see in his hand is a coin from Narcotics Anonymous.
6. Marshall really was bullied by D’Angelo Bailey.
On The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has a song called “Brain Damage” where he details the abuse and bullying that he was subjected to as a child.
It turns out that D’Angelo Bailey really did torment Marshall as a child. As an adult, he sued Marshall for defamation of character!
The judge dismissed the case, in true Slim Shady style!
By that, I mean that Judge Deborah Servitto explained her ruling through a rap! It’s actually pretty hilarious and definitely worth the read.
She cited an interview that D’Angelo gave to Rolling Stone as evidence for the dismissal. In it, he basically confesses to doing exactly what Eminem claims.
7. Marshall was the one who discovered 50 Cent.
50 Cent made his major-label premiere on the 8 Mile soundtrack.
His debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, was released on Shady Records and sold an incredible 872,000 copies in its first week alone. By the end of the year, 50 Cent had sold over 12 million records.
These days, he is helping to bring another hot young talent to the forefront.
You heard it here first: don’t sleep on Boogie . His debut album was released just last year on Shady Records, and it was unquestionably one of the strongest releases of 2019.
Could Boogie be the next 50 Cent?
8. He’s widely considered to have one of the best battle rap records of all time.
Em’ prowess as a battle rapper was on full display at Scribble Jam ’97. He went head-to-head with an MC known as J.U.I.C.E. in what is considered still to this day to be the best rap battle of all time.
It took six rounds and six tie-breakers to crown a champion.
9. Eminem gifted Elton John a truly unforgettable wedding present.
OK — how do I put this delicately?
For Elton John’s wedding, Eminem gifted him with a pair of diamond-encrusted rings for him and his husband, David. And they don’t go on their fingers.
10. He is considered by his peers to be the greatest rapper of all time.
It’s one thing for the fans to proclaim Eminem to be the greatest rapper alive. But when Eminem’s contemporaries also happen to agree, then it’s unquestionable.
50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z — all hail Marshall as the best there is.
