New Delhi: One of the most successful rappers of all time, Eminem was born as Marshall Bruce Mathers on October 17, 1972, in the small town of St. Joseph, Missouri. Being on the top game for almost more than two decades, the ‘Rap God’ star celebrates his 48th birthday today. Jotted below are some of the facts about the rapper, songwriter, and record producer Eminem.

  1. Eminem made his debut in the year 1996 with his album ‘Infinite’. He has also been credited for popularizing hip hop in Middle America.

  2. Before venturing into the music industry, he worked as a short-order cook and also used to wash dishes at a family restaurant.

  3. Eminem lost his childhood friend Proof who was shot and killed after a fight broke out over a game of pool. Proof’s death was one of the reasons that caused Eminem to fall into depression.

  4. Eminem began rapping at the age of 14 with his high-school friend Mike Ruby. This led him to adopt the name ‘M&M’ which stood for the first initial of his first and last name which later on evolved into ‘Eminem’

  5. Eminem debuted in the film industry with the musical drama film ‘8 Mile’ in the year 2002 where he portrayed the fictionalised version of himself. He also won the Oscar Award for ‘Best Original Song’ for the track ‘Lose Yourself’ from ‘8 Mile’.

  6. Eminem’s weight increased to almost 100 kgs leaving his fans unable to recognise him as he was regularly eating fast food.

  7. The rapper was hospitalised in December 2007 after a methadone overdose. He collapsed one night in his bathroom and was immediately rushed to the hospital where the doctors informed that he had ingested the equivalent of four bags of heroin and was ‘about two hours from dying’.

  8. Eminem has been vocal about his drug problems and later sought help from a rehabilitation counsellor. He has been sober since 2008.

  9. The popular rapper revealed that he does not know how to use a computer.

  10. Eminem was arrested for a drive-by shooting with a paintball gun at the age of 20. The case was luckily dropped when the victim did not show up in court.


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