10. The Rap Battles
Young Marshall Mathers was 14 when he began rapping with some high school friends. He adopted the rap name “M&M”, a play on his initials, which he soon changed to the famous name we know today, “Eminem”.
He and his buddies would sneak into neighbouring high schools and start freestyle rap battles. On weekends they’d battle in the city of Detroit’s rap scene. He intrigued people by being white in a predominantly black music scene and they appreciated his talent. The 2002 movie, 8 Mile is largely based off of this time in the rapper’s life.
His reputation in Detroit’s rap community continued to grow and he was recruited by several groups, including The Dirty Dozen, or D12 as they’re more commonly known as. He was eventually signed to a record label and recorded his first album which was a complete failure. Eminem’s lyrics lacked the iconic mood he’d later be known for.
It was then he decided to develop his violent, murderous and vulgar alter-ego, Slim Shady. After Shady stepped onto the scene, all eyes were on Eminem and his career was going nowhere but up.
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