Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his influential role in popularizing hip-hop in Middle America, Eminem is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He is known for his transgressive work, political criticism, social commentary, and skilled rap flow.

Eminem's early life was marked by poverty and a turbulent childhood, as he was raised by his mother, Deborah Nelson, after his father abandoned the family. He spent his formative years moving between Missouri and Detroit, facing frequent school changes and bullying. Despite dropping out of high school at 17, he had a strong affinity for language, which he later channeled into his music.

Eminem began his music career in Detroit, initially struggling with his debut album "Infinite" in 1996. However, his breakthrough came with his Slim Shady persona, leading to the release of "The Slim Shady LP" in 1999 under Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. This album, along with subsequent releases like "The Marshall Mathers LP" and "The Eminem Show," propelled him to global fame, with the latter becoming the best-selling hip-hop album of all time.

In addition to his music career, Eminem ventured into acting, notably starring in the semi-autobiographical film "8 Mile" in 2002, for which he won an Academy Award for the song "Lose Yourself." He is also known for his involvement in the hip-hop groups D12 and Bad Meets Evil and his role as a co-founder of Shady Records.

Eminem's personal life has been as publicized as his music, with a tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife Kim Scott and their daughter Hailie. He also adopted two other children, Alaina and Stevie. Despite controversies surrounding his lyrics, Eminem has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. With over 220 million records sold worldwide, he remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time.