After the release of his debut album Infinite (1996) and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and subsequently achieved mainstream popularity in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP. His next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), were worldwide successes and nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the latter becoming the best-selling album worldwide of 2002. After the release of his next album, Encore (2004), Eminem went on hiatus, largely due to a prescription drug addiction. He returned to the music industry with the releases of Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010), the latter becoming the best-selling album worldwide of 2010. He then released the U.S. number-one albums The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024).
Eminem was also a member of the hip-hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, and has collaborated with fellow Detroit-based rapper Royce da 5'9" as the duo Bad Meets Evil. Eminem starred in the 2002 musical drama film 8 Mile playing a dramatized version of himself. "Lose Yourself", a song from its soundtrack, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks—the most for a solo rap song—and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first hip-hop artist ever to win the award. He also co-founded Shady Records, which helped launch the careers of artists such as D12, 50 Cent, and Obie Trice, and established his own Sirius XM Radio channel, Shade 45.
Eminem is amongst the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of over 220 million records. He was the best-selling music artist in the United States for the 2000s, placing third for the 2010s. He was the first artist to have ten albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and has had five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Curtain Call: The Hits (2005), "Lose Yourself", "Love the Way You Lie", and "Not Afraid" have all been certified Diamond or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an MTV Europe Music Global Icon Award. Billboard named him the "Artist of the Decade (2000–2009)", and Rolling Stone named him one of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time". In 2022, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early life
Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the only child of Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. and Deborah "Debbie" (née Nelson). His mother nearly died during her 73-hour labor with him. Eminem's parents were in a band called Daddy Warbucks, playing in Ramada Inns along the Dakotas–Montana border before they separated. His father abandoned his family when Eminem was a year and a half old, and Eminem was raised only by his mother, Debbie, in poverty. He wrote letters to his father, but Debbie said that they all came back marked "return to sender".
By the age of twelve, Eminem and his mother shuttled between states, rarely staying in one house for more than a year or two and mostly living with family members, moved several times and lived in St. Joseph, Savannah, Missouri, Kansas City, Warren, Michigan and Roseville, Michigan before settling in Detroit. For much of his youth, Eminem and his mother lived in a working-class, primarily black, Detroit neighborhood. He and Debbie were one of three white households on their block, and Eminem was beaten several times by black youths. His mother had a son named Nathan "Nate" Kane Samara.
Eminem frequently fought with his mother, whom a social worker described as having a "very suspicious, almost paranoid personality". When he was a child, a bully named D'Angelo Bailey severely injured Eminem's head in an assault, an incident which Eminem later recounted (with comic exaggeration) on the song "Brain Damage". Debbie filed a lawsuit against the public school for this in 1982. The suit was dismissed the following year by a Macomb County, Michigan, judge, who said the schools were immune from lawsuits.
Eminem was interested in storytelling, aspiring to be a comic book artist before discovering hip-hop. He heard his first rap song ("Reckless", featuring Ice-T) on the Breakin' soundtrack, a gift from Debbie's half-brother, Ronnie Polkingharn. His uncle was close to the boy and later became a musical mentor to him. Following Polkingharn's suicide in 1991, Eminem stopped speaking publicly for days and did not attend his funeral.
At age 14, Eminem began rapping with high-school friend Mike Ruby; they adopted the names "Manix" and "M&M", the latter evolving into "Eminem". Eminem snuck into neighboring Osborn High School with friend and fellow rapper Proof for lunchroom freestyle rap battles. On Saturdays, they attended open mic contests at the Hip-Hop Shop on West 7 Mile Road, considered "ground zero" for the Detroit rap scene. Struggling to succeed in a predominantly black industry, Eminem was appreciated by underground hip-hop audiences. When he wrote verses, he wanted most of the words to rhyme; he wrote long words or phrases on paper and, underneath, worked on rhymes for each syllable. Although the words often made little sense, the drill helped Eminem practice sounds and rhymes.
In 1987, Debbie allowed runaway Kimberly Anne "Kim" Scott to stay at their home. Several years later, Eminem began an on-and-off relationship with Scott. After spending three years in ninth grade due to truancy and poor grades, 17-year-old Eminem dropped out of Lincoln High School. Although interested in English, Eminem never explored literature, preferring comic books, and he disliked math and social studies. He states that he later received a GED.Eminem worked at several jobs to help his mother pay the bills, one of which was at Little Caesar's Pizza in Warren. He later said she often threw him out of the house anyway, often after taking most of his paycheck. When she left to play bingo, he would blast the stereo and write songs.
Alter egos
Eminem uses alter egos in his songs for different rapping styles and subject matter, including Slim Shady and Ken Kaniff, among others.
Slim Shady is the controversial and rebellious alter ego of Eminem, introduced in his 1997 extended play The Slim Shady EP. Conceived during a period of personal and professional struggle, Slim Shady allowed Eminem to express his darker, more aggressive thoughts through exaggerated and often violent lyrical content. This persona embodies the chaotic, satirical side of Eminem's music, pushing boundaries with provocative, sometimes offensive, themes, which blend fiction and reality. The use of Slim Shady is shown in The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Encore, Relapse, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Kamikaze, Music to Be Murdered By, and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).
Slim Shady's influence on Eminem's career is significant. His shock-value content helped skyrocket the rapper to fame, but also attracted criticism and legal challenges, particularly due to songs like "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" and "Kim", where he addresses deeply personal and often disturbing subjects, such as family conflicts and imagined violence. Despite the controversy, the Slim Shady character is credited with much of Eminem's early success, but over time, the persona also contributed to the rapper's personal struggles, including substance abuse.
Another character is Ken Kaniff, a gay man who pokes fun at Eminem's songs. Ken was created and originally played by fellow Detroit rapper Aristotle on The Slim Shady LP, where Kaniff makes a prank call to Eminem. An argument after the album's release prompted Eminem to use the Kaniff character on The Marshall Mathers LP and later albums (except Encore and Recovery). Aristotle, angry with Eminem's use of his character, released a mixtape in his Kaniff persona ridiculing him.
Acting Career
After small roles in the 2001 film The Wash and as an extra in the 1998 Korn music video for "Got the Life" (during which he gave the band a demo tape), Eminem made his Hollywood debut in the semi-autobiographical 2002 film 8 Mile. He said it was a representation of growing up in Detroit rather than an account of his life. He recorded several new songs for the soundtrack, including "Lose Yourself" (which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003 and became the longest-running No. 1 hip-hop single in history). Eminem was absent from the ceremony and co-composer Luis Resto accepted the award.
Eminem voiced an aging, corrupt, AAVE-speaking police officer in the video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof and guested on the Comedy Central television show Crank Yankers and a Web cartoon, The Slim Shady Show He was signed to star in an unmade film version of Have Gun – Will Travel, and was considered for the role of David Rice in the 2008 film Jumper. Eminem had a cameo appearance, arguing with Ray Romano, in the 2009 film Funny People. In a 2010 interview with Jonathan Ross, he stated "You know, I love music so much. This is my passion, this is what I want to do. Not saying that I won't do a movie ever again, but this is me."
He played himself in the Entourage season-seven finale "Lose Yourself" with Christina Aguilera. Although Eminem was offered the lead role in the 2013 science-fiction film Elysium, he turned it down because director Neill Blomkamp would not change its location from Los Angeles to Detroit. Eminem had a cameo appearance as himself in the 2014 film The Interview. During an interview with the main character, Dave Skylark (James Franco), Eminem satirically comes out as gay.
Books and memoirs
On November 21, 2000, Eminem published Angry Blonde, a non-fiction book featuring a commentary of several of his own songs, along with several previously unpublished photographs.
On October 21, 2008, his autobiography The Way I Am was published. The book was first published on October 21, 2008, by Dutton Adult. It is a collection of Eminem's personal stories, reflections, photographs, original artwork, and original lyric sheets from "Stan" and "The Real Slim Shady". It details his struggles with poverty, drugs, fame, heartbreak, family and depression, along with stories about his rise to fame and commentary on past controversies. The book is illustrated with never before published photos of Eminem's life. It also contains original drawings, previously unpublished lyric sheets, and other rare memorabilia. The autobiography is named after his 2000 song "The Way I Am".
An autobiography of Eminem's mother (My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem) was published the following month, in which Debbie Nelson describes her childhood and adolescence, meeting Eminem's father and her son's rise to (and struggles with) fame.
Discography:
Studio albums
- Infinite (1996)
- The Slim Shady LP (1999)
- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
- The Eminem Show (2002)
- Encore (2004)
- Relapse (2009)
- Recovery (2010)
- The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013)
- Revival (2017)
- Kamikaze (2018)
- Music to Be Murdered By (2020)
- The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) (2024)
Collaborative albums
- Devil's Night (with D12) (2001)
- D12 World (with D12) (2004)
- Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006)
- Hell: The Sequel (with Bad Meets Evil) (2011)
- Shady XV (2014)
Greatest Hits albums
- Curtain Call: The Hits (2005)
- Curtain Call 2 (2022)
(2024) Eminem album houdini
Soundtrack albums
- 8 Mile (Music from and Inspired By the Motion Picture) (2002)
- Southpaw (Music from and inspired by the Motion Picture) (2014)
Reissued albums
- Relapse: Refill (2009)
- Music to Be Murdered By – Side B (2020)
Extended plays
- Slim Shady EP (1997)
Box sets
- The Singles (2004)
- The Vinyl LPs (2015)
- Eminem x Fortnite Radio (2023)
I Still Don't Give A Fuck
Eminem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hell yeah, I'm afraid of death
I don't want to die yet
A lot of people think that I worship the devil
That I do all types of retarded shit
Look, I can't change the way I think
And I can't change the way I am
But if I offended you, good
'Cause I still don't give a fuck
I'm zonin' off of one joint, stoppin' a limo
Hopped in the window, shoppin' a demo at gunpoint
A lyricist without a clue, what year is this?
Fuck a needle, here's a sword, body-pierce with this
Livin' amok, never givin' a fuck
Give me the keys, I'm drunk, and I've never driven a truck
But I smoke dope in a cab
I'll stab you with the sharpest knife I can grab
Come back the next week and re-open your scab (Yeah!)
A killer instinct runs in the blood
Emptyin' full clips and buryin' guns in the mud
I've calmed down now, I was heavy once into drugs
I could walk around straight for two months with a buzz
My brain's gone, my soul's worn, and my spirit is torn
The rest of my body's still bein' operated on
I'm ducked the fuck down while I'm writin' this rhyme
'Cause I'm probably gonna get struck with lightnin' this time
For all the weed that I've smoked, yo, this blunt's for you
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
To all the friends I used to have, I miss my past
But the rest of you assholes can kiss my ass
For all the drugs that I've done, yo, I'm still gon' do
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
For every time I reminisce, yo, I miss my past
But I still don't give a fuck, y'all can kiss my ass
I walked into a gunfight with a knife to kill you
And cut you so fast, when your blood spilled, it was still blue
I'll hang you until you dangle and chain you with both ankles
And pull you apart from both angles
I wanna crush your skull 'til your brains leak out of your veins
And bust open like broken water mains (shh)
So tell Saddam not to bother with makin' another bomb
'Cause I'm crushin' the whole world in my palm
Got your girl on my arm, and I'm armed with a firearm
So big my entire arm is a giant firebomb
Buy your mom a shirt with a Slim Shady iron-on
And the pants to match (Here, Momma, try 'em on)
I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives
A brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives
(Shittin' on rappers) Causing hospital accidents
God help me, before I commit some irresponsible acts again
For all the weed that I've smoked, yo, this blunt's for you
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
To all the friends I used to have, yo, I miss my past
But the rest of you assholes can kiss my ass
For all the drugs that I've done, yo, I'm still gon' do
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
For every time I reminisce, yo, I miss my past
But I still don't give a fuck, y'all can kiss my ass
I wanted an album so rugged nobody could touch it
Spent a million a track and went over my budget (Oh shit)
Now how in the fuck am I supposed to get out of debt?
I can't rap anymore, I just murdered the alphabet
Drug sickness got me doin' some bugged twitches
I'm withdrawin' from crack so bad my blood itches
I don't rap to get the women, fuck bitches!
Give me a fat slut that cooks and does dishes
Never ran with a clique, I'm a posse
Kamikaze, strappin' a motherfuckin' bomb across me
From the second I was born, my momma lost me
I'm a cross between Manson, Esham and Ozzy
I don't know why the fuck I'm here in the first place
My worst day on this Earth was my first birthday
Retarded? What did that nurse say?
Brain damage? Fuck! I was born during an earthquake
For all the weed that I've smoked, yo, this blunt's for you
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
To all the friends I used to have, yo, I miss my past
But the rest of you assholes can kiss my ass
For all the drugs that I've done, yo, I'm still gon' do
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
For every time I reminisce, I miss my past
But I still don't give a fuck, y'all can kiss my ass
The song "I Still Don't Give A Fuck" by Eminem talks about his fear of death, the perception many people have of him, and his disregard for societal norms. The first verse is about how he is afraid of dying and he is aware that people think he is a devil worshipper, and that he does all sorts of strange things, but he cannot change himself to please anyone. The second verse is about how he is so high on weed that he is losing control and could end up doing something reckless. He talks about his past drug addiction and how he was once heavy into drugs, and even though he has calmed down now, he still does not care about anything.
Line by Line Meaning
A lot of people ask me, am I afraid of death?
People often inquire if I fear dying.
Hell yeah, I'm afraid of death
Certainly, I'm scared of passing away.
I don't want to die yet
I'm not ready to die at this moment.
A lot of people think that I worship the devil
There are folks who believe that I have a devotion to Satan.
That I do all types of retarded shit
They assume that I engage in foolish, absurd behavior.
Look, I can't change the way I think
My thought process is not within my control.
And I can't change the way I am
I can't alter my personality or character.
But if I offended you, good
However, if my actions or words harmed you, that's great from my perspective.
'Cause I still don't give a fuck
It's because I'm indifferent and couldn't care less about how you feel.
I'm zonin' off of one joint, stoppin' a limo
I'm currently in a state of being high off a singular marijuana roll and halting a limousine.
Hopped in the window, shoppin' a demo at gunpoint
I trespassed by jumping through the window of the car and forcefully offering a music sample at the tip of a firearm.
A lyricist without a clue, what year is this?
I'm a songwriting artist that's mediocre and doesn't understand the present time.
Fuck a needle, here's a sword, body-pierce with this
Forget hypodermic needles; here's a sword that can pierce your body instead.
Livin' amok, never givin' a fuck
I'm living recklessly and carelessly without concern.
Give me the keys, I'm drunk, and I've never driven a truck
Handover the car keys; I'm inebriated and inexperienced at driving a vehicle of that size.
But I smoke dope in a cab
Although, I consume cannabis in a taxicab.
I'll stab you with the sharpest knife I can grab
I will puncture you with the most pointed blade that I can find.
Come back the next week and re-open your scab (Yeah!)
Return to the scene a week later so that I can reopen your wound and cause you more injury.
A killer instinct runs in the blood
There's a natural impulse to murder that runs through my veins.
Emptyin' full clips and buryin' guns in the mud
I'm firing full magazines and burying firearms in the dirt.
I've calmed down now, I was heavy once into drugs
I'm more relaxed nowadays, but I used to have a severe addiction to dangerous substances.
I could walk around straight for two months with a buzz
I could walk around for sixty days sober, but still feel the effects of drugs.
My brain's gone, my soul's worn, and my spirit is torn
My mind is lost; my spirit is weakened and emotionally troubled.
The rest of my body's still bein' operated on
I'm still being treated in different aspects, despite introspective healing.
I'm ducked the fuck down while I'm writin' this rhyme
I'm hiding while composing these verses.
'Cause I'm probably gonna get struck with lightnin' this time
It's because I'm likely to be struck by lightning any time now.
For all the weed that I've smoked, yo, this blunt's for you
This marijuana rolled is in honor of all the cannabis that I've consumed.
To all the people I've offended, yeah, fuck you too!
To all the individuals I've hurt or outraged, I feel disinterest and strongly negative emotions toward you as well.
To all the friends I used to have, I miss my past
I long for my previous existence and the individuals I associated with.
But the rest of you assholes can kiss my ass
However, all other people can go screw themselves.
For all the drugs that I've done, yo, I'm still gon' do
I've consumed various substances, and I'll undoubtedly continue to do so.
For every time I reminisce, yo, I miss my past
Whenever I contemplate or fondly recall previous moments, I yearn for them.
But I still don't give a fuck, y'all can kiss my ass
However, I remain unconcerned about everything - kiss my backside.
I walked into a gunfight with a knife to kill you
I entered a violent encounter equipped with a blade intending to end your life.
And cut you so fast, when your blood spilled, it was still blue
My cutting you was so swift that your blood dripped out before oxygen could turn it red.
I'll hang you until you dangle and chain you with both ankles
I will suspend you by both legs and object you with chains.
And pull you apart from both angles
I'll separate your body by drawing on opposite directions.
I wanna crush your skull 'til your brains leak out of your veins
I desire to compress your head so hard that the brain substance seeps out.
And bust open like broken water mains (shh)
Your skull will break open and split like cracked water pipes.
So tell Saddam not to bother with makin' another bomb
Inform Saddam Hussein not to waste his time creating another explosive.
'Cause I'm crushin' the whole world in my palm
Because of my immense strength and power, I could destroy the entire planet.
Got your girl on my arm, and I'm armed with a firearm
I have a lady by my side, and I'm packing a weapon.
So big my entire arm is a giant firebomb
My entire limb is a massive explosive device that burns things on contact.
Buy your mom a shirt with a Slim Shady iron-on
Purchase a Slim Shady-themed top for your mother with an iron-on sticker.
And the pants to match (Here, Momma, try 'em on)
And acquire trousers to match (Mother, please give them a fitting).
I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives
I employ a descriptive vocabulary to create vivid and creative scenarios.
A brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives
I'm loaded with descriptive words in addition to medication that induces defecation.
(Shittin' on rappers) Causing hospital accidents
I'm using my rapping talent to mock and ridicule other artists resulting in hospital emergency cases.
God help me, before I commit some irresponsible acts again
I require assistance from a higher power to prevent me from indulging in reckless behavior.
To all the friends I used to have, yo, I miss my past
I regard my previous friendships with sentimentality that I wish to relive.
I wanted an album so rugged nobody could touch it
I aimed for a music project so aggressive that no one could surpass it.
Spent a million a track and went over my budget (Oh shit)
I invested heaps of money per song while somehow surpassing my intended spending limits.
Now how in the fuck am I supposed to get out of debt?
I'm uncertain how to escape my financial debt as a result.
I can't rap anymore, I just murdered the alphabet
I lost my ability to rap since I ruthlessly destroyed every letter of the alphabet.
Drug sickness got me doin' some bugged twitches
The negative effects of drug consumption cause me to exhibit odd involuntary movements.
I'm withdrawin' from crack so bad my blood itches
The severe detoxification of crack has me feeling excruciating itches in my bloodstream.
I don't rap to get the women, fuck bitches!
I'm not rapping for female attention; screw them all!
Give me a fat slut that cooks and does dishes
I want a full-figured lady that can cook and clean.
Never ran with a clique, I'm a posse
I never associated with a group; I'm a sole entity.
Kamikaze, strappin' a motherfuckin' bomb across me
I'm like a Kamikaze pilot willing to blow myself up with a powerful explosive at any given moment.
From the second I was born, my momma lost me
Since birth, my mother's had difficulty controlling me.
I'm a cross between Manson, Esham and Ozzy
I'm a hybrid of Charles Manson, Esham, and Ozzy Osbourne.
I don't know why the fuck I'm here in the first place
I'm unsure why I exist on earth at all.
My worst day on this Earth was my first birthday
The day of my birth is the worst one I've ever experienced on this planet.
Retarded? What did that nurse say?
She called me retarded, or so I heard from the nurse.
Brain damage? Fuck! I was born during an earthquake
I might have suffered brain damage since I was born during a seismic event.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Bass, Mark Bass, Marshall Mathers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Yurch
Are you sure he doesn't mean Marilyn Manson?
@Jgoated40
This is one if the goats best song
@johnjesus02
My mum used to always play Eminem for me when I was around 3-4. I turn 23 tomorrow.
@constantravens4800
Yessir
@ЕркинУсипов-в3ъ
Eminem of rap music super king xip xop class legenda bravo respect 🌟☀️📡✔️🌹ℹ️🫂🎼🏡✋🌃👋Ⓜ️🦍⬅️👍⛅🎁✴️🇺🇸🎧🇰🇿🎤🈂️📳🎵🔥
@Sydneyknowles8505Knowles
2024 still and banger
@Scavierman
This is my favorite song buy em the beat is just so good and his rapping is amazing
@SINGODTV
Eminem is the best
@SINGODTV
Ever
@Ryan-xj1jx
What a fucking tune