After almost two decades in the public eye, Eminem celebrated his 43rd birthday on October 17th. This may come as a surprise to the many fans that fondly remember his meteoric rise to fame at the turn of the century. Eminem, also known as Marshall Mathers, has influenced myriad rappers and artists, and has provided us with countless fantastic songs. His dexterous delivery, deeply personal lyrics and irreverent humor have all made Eminem an American cultural staple and an important aspect of Hip Hop history. Although many fantastic Caucasian rappers preceded him (Beastie Boys, Aesop Rock, etc.), Eminem was the first to reach the massive celebrity heights of his African American Hip-Hop idols. His success proved that Hip Hop was an art form willing to hear the stories of anyone talented and charismatic enough to tell them well. Despite his underdog status, Eminem became the biggest artist in the world. His debut album The Slim Shady LP sold 10 million records, and earned him a Best Rap Album Grammy.
Unfortunately, Eminem's career has not always been so fruitful. As The Boombox reports, after the death of his friend and peer, Proof, in 2006, Eminem fell into a deep depression and turned to prescription drugs as a coping mechanism. He spent years out of the public eye, until coming back with Relapse in 2009. It was clear on this album that the rapper was fighting a lot of negative thoughts and behaviors, though the work was largely unfocused. According to MTV, for that reason, Eminem released Recovery in 2010, hoping to provide fans with the emotional comeback album they deserved. The album won the 2010 Grammy for Best Rap Album and sold 9 million records. Eminem continued to impress fans and critics with his 2013 album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. Hip-Hop fans and artists around the world continue to celebrate his birthday and influence.
