Aside from his epic performance at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts, Eminem is celebrated 10 years of sobriety this weekend.
Still Thriving
On Saturday, April 21, the renowned rapper announced the good news to his millions of followers on Instagram by posting an inspirational photo.
Celebrated my 10 years yesterday.A post shared by Marshall Mathers (@eminem) on Apr 21, 2018 at 5:09pm PDT
The 45-year-old has always been open about his struggles with drug addiction. In 2010, he revealed to the New York Post via MTV News that he had to learn to write and rap again when he recovered from substance abuse.
In 2015, the rapper opened up about his near-death experience when he overdosed on pills back in 2007.
"In 2007, I overdosed on pills, and I went into the hospital. I was close to 230 pounds. I'm not sure how I got so big, but I have ideas," he wrote in an essay for Men's Journal. "The coating on the Vicodin and the Valium I'd been taking for years leaves a hole in your stomach, so to avoid a stomachache, I was constantly eating — and eating badly."
He also referenced the scary experience in his life in a song in his new album, Revival. The track "Castle," which was addressed to his daughter Hailie, talked about various points in his life including his overdose on 2007.
The verse, dated Christmas Eve, recounts the time when he was writing a letter to his daughter for her 12th birthday. With his emotions heightened by drugs, he said he struggled even to finish his letter and lamented unintentionally bringing her into the spotlight.
"A lot's happened in between them since I rised to this fame/I've said your name but always tried to hide your face," he rapped. "And if things should worsen, don't take this letter I wrote/ As a goodbye note, 'cause dad's at the end of his rope."
The track ends with the sound of the rapper taking a couple of pills and falling unconscious to the floor.
Eminem Closes 2018 Coachella
Slim Shady's nightmare is long gone, and he is now reaping the blessings of his long and tough road to redemption. On Sunday, April 22, he performed a set lasting for an hour-and-a-half as the headliner of the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
The 45-year-old performed a career-spanning set that featured his greatest hits from "The Real Slim Shady" to "Lose Yourself."
During the performance, he brought out special guest Skylar Grey who served as the stand-in for Beyoncé and Rihanna in a rendition of "Walk on Water" and "Love The Way." He also invited fellow rappers 50 Cent who performed "In Da Club" and Dr. Dre for "California Love."
