Eminem


Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer, and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area.

Eminem has sold over 70 million albums worldwide.[1] Eminem was discovered by pioneer gangsta rapper and producer Dr. Dre, who signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label.

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney has praised Mathers for his "verbal energy" and for arousing popular interest in poetry and lyrics.[2] Eminem is infamous for the controversy surrounding many of his lyrics. With the enormous success of his highly acclaimed album The Marshall Mathers LP and its subsequent nomination for four Grammy awards including Album of the Year, critics such as GLAAD denounced his lyrics as homophobic and misogynist, while others protested that it promoted violence.[3]

Biography

Early career

Eminem was born in St. Joseph, Missouri to Deborah R. Nelson and Marshall Bruce Mathers II, of Scottish, German and English descent.[4] He was raised in Detroit and was interested in hip hop from a young age. He began performing as early as 13, later gaining some local attention with the group Soul Intent in 1995, making his first official tape, Fuckin' Backstabber. In 1996, he released an independent underground album named Infinite. The album received no airplay and a mixed response from critics, with people claiming Eminem's rapping style sounded too similar to Nas and AZ. Eminem followed Infinite with The Slim Shady EP, which saw his lyrics take a decidedly darker turn, in songs like "No One's Iller" and "Murder Murder", the latter of which he talks about having to feed his daughter. After this album he received much attention and mixed reviews in the hip hop underground due to his distinctive style and the fact that he was white in a predominantly black genre.

Eminem had done a notable amount of rapping with fellow Detroit MC Royce da 5'9" early in his career. They referred to themselves as Bad Meets Evil, with Eminem playing the Evil and Royce playing the Bad in the song of the same name. Royce da 5'9" and Eminem were considered to be two of the best underground MCs in Detroit and were both respected for their skills.

While Royce and Eminem were great friends and had mutual respect for one another, both personally and musically, they eventually had a falling out. Recent rumors suggest that the argument was subdued prior to Proof's death.

Success

Album cover for The Slim Shady LP
Album cover for The Slim Shady LP

At Aftermath/Interscope, Mathers released The Slim Shady LP, which went on to be one of the most popular albums of 1999, going triple platinum by the end of the year. With the album's popularity came controversy surrounding many of the album's lyrics. In "'97 Bonnie and Clyde", he describes a trip with his infant daughter, disposing of the body of his wife. Another song, "Guilty Conscience", ends with him encouraging a man to murder his wife and her lover. "Guilty Conscience" also marked the beginning of the powerful friendship and musical bond that Dr. Dre and Eminem would share. The two label-mates would later collaborate on a line of hit songs, including "Forgot About Dre" and "What's the Difference" from Dr. Dre's album 2001, Bitch Please II from the Marshall Mathers LP, Say What U Say From The Eminem Show and Encore/Curtains Down from Encore. Surprisingly, when Dr. Dre first heard his tape, he thought Eminem was black.[5]

Album cover for The Marshall Mathers LP
Album cover for The Marshall Mathers LP

The Marshall Mathers LP was released in May 2000. Breaking the sophomore curse, it quickly sold two million copies. It was Eminem's fastest selling album to date.[6] The first single released from the album, The Real Slim Shady, was a huge hit, thanks in part to the catchy rhythm and chorus line, "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?" (adapted from the catch phrase of the TV quiz show To Tell the Truth). It also created some buzz by insulting celebrities and making dubious claims about them; he implies, among other things, that Christina Aguilera performed oral sex on Fred Durst (of Limp Bizkit) and Carson Daly (of MTV's Total Request Live). In his second single, "The Way I Am", he reveals to his fans the pressures from his record company to top "My Name Is" and sell more records, and dismisses the alleged controversial link between music such as that of Marilyn Manson and shootings such as Columbine High School as absurd, instead blaming the parents. Eminem had parodied shock rocker Marilyn Manson in the video "My Name Is", the artists are now on good terms. They have performed a remix of the song "The Way I Am" together in concert.[7]In the third single, "Stan" (which samples Dido's "Thank You"), Eminem attempts to deal with his new-found fame, taking on the perspective of a deranged fan who kills himself and his pregnant girlfriend, mirroring "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" on The Slim Shady LP. It was named as the third greatest rap song of all time in a list compiled by Q Magazine,[8] and came in 10th in a similar survey conducted by Top40-Charts.com.[9] More importantly, it was ranked 290th in Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs Of All Time".[10]

Album cover for The Eminem Show
Album cover for The Eminem Show

Mathers' third major album, The Eminem Show, was released in summer 2002 and proved to be another smash hit for the rapper shooting to number one on the charts and selling well over 1 million copies in its first week of release. It featured the single "Without Me", an apparent sequel to "The Real Slim Shady", in which he makes derogatory comments about boy bands, Limp Bizkit, Moby, and Lynne Cheney, among others. The album reflected on the impact of his rise to fame, his relationship with his wife and daughter, and his status in the hip-hop community. He also addresses the charges he faced over assaulting a bouncer he saw kissing his wife in 2000. While there is clear anger present on several tracks, this album was considerably less inflammatory than the previous, and as such did not face any protests of misogyny and homophobia that had plagued The Marshall Mathers LP.

The year 2004 saw the release of Mathers' fourth major album, Encore. The album was another chart-topper for the rapper, driven by the single "Just Lose It", notable for its lampooning of Michael Jackson. Despite the comedic theme of the lead single, Encore also had its fair share of serious subject matter, including the anti-war track "Mosh". By the end of 2005 Mathers was back with a new single, "When I'm Gone", recorded for the greatest-hits set Curtain Call: The Hits. Eminem often said that one of his most influential rappers in his career was Tupac Shakur, during an interview for the Tupac: Resurrection documentary.[11]

Drug use

Album cover for Encore
Album cover for Encore

Mathers is no stranger to drugs and alcohol, as suggested by a large number of his songs, including "Drug Ballad", "These Drugs" (with D12) and "Under the Influence". The song "I'm Shady" (The Slim Shady LP, 1999) includes the explanatory line "well, I do take pills (ecstasy, acid, or prescription drugs), don't do speed / don't do crack, don't do coke / I do smoke weed / don't do smack / I do do 'shrooms, do drink beer / I just wanna make a few things clear". Other tracks, such as "Just Don't Give a Fuck", do suggest cocaine use. However, with a sentence of two years of probation taking effect in 2001, during which he was subject to mandatory regular drug testing, his recreational drug use was put to an end. This is supported with references to his drug use in his music all-but disappearing after 2001, and comments by late band-mate Proof, who stated that Mathers "sobered up".[12] However, he did turn to Zolpidem sleeping pills for relief of sleeping troubles and eventually went to rehab to recover from the addiction. In summer 2005, Mathers embarked on his first U.S. concert run in three years, the Anger Management 3 Tour, featuring Lil' Jon, 50 Cent and G-Unit, D12, Obie Trice, The Alchemist, and others. In August 2005, Mathers canceled the European leg of the tour and subsequently announced that he had entered drug rehabilitation for treatment for a "dependency on sleep medication".[13]

Remarriage and second divorce

Mathers remarried Kim Mathers on January 14, 2006 in Michigan. His best man was longtime friend and D12 member Proof, while Kim's maid of honor was their daughter Hailie Mathers. They walked down the aisle to Mathers' song "Mockingbird". Guests at the wedding included the other members of D12, as well as the members of G-Unit. Kim's mother attended the wedding, while Mathers' mother did not. However, less than 11 weeks after remarrying, the couple filed for divorce at the Macomb County office,[14] citing "a breakdown in the marriage relationship" (which, in Michigan, is the only reason one can give for cause of divorce). On April 5, 2006, the news was leaked to the Detroit Free Press and MTV's Total Request Live. In addition, Mathers was romantically linked with Mariah Carey.[15] She denies they ever officially dated. Mathers states that they dated for 6 or 7 months and "she was too diva". Eminem's 8 Mile co-star Brittany Murphy stated that they had a brief relationship while working together but he has never commented on this.[15]

Recent events

Album cover for Curtain Call.
Album cover for Curtain Call.

In 2005, some industry insiders speculated that Mathers was considering ending his rapping career after six years and several multi-platinum albums. Speculation began in early 2005 about a double-disc album to be released late that year, rumored to be titled The Funeral. [16] The album manifested itself under the name Curtain Call, and was released on December 6, 2005 under Aftermath Entertainment.

In July 2005, the Detroit Free Press broke news of a potential final bow for Mathers as a solo performer, quoting members of his inside circle who said that he will begin to fully embrace the role of producer and label executive. The Free Press, Mathers' hometown paper, wrote that the aptly titled Encore album would now stand as his final solo album.[17]

Mathers announced via MTV News that he does not plan on retiring soon, though he is planning on taking a break to produce music. [18] He is still uncertain whether another album will be released, but his career has not come to a full stop. He is continuing to work out of the spotlight, including producing the Redman album Red Gone Wild.

At "Anger Management" in Madison Square Garden and Atlanta's HiFi Buys Amphitheater, he openly announced that he is not retiring and indicates this is all just gossip by saying the moon exploding is a more credible rumor. However, many still speculate that he will be retiring and the announcement at Madison Square Garden was only a ploy to distract the fans.

Adding to the already feverish rumors from fans, Mathers released a track on Curtain Call entitled "When I'm Gone". The lyrics feature the topic of Slim Shady's destructive power over Marshall Mathers' life, and talks of laying his alter ego to rest, one line featuring the lyrics "I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it/ Put it to my brain, scream 'Die Shady!' and pop it. *gun fires*"

Album cover of The Re-Up (2006)
Album cover of The Re-Up (2006)

On December 6, 2005, the day of Curtain Call's release, Mathers denied that he was retiring on Detroit-based WKQI's "Mojo in the Mornin'" radio show, but implied that he would at least be taking a break as an artist, saying, "I'm at a point in my life right now where I feel like I don't know where my career is going… This is the reason that we called it 'Curtain Call,' because this could be the final thing. We don't know."[19]

Eminem has had some activity since the release of Curtain Call. Eminem also rapped a verse in a live performance of Busta Rhymes' "Touch It" remix at the 2006 BET Music Awards on June 27, 2006.

On August 15, 2006, Obie Trice released Second Round's on Me. Eminem produced 8 tracks on the album. He was also featured in the song "There They Go".

Eminem is featured in a new Akon single "Smack That" which appeared on Akon's new album Konvicted. He also appears in the video with a new tattoo and a green polo. According to Akon, Eminem has canceled his retirement plans and is making a new album. He said, "Eminem told me he was getting bored with everything, which is why he took a break. But he's back working on an album and I've got some records ready for him to use on it. We've talked about doing something together for so long, but our schedules made it impossible. It was our chemistry that got him out of retirement".[20] On November 19, "Smack That" topped the Official UK Singles Chart and claimed Eminem his 7th UK Number One Single. In December 2006, it was nominated for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Producer Swizz Beatz has also said in an interview that he has sent some new tracks to Eminem. [21]

Eminem will be featured on Redman's new Album Red Gone Wild.

Eminem was set to appear on Tech N9ne's 2006 album Everready: The Religion on track entitled "My World" along with Tech and Brotha Lynch Hung, but it has been said that the passing of Proof prevented Eminem from contributing his verse.

On December 5, 2006, Eminem released an album compilation entitled The Re-Up which features artists from the Shady Records roster. The first single released was "You Don't Know" which features 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and new artist Ca$his. Eminem has plans to release his fifth solo Aftermath album around November 2007.

Mathers has stated that he is taking a break from solo work, but continues to produce and collaborate with fellow Aftermath artists, as well as rappers under his Shady Records label.

Kon Artis of D12, talking about the new album of the group in an interview, said that Eminem's new album, that is still untitled, will be released on November 2007.

Elton John has praised Eminem on many occasions claiming he is amongst legendary music stars such as Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix. Eminem is also known to be featuring on a future album release by Elton who has decided to bring his music to hip hop beats.[22]

Controversies

Alleged homophobia

With the enormous popularity of The Marshall Mathers LP, the controversy surrounding him grew even larger, especially when it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Though Mathers had always claimed that his lyrics were not meant to be taken seriously, and that he had nothing against homosexuals or women, the gay rights group GLAAD organized a boycott of the Grammys. Mathers responded to this by rapping "Stan" on-stage with openly gay singer Elton John, ending the performance by hugging John. This gesture failed to appease many of his critics. He said he did not know Elton John was gay, but he told Kurt Loder after the awards show that he respected him: "Of course I'd heard of Elton John," Eminem said, "but I didn't know he was gay. I didn't know anything about his personal life. I didn't really care, but being that he was gay and he had my back, I think it made a statement in itself saying that he understood where I was coming from."[23]

Racist tapes

In the midst of the Benzino-Eminem conflict, Benzino found two tapes of a young Eminem rapping what could have been believed to be racist. Among the two songs, Eminem said, "I don't like that nigga shit" and also that "black girls only want your money." As soon as the songs became public, Eminem immediately released an apology for the controversial songs. Eminem would again apologize for the lyrics in the song "Yellow Brick Road" off his album Encore. Eminem tried to explain how the songs came to being made in that the first song was him trying to sound "whack." The second he said he did after a bad breakup with a girlfriend who was black. In the following lines from his fourth album Encore's track Yellow Brick Road he apologises for the tapes made: "But I've heard people say they've heard a tape, and it ain't that bad, but it was, I singled out a whole race, and for that I apologize, I was wrong, 'cause no matter what color a girl is she still a ho."

Immediately after the release of Eminem's first apology, Def Jam CEO Russell Simmons came out in accepting Eminem's apology and since then, with the exception of Benzino, other rappers have mostly forgotten or simply dropped the issue.

Violence towards women

The three 'eye-opening' songs most often cited as examples in The Marshall Mathers LP of Mathers' supposed misogyny were "Kill You", "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" and "Kim." Critics claimed the former portrayed extremely violent abuse against women in general and contained a line about him raping his own mother, "Oh, now he's raping his own mother, abusing a whore, snorting coke, and we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?". The latter is not so much a song as it is a reenactment of a fictional fight between him and his wife, although his shouted, hoarse lines do rhyme. Despite his conflicting expressions of love and hate throughout the track, he ends up slitting Kim's throat at the end, accompanied by cries of "Bleed, bitch, bleed!" Several people objected to the graphic description of domestic violence. On the clean version of the CD, the track was removed and replaced with a song almost entirely devoid of profanity called "The Kids."

Criticism of other artists

Eminem's provocative style has resulted in a number of high-profile feuds erupting between the rapper and some of his music industry peers. He has at one time or another had disputes with artists including Ja Rule, former Source magazine co-owner Raymond "Benzino" Scott, Everlast, Royce Da 5'9", Canibus, Insane Clown Posse, Vanilla Ice, Michael Jackson, Will Smith, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Limp Bizkit (specifically members Fred Durst and DJ Lethal), Jermaine Dupri, Moby, Esham, Cage and Christina Aguilera, as well as Christopher Reeve. In all of these beefs Eminem and other have more-or-less made peace. He has used his many connections within the music industry, especially with mixtape DJs, to release many unofficial diss tracks. His partnership with DJ Green Lantern, while it lasted, led to several mixtapes entitled The Invasion. On these mixtapes there were many songs unrelated to the animosity between Eminem and his labelmates and other artists, though the majority of the songs could easily be called diss tracks. The harshest of these was the second, called Conspiracy Theory. It had several songs by Eminem and his crew attacking a range of artists, particularly Ja Rule and Benzino, including "Bump Heads," "Doe Ray Me," and a remix of the Tupac (2Pac) song "Hail Mary" (with no contribution from the original artist).

In acceptance of his Grammy for Best Rap Album (for The Eminem Show) in 2003, he credited his rap influences, saying, "I made me a little list of MCs that I wanted to name off that inspired me to, to bring me where I am today - cause honestly, I wouldn't be here without them. So the list goes like this, and it's not in this order, but the list is this: Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Kool G. Rap, Masta Ace, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Dre, all of N.W.A., KRS-One, Treach from Naughty by Nature, Nas, 2Pac, Biggie, Jay-Z. Thank you, 'cause I learned from all of you. Thank you."[24]

Criticism of George W. Bush

Eminem votes in the video Mosh.
Eminem votes in the video Mosh.

On December 8, 2003, the United States Secret Service admitted it was "looking into" allegations that Mathers had threatened the President of the United States after the unreleased song "We As Americans" leaked onto the Web. The lyrics in question: "Fuck money / I don't rap for dead presidents / I'd rather see the president dead / It's never been said, but I set precedents...". The song was being recorded to possibly be on Encore, but wound up on a bonus CD accompanying the album instead. The second use of the word "dead" was backmasked in that version. The skit was also used in Immortal Technique's song "Bin Laden", stated near the end. Immortal Technique also attacks the president on the song.

On October 26, 2004, a week before the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, Eminem released the video for his song titled "Mosh" on the internet. The song features a very strong anti-Bush message, with lyrics such as "fuck Bush" and "this weapon of mass destruction that we call our president." The video features Mathers gathering up an army of people presented as victims of the Bush administration and leading them to the White House. However, once the army breaks in, it is revealed that they are there to simply register to vote, and the video ends with the words "VOTE Tuesday November 2" on the screen.

After Bush won the election, the video's ending was changed to Eminem and the protesters invading while Bush was giving a speech.

Michael Jackson

On October 12, 2004, a week after the release of "Just Lose It", Eminem's first single off Encore, Michael Jackson called into the Los Angeles-based Steve Harvey radio show to report his displeasure with the video, which parodies Jackson's child molestation trial, plastic surgery, and an incident in which Jackson's hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984. The lyrics to "Just Lose It" also refer to Jackson's legal troubles, however he does state in his song "...and thats not a stab at Michael/Thats just a metaphor/I'm just psycho...". Many of Jackson's supporters and friends spoke out about the video, including Stevie Wonder, who called the video "kicking a man while he's down" and "bullshit",[25] and Steve Harvey who declared, "Eminem has lost his ghetto pass. We want the pass back."[26] In the video, Eminem also parodied Pee Wee Herman, MC Hammer, and a Blonde-Ambition-touring Madonna.

Black Entertainment Television was the first channel to stop airing the video. MTV, however, announced it would continue airing the video, and "Just Lose It" became the #1 requested video on Total Request Live for the week ending October 22. The Source, through its CEO Raymond "Benzino" Scott, wanted not only the video to be pulled, but the song off the album, and a public apology to Jackson from Mathers.[27]

Others dismissed "Just Lose It" as a tame "Weird Al" Yankovic-style knockoff.[28] Regarding Jackson's protest, Yankovic, who parodied the Eminem song "Lose Yourself" on a track titled "Couch Potato" on his 2003 album Poodle Hat, told the Chicago Sun-Times, "Last year, Eminem forced me to halt production on the video for my "Lose Yourself" parody because he somehow thought that it would be harmful to his image or career. So the irony of this situation with Michael is not lost on me".

Drug use

In summer 2005, Mathers embarked on his first US concert run in three years, the Anger Management 3 Tour, featuring Lil' Jon, 50 Cent and G-Unit, D12, Obie Trice, The Alchemist, and others. In August 2005, Mathers canceled the European leg of the tour and subsequently announced that he had entered drug rehabilitation for treatment for a "dependency on sleep medication."

At the same time as he was entering rehab, his aunt and uncle, Jack and Betty Schmitt, sued him, charging that he had reneged on a promise to build a $350,000 house for them and supply them with money for the house's upkeep. The couple claimed that Mathers had kept the house in his name, and then issued them eviction orders.

Other works and ventures

Eminem as an actor

Eminem in the 8 Mile poster
Eminem in the 8 Mile poster

Mathers made his Hollywood acting debut with the semi-autobiographical 8 Mile, released in November 2002. He has said the movie is not an account of his life, but a representation of growing up in Detroit. He recorded several new songs for the soundtrack, including "Lose Yourself", which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song; it was not performed at the ceremony, reportedly because ABC wanted him to perform an edited version.

Mathers voiced a character in 50 Cent: Bulletproof, who is an aging corrupt police officer that speaks in ebonics.

Mathers has also done some voice acting, both on Crank Yankers and a web cartoon called The Slim Shady Show, which has since been pulled off-line and is instead sold on DVD.

Eminem will star in the upcoming film Have Gun - Will Travel in which he will play a bounty hunter called Paladin. He will also be involved in either the soundtrack or scoring. [29]

Shady Records

Dr. Dre's leading protégé, Mathers succeeded in multi-platinum record sales. He was granted his own record label, a sub-label of Aftermath Entertainment. He and his manager Paul Rosenberg created Shady Records in late 2000. Mathers and Dr. Dre had signed 50 Cent on a joint venture between Aftermath & Shady Records. His own Detroit collective D12 and rapper Obie Trice were signed to the Shady Records label. In 2003, Mathers and Dr. Dre signed on Atlanta rapper Stat Quo to the Shady/Aftermath roster. DJ Green Lantern, the former deejay for Mathers, was signed to Shady Records until a dispute with 50 Cent forced him to depart from the label; he is no longer associated with Mathers. [30] The Alchemist is now officially Mathers' tour deejay. In 2005, Mathers officially signed another Atlanta rapper known as Bobby Creekwater to his label along with west coast rapper Ca$his. In the Anger Management Tour of 2003 The Alchemist hurt his wrist, preventing him from being the tour's DJ. Clinton Sparks filled in for him, with the rectom playing and his name is mentioned on the album numerous times.

Eminem as a producer

Mathers is also active as a producer of rap records. Besides being the executive producer of D12's two albums, Devil's Night and D12 World, he has also executive produced Obie Trice's Cheers and Second Round's on Me as well as 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacre. In addition, Mathers has produced and appeared on several songs by other famous rappers, such as Jadakiss' "Welcome To D-Block", Jay-Z's "Renagade" and "Moment of Clarity" Lloyd Banks' "Warrior Part 2", and "Hands Up", Tony Yayo's "Drama Setter", Trick Trick's "Welcome 2 Detroit", and Xzibit's "My Name" and "Don't Approach Me". Most of The Eminem Show was produced by Mathers himself, with co-production from longtime collaborator Jeff Bass. He also split the production with Dr. Dre on Encore. In 2004, Mathers was the Executive Producer of 2Pac's posthumous album Loyal to the Game with 2Pac's mother Afeni Shakur. He produced the UK #1 single "Ghetto Gospel" which featured Elton John. On certain tracks on the album, 2Pac's voice was slowed down and digitally altered to match the beat and make him say things like "2005" and "G-Unit", angering many fans. Mathers has named 2Pac as his favorite rapper. He has also produced "The Cross" off Nas's album God's Son.

See also: List of songs Produced by Eminem

Eminem in D12

Main article: D12

In 2001, Mathers brought his rap group, D12, to the popular music scene. In 2001, D12 released their hit debut album Devil's Night.

The first single released off of the album was "Purple Pills" (radio named "Purple Hills"), an ode to recreational drug use (although this was preceded in the UK by a song called "Shit on You", which was included on the special edition version of the album). The version of the song released on the radio and music television was heavily rewritten to remove many of the song's obscene lyrics, and renamed "Purple Hills". While the first single was a massive hit, the album's second single, "Fight Music", was not as successful, in part due to its timing in relation to the 9/11 attacks.

After their debut, D12 took a three-year break from the studio, later regrouping to release their sophomore album, D12 World, in 2004, which featured the popular hit single release "My Band". The other members of D12 have also appeared as guests on all of Mathers' albums since The Marshall Mathers LP. D12's third album was tentatively scheduled for a 2006 release. D12 member Bizarre had said that the crew had spent time in the studio. However, it can be expected that the album may be postponed due to the untimely death of D12 member Proof. The news has since been released that the album will be released June 12, 2007.

Death of Proof

Main article: Proof (rapper)
Eminem pays tribute to Proof in "Smack That"
Eminem pays tribute to Proof in "Smack That"

On April 11, 2006, Proof was killed by a gunshot wound to the head at approximately 4:30am EDT (08:30 UTC) at the CCC Club on 8 Mile Road in Detroit, Michigan after fatally shooting U.S. military veteran Keith Bender, Jr.

Proof was buried on April 20, 2006 in The Fellowship Chapel, Detroit to a full house of 2,000 with thousands mourning outside. Mathers and Obie Trice both read eulogies at the service.

An excerpt: "I'm sure everybody who has ever met him, even just once, can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it. I believe that Proof loved people and people loved him. He was a magnet. He lured you in. You wanted to learn about him, follow his swagger. Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, and no D12."

Discography

For more detailed and an extensive discography, see Eminem discography.

Videography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Golden Globe Nomination

  • 2003 - Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile

Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards (Nominations)

Juno Awards

MTV Movie Awards

  • 2002 - Best male performance, for 8 Mile
  • 2002 - Best breakthrough male performance, for 8 Mile

MTV Video Music Awards

  • 1999 - Best new artist for "My Name Is" from The Slim Shady LP
  • 2000 - Best video for "The Real Slim Shady" from The Marshall Mathers LP
  • 2000 - Best male video for "The Real Slim Shady" from The Marshall Mathers LP
  • 2000 - Best rap video (with Dr. Dre) for "Forgot About Dre" from Dr Dre 2001
  • 2002 - Best video for "Without Me", from The Eminem Show
  • 2002 - Best male video, for "Without Me", from The Eminem Show
  • 2002 - Best rap video for "Without Me", from The Eminem Show
  • 2002 - Best direction, for "Without Me", from The Eminem Show
  • 2003 - Best video from a film, for "Lose Yourself" from the 8 Mile O.S.T.

MTV Europe Music Awards

  • 1999 - Best hip-hop act
  • 2000 - Best hip-hop act
  • 2000 - Best album, for The Marshall Mathers LP
  • 2001 - Best hip-hop act
  • 2002 - Best male act
  • 2002 - Best hip-hop act
  • 2002 - Best album, for The Eminem Show
  • 2003 - Best hip-hop act
  • 2004 - Best Hip Hop Act (D12)

Detroit Music Awards

  • 2006 - Outstanding Video / Major Budget Eminem When I'm Gone
  • 2005 - Outstanding National Major Label Recording (Encore
  • 2003 - Outstanding National Single (Lose Yourself
  • 2001 - Outstanding National Major Label Recording (The Marshall Mathers LP)
  • 2001 - Outstanding National Single (The Real Slim Shady)

World Music Awards

  • 2005 - Best Pop/Rock Artist
  • 2005 - Best Rap/ Hip Hop Artist
  • 2001 - World Music Award For World's Best Selling Rap Artist

Billboard Music Awards

  • 2003 - Best Rap Album (The Eminem Show)
  • 2003 - Best Album's Artist
  • 2002 - Album Of The Year (The Eminem Show)
  • 2002 - R&B/ Hip Hop Album Of The Year (The Eminem Show)
  • 2002 - Best Album (The Eminem Show)
  • 2001 - Maximum Vision Award (The Real Slim Shady)
  • 2001 - Best Rap Hip Hop Clip (The Real Slim Shady)

Teen Choice Awards

  • 2005 - Choice Music Rap Artist
  • 2005 - Choice Music Rap Track (Mockingbird)

American Music Awards

  • 2003 - Favorite pop/rock male artist
  • 2003 - Favorite pop/rock album, for The Eminem Show
  • 2003 - Favorite hip-hop/R&B male artist
  • 2003 - Favorite hip-hop/R&B album, for The Eminem Show
  • 2005 - Favorite hip-hop/R&B male artist
  • 2006 - Favorite hip-hop/R&B male artist
Download:

1. Evil Freestyles (1:02 minutes)
2. 8 mile freestyles - Parking Lot (0:59 minutes)
3. Beyond Average (3:56 minutes)
4. Brain Damaged (3:46 minutes)
5. Cleaning OutMy Closet (4:57 minutes)
6. Crack Cocaine (Unreleased very rare studio out take) (2:47 minutes)
7. Drugs Got A Hold of Me (5:00 minutes)
8. Encore-Mocking Bird (4:10 minutes)
9. Freestyle-Very Rare (0:58 minutes)
10. Fuck the law (Freestyle) (0:44 minutes)
11. Guilty Conscience (3:23 minutes)
12. Hailie's Song (5:20 minutes)
13. I'm retarded (unreleased) (3:12 minutes)
14. Like Toy Soldiers (4:56 minutes)
15. Mocking Bird (4:10 minutes)
16. Rock Bottom (3:34 minutes)
17. Saying Goodbye To Hollywood (4:32 minutes)
18. Soldier (3:46 minutes)
19. The best freestyle I have ever heard (3:07 minutes)
20. The marijuana mix (4:51 minutes)
21. The real slim shady (4:46 minutes)
22. Till I Collapse (4:57 minutes)
23. Eye of the tiger ft. shaggy (4:54 minutes)
24. Bitch I'm Gonna Kill You (4:24 minutes)
25. You don't know ft. 50 cent, chasis, lioyd banks (4:24 minutes)
26. Till I Collapse ft. 50 cent, 2 pac (7:17 minutes)
27. When I'm Gone (4:42 minutes)
28. Superman (5:50 minutes)

Fergie


Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27, 1975), better known by her stage name Fergie, is an American pop and R&B singer, songwriter, and actress. She is a former member of the kids' TV series Kids Incorporated, and the girl group Wild Orchid. Ferguson was also a co-host of the TV show Great Pretenders. She is currently a vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas, as well as a solo artist; releasing her first solo album, The Dutchess, in 2006.

Biography

Early life

Ferguson was born in Whittier, California to Terri Gore and Patrick Ferguson in nearby Hacienda Heights.[1] She has one sister, Dana, who is an actress. Her parents were Catholic and worked as schoolteachers, and Ferguson had a strict Catholic upbringing.[2] During her youth, she was involved with members of the Mexican gangs in Hacienda Heights.[3] Ferguson attended Glen A. Wilson High School.

Music career

Ferguson was a member of the female trio Wild Orchid, which she fronted with Stefanie Ridel and fellow Kids Incorporated star Renee Sandstrom. Wild Orchid released two albums, but after completing a third album, their record label declined to release it, and she left the group shortly thereafter. Her disappointment with Wild Orchid led to an addiction to crystal methamphetamine. She told a Glasgow paper, "I started doing ecstasy. Then I got addicted to crystal methamphetamine. My weight dropped to 90 lbs so I lied to my friends and said I was bulimic. Finally, I started going crazy." In September 2006, Ferguson talked with Time magazine about quitting her crystal meth addiction. "It was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with," she says. "It's the drug that's addicting. But it's why you start doing it in the first place that's interesting. A lot of it was being a child actor; I learned to suppress feelings".[4]

In 2003, Ferguson took over the lead female vocal duties for the Black Eyed Peas, replacing background singer Kim Hill, who had left the group in 2000. Ferguson recorded five songs with the group before she was invited to join them permanently. Ferguson's addition to the band, which had enjoyed underground success until then, helped them quickly grow into mainstream popularity.

After two hit Black Eyed Peas albums, Ferguson is pursuing a solo career. Her first album, released on September 19, 2006, was entitled The Dutchess. The album's name is a misspelled variant of the former title of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, with whom Ferguson shares a surname and popular nickname. The solo deal does not mean the demise of the Black Eyed Peas, as Ferguson is intending on staying with the group and alternating between the two duties.[citation needed] Music on The Dutchess is similar in style to the Black Eyed Peas, as fellow Peas member will.i.am is the album's executive producer. Ferguson has had four hit songs from The Dutchess including two number one singles: London Bridge and Glamorous. Her second single, Fergalicous, peaked at #2 and was well on its way to reaching #1 had it not been controversially removed from iTunes for several days, hurting its sales in a critical period. Also, London Bridge reached #2 on the UWC, while Fergalicous and Glamorous both made it to #4. "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" has been confirmed as her fourth single.[5]

Acting career


As a child actress, Ferguson appeared on the television program Kids Incorporated for several years with Renee Sandstrom, who would become a fellow member of Wild Orchid. Ferguson's well-scrubbed image on that show presents quite a contrast with the "ghetto-funk" image she has more recently begun to cultivate. Ferguson was the voice of Sally Brown in two Charlie Brown specials: It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), and Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985). She also voiced Sally in the 1985 version of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.

In March 2005, Ferguson was cast as Stevie Wayne (the role originated by sex symbol Adrienne Barbeau) in the update of John Carpenter's The Fog. She would later leave the role due to creative differences. While rumors surfaced that Charisma Carpenter was replacing her, Selma Blair would eventually get the part. Ferguson's departure proved to be a wise move, as the remake was a box office flop universally panned by critics and fans alike. In July 2005, Ferguson had a guest role on the Rocket Power special, Reggie's Big Beach Break, on Nickelodeon; she voiced a fictitious pop music star named Shaffika.

In 2006, Ferguson returned to acting, appearing in the film Poseidon, a remake of the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, but her role was minor. Ferguson appeared in the Planet Terror section of the film Grindhouse in 2007.

Personal life

Ferguson is dating actor Josh Duhamel,[6] who stars in the television show Las Vegas. She appeared in the series in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers".

In April 2007, she gave an interview in which she admitted that she went on a sex and drugs spree when she got to 18. She said: "I have had lesbian experiences in the past. I won't say how many men I've had sex with - but I am a very sexual person."[7]

Other activities

Ferguson is featured as No. 36 on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2006.[8] Maxim also interviewed Ferguson about her role in Grindhouse.[9]

In 2005, Ferguson urinated on stage during a performance at San Diego's Street Scene festival. Various excuses were circulated in the press, allegedly coming from Ferguson and her agents, many of which claimed it was not urine.[citation needed] However, Ferguson herself later commented on the incident: "I had a few drinks before the show, but I didn't think to go to the bathroom before we went onstage. We were jumping around...and my bladder just started."[10][11]

Ferguson is set to host the MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2007 on April 29 at Sydney’s Acer Arena, along with Good Charlotte. She is also nominated for 3 awards (see below).[12]

Discography

  • All regularly released albums and their chart positions in the USA (U.S.), United Kingdom (UK), Canada (CA), Australia (AU), New Zealand (NZ), Germany (GER), Switzerland (SWI), Austria (AT), and Japan (JPN).

Albums

Year Cover Album Chart positions[13] Sales/Certification
US BR UK CAN AUS PL NZ GER SWI AUT JPN
2006
The Dutchess
3
1
27
4
10
34
11
11
11
17
5
USA: 1,700,000

RIAA: Platinum
Worldwide: 2,900,000[14]

Singles

  • All regularly released singles and their chart positions in the United World Chart (WW), Billboard Hot 100 (US), Ibero-America (Ibero), Latin America (Latin), Brazil (BR), United Kingdom (UK), Canada (CAN), Australia (AUS), New Zealand (NZ), Ireland (IRL), Germany (GER), Switzerland (SWI), Austria (AUT), Lithuania (LT), and worldwide sales/copies (Sales).
Year Cover Single Chart positions[15] Sales
US Ibero Latin BR UK CAN AUS NZ IRL FRA GER SWI AUT PL LT
2006
"London Bridge"
1 (3)
3
5
1
3
16
3
1
3
27
3
6
3
6
1
3,000,000 (1,200,000 U.S.)
2006
"Fergalicious"
2
3
6
1

24
41
51

15
23
69
50
41
3
2,500,000+ (1,806,049+ in U.S.)
2007
"Glamorous"1
1 (2)


57
6
18
10

5

16

32
10
6
1,013,500 (U.S. Only)[16]
2007
"Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)"2


4












2007
"Impacto" (featuring Daddy Yankee) 2















  • 1 Currently active in worldwide charts.
  • 2 To Be Released

Guest appearances

Year Song Album
2004 "True" (will.i.am & Fergie) 50 First Dates Soundtrack
2006 "All Night Long"(Diddy featuring Fergie) Press Play
2007 "Glad You're Here" (Macy Gray featuring Fergie) Big
"Impacto" (Remix) (Daddy Yankee featuring Fergie) El Cartel: The Big Boss

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Other notes Genre
1984 It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown Sally Brown
Animation/Short/Family/Musical
1985 Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown Sally Brown
Animation/Short
1987 Monster In The Closet Lucy
Comedy/Horror
1997 An American Vampire Story Fluffy
Comedy/Horror
1998 Outside Ozona Girl
Comedy/Drama/Horror
2005 Be Cool As herself
Comedy
2006 Poseidon Gloria
Action-Adventure
2007 Grindhouse Tammy Visan Segment Planet Terror Horror

Awards and nominations

Year Category Recording Result
Grammy Awards
2004 Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "Where Is the Love?" Nominated
2005 Record of the Year "Let's Get It Started" Nominated
2005 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "Let's Get It Started" Won
2006 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "Don't Phunk with My Heart" Won
2006 Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal "Don't Lie" Nominated
2006 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "Gone Going" Nominated
2006 Best Rap Song "Don't Phunk with My Heart" Nominated
2007 Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal "My Humps" Won
American Music Awards
2003 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group
Nominated
2005 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group
Won
2006 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group
Won
Billboard Music Awards
1997 Best Dance Clip of the Year "Talk to Me" Nominated
1997 Best Dance Clip of the Year by a New Artist "Talk to Me" Nominated
2003 Digital Track of the Year "Where Is the Love?" Nominated
2005 Hot Digital Songs Artist
Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards
2004 Best Choreography "Hey Mama" Won
2004 Best Hip Hop Video "Hey Mama" Nominated
2004 Best Dance Video "Hey Mama" Nominated
2005 Best Group Video "Don't Phunk With My Heart" Nominated
2006 Best Hip Hop Video "My Humps" Won
2007 Sexiest Video (Australia) "Fergalicious" Nominated
2007 Best Female Artist (Australia) "Fergalicious" Nominated
2007 Best Hip Hop Video (Australia) "London Bridge" Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards
2004 Best Pop Act
Won
2005 Best Pop Act
Won
2006 Best Group
Nominated
People's Choice Awards
2004 Favorite Combined Forces "Where Is the Love?" Nominated
2005 Favorite Group
Nominated
2006 Favorite Group
Nominated
2007 Favorite Group
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
2005 Choice Party Starter "Don't Phunk with My Heart" Won
2006 Choice Music - Rap Artist
Nominated
2006 Choice VCAST Music Artist
Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards
2006 Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo "Monkey Business" Won
2006 Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut "My Humps" Nominated

Download MP3 here:

  1. Clumsy (4:01 minutes)
  2. All that I got (4:05 minutes)
  3. Voodoo doll (4:23 minutes)
  4. Big girls don't cry (4:28 minutes)
  5. Mary jane shoes (3:55 minutes)
  6. Turn it up (5:00 minutes)
  7. Won't let you fall (4:38 minutes)
  8. Here I come (3:19 minutes)
  9. Fergalious (4:52 minutes)


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