Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. He is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time. He helped make hip-hop more popular in Middle America and helped white rappers gain acceptance. His work during the late 1990s and early 2000s often caused controversy, but he became known for expressing the feelings of many people in lower-income areas of America. He is recognized for his conscious rap, which includes political criticism and social commentary, as well as his unique rapping style.

After releasing his debut album, Infinite (1996), and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. He gained mainstream popularity with The Slim Shady LP (1999). His next two albums, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), were global successes. Each sold more than one million copies in one week. The Eminem Show was the top-selling album worldwide in 2002 and the best-selling hip-hop album of all time. After releasing Encore (2004), Eminem took a break from music due to struggles with prescription drug addiction. He returned with Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010). Recovery was the top-selling album worldwide in 2010. His later 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)—each debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart.

In 2002, he starred in the drama film 8 Mile, where he played a version of himself. The song "Lose Yourself," from the 8 Mile soundtrack, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart 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 to win the award.

Eminem was part of hip-hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, as well as the duo Bad Meets Evil with Royce da 5'9". He co-founded Shady Records, which helped launch the careers of artists like D12, 50 Cent, and Obie Trice. He also created the Sirius XM Radio channel Shade 45 and opened a restaurant called Mom's Spaghetti.

Eminem is the best-selling rapper and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 220 million records. He is the first artist to have ten albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200. He has five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Three of his albums and four of his singles have received diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His awards include an Academy Award, 15 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 17 Billboard Music Awards, 15 MTV Video Music Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Billboard named him the Artist of the 2000s, and Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists and greatest songwriters of all time.

Early life and education

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri, as the only child of Deborah "Debbie" Nelson (1955–2024) and Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. (1951–2019). His mother nearly died during her long labor with him. His parents were in a band called Daddy Warbucks, performing at hotels near the Dakotas and Montana border before they separated. His father left the family when Eminem was 1.5 years old, and his mother raised him alone in poverty. He wrote letters to his father, but his mother said they were all returned with the message "return to sender."

Eminem and his mother moved frequently, rarely staying in one place for more than a year or two. They lived in St. Joseph, Missouri; Savannah, Missouri; Kansas City; Warren, Michigan; and Roseville, Michigan, before settling in Detroit when Eminem was 12. For much of his youth, he and his mother lived in a small house in a working-class neighborhood in Detroit that was mostly Black. He and his mother were among the few white families on their block, and he was attacked several times by Black youths. His mother had a son named Nathan "Nate" Kane Samara in 1986 with her boyfriend, Fred Samara. In 2013, the state of Michigan demolished his childhood home after it was damaged by fire.

Eminem often argued 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 his head in an attack, an event Eminem later described in the song "Brain Damage." His mother filed a lawsuit against the public school for this in 1982. A judge in Macomb County, Michigan, dismissed the lawsuit the next year, stating that schools could not be sued for such incidents.

Eminem was interested in storytelling and wanted to become a comic-book artist before discovering hip-hop. He heard his first rap song, "Reckless," on the Breakin' soundtrack, a gift from Ronnie Polkingharn, his mother’s half-brother and his uncle. His uncle was close to him and later helped him with music. After his uncle’s suicide in 1991, Eminem stopped speaking publicly for days and did not attend his funeral.

At age 14, Eminem began rapping with a high-school friend named Mike Ruby. They used the names "Manix" and "M&M," the latter becoming "Eminem." He sneaked into Osborn High School with his friend and fellow rapper Proof for lunchroom rap battles. On Saturdays, they attended open mic contests at the Hip-Hop Shop on West 7 Mile Road, a key location for Detroit’s rap scene. He struggled to succeed in an industry mostly led by Black artists but was appreciated by underground hip-hop fans. When writing verses, he focused on making most words rhyme. He wrote long phrases on paper and then found rhymes for each syllable, even if the words sometimes did not make much sense. This practice helped him improve his rapping skills.

In 1987, Eminem’s mother allowed a runaway named Kimberly Anne "Kim" Scott to stay at their home. Later, Eminem had an on-and-off relationship with Scott. After spending three years in ninth grade due to skipping school and poor grades, 17-year-old Eminem dropped out of Lincoln High School. Although he was interested in English, he preferred comic books and disliked math and social studies. He later earned a GED. To help his mother pay bills, he worked several jobs, including at Little Caesar’s Pizza in Warren. He said his mother often threw him out of the house, even after taking most of his paycheck. When she left to play bingo, he would turn on the stereo and write songs.

Music career

In 1988, he used the stage name MC Double M and formed his first group, New Jacks. He made demo tape recordings with DJ Butter Fingers. In 1989, they joined Bassmint Productions, which later changed its name to Soul Intent in 1992. Soul Intent included rapper Proof and other Detroit artists. In 1995, they released a two-track single on cassette that included Proof. In 1992, Eminem appeared in his first music video for the song "Do-Da-Dippity" by Champtown. In 1996, Eminem and Proof joined four other rappers to form The Dirty Dozen (D12). The group released The Underground E.P. in 1997 and their first album, Devil's Night, in 2001. Eminem also worked with Newark's rap group Outsidaz on various projects.

In 1995, Eminem signed with Jeff and Mark Bass's F.B.T. Productions. Between 1995 and 1996, he recorded his debut album, Infinite, for their independent label, Web Entertainment. The album did not sell well when it was released in 1996. At this time, Eminem's rhyming style was influenced by rappers Nas and AZ. His music did not yet include the humorous and violent style he later became known for. Detroit disc jockeys mostly ignored the album. The feedback Eminem received, such as being told to try rock music, led him to create more angry and emotional songs.

During this period, Eminem and Kim Scott lived in a neighborhood with high crime rates. Their home was robbed several times. To earn money, Eminem worked at Gilbert's Lodge, a family-style restaurant in St. Clair Shores, cooking and washing dishes for minimum wage. His former boss described him as a hardworking employee who worked 60 hours a week for six months after the birth of his daughter, Hailie Jade Scott Mathers. He was fired shortly before Christmas and later said he had only $40 to buy a gift for Hailie's birthday. After Infinite was released, Eminem faced personal challenges and substance abuse, which led to a suicide attempt. By March 1997, he was fired from Gilbert's Lodge for the last time and moved back in with his mother, Kim, and Hailie.

Eminem gained more attention when he created Slim Shady, a violent and sadistic alter ego. This character allowed him to write about drugs, rape, and murder in his lyrics. In 1997, he recorded his debut EP, the Slim Shady EP, which was released in winter by Web Entertainment. The EP included references to drug use, sexual acts, mental instability, and violence. It also explored serious themes like poverty, family problems, and responding to criticism. In March 1998, hip-hop magazine The Source featured Eminem in its "Unsigned Hype" column.

In 1997, Eminem competed in the Scribble Jam MC battle in Cincinnati, where he lost to MC Juice in the finals. After being fired from his job and evicted from his home, he traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the 1997 Rap Olympics. He placed second, losing to Project Blowed MC Otherwize. An Interscope Records intern named Dean Geistlinger heard the Slim Shady EP and sent it to company CEO Jimmy Iovine. Iovine played the tape for record producer Dr. Dre, who was impressed and said, "Find him. Now." Despite some criticism, Dre believed in Eminem's talent and signed him to Aftermath and Interscope Records.

Eminem released The Slim Shady LP in February 1999. The album was very popular and certified triple platinum by the end of the year. However, some people accused him of copying the style of underground rapper Cage, who is mentioned in the song "Role Model." The album's lyrics caused controversy, including a song that described a fictional trip with his infant daughter and another that encouraged murder. This song also marked the start of a musical partnership with Dr. Dre. The Slim Shady LP was later certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.

After releasing The Slim Shady LP, Eminem started his own record label, Shady Records, in late 1999. He partnered with his manager, Paul Rosenberg, to form the label. Marc Labelle, the label's A&R, described Shady Records as a small label with the support of a major record company, Interscope.

The Marshall Mathers LP was recorded between 1999 and 2000 and released in May 2000. It sold 1.76 million copies in its first week, breaking U.S. records for the fastest-selling hip-hop album and fastest-selling solo album. The first single, "The Real Slim Shady," was successful despite controversy over Eminem's insults and claims about celebrities. His second single, "The Way I Am," discussed pressure from his record company. The third single, "Stan," was ranked among the greatest rap songs of all time. In July 2000, Eminem became the first white artist to appear on the cover of The Source. The Marshall Mathers LP was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2011 and sold 21 million copies worldwide.

In 2000, Eminem performed on the Up in Smoke Tour and the Family Values Tour. He headlined the Anger Management Tour with Papa Roach, Ludacris, and Xzibit. He also performed with Elton John at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001. GLAAD, an organization that criticized Eminem's lyrics for being homophobic, protested Elton John's decision to perform with him. Entertainment Weekly listed the performance as one of the best of the decade. Eminem also appeared on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, producing and rapping on the song "Renegade."

The Eminem Show was released in May 2002. It reached number one on the charts and sold over 1.332 million copies in its first week. Certified Diamond by the RIAA, the album discussed Eminem's rise to fame, his relationship with his wife and daughter, and a legal issue involving an assault charge from 2000.

Artistry

Eminem has mentioned many rappers who influenced his style, including Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Tupac Shakur, Newcleus, Ice-T, Mantronix, Melle Mel (on "The Message"), LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Run-D.M.C., Rakim, and Boogie Down Productions. At the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Eminem named over 100 artists from hip-hop's golden age, from the early days of rap through the mid-1990s, who helped shape his development as an artist.

In How to Rap, Guerilla Black explains that Eminem studied other rappers to improve his skills: "Eminem listened to everything, and that's what made him one of the greats." The book also highlights praise from other rappers for aspects of Eminem's style, such as his use of varied and humorous topics, connecting with audiences, developing themes across albums, complex rhyme patterns, stretching words to make them rhyme, multisyllabic rhymes, many rhymes in a single bar, complex rhythms, clear pronunciation, and use of melody and syncopation. Eminem often writes his lyrics by hand, as shown in The Way I Am, spending several days or a week to create lyrics. He is described as a "workaholic" and "stacks" vocals in his music. His music has been linked to hip-hop subgenres like horrorcore, comedy hip-hop, and hardcore hip-hop. He also includes rap rock in his work and has mentioned rock bands from the 1970s and 1980s, such as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, as influences.

Eminem was the executive producer of D12's first two albums (Devil's Night and D12 World), Obie Trice's Cheers and Second Round's on Me, and 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacre. Most of The Eminem Show was produced by Eminem and his longtime collaborator, Jeff Bass. He co-produced Encore with Dr. Dre. In 2004, Eminem was co-executive producer of 2Pac's posthumous album Loyal to the Game, working with Afeni Shakur, 2Pac's mother.

Eminem is known for structuring his songs around lyrics rather than writing to beats. An exception was "Stan," which came from an idea and a scratch track made by the 45 King. After producing little on Relapse and Recovery, Eminem created much of The Marshall Mathers LP 2. He explained about producing his own music: "Sometimes, I get an idea or a mood in my head, and I don't always find it by using other people's tracks. They don't know what's in my head. I think it helps with the sound's diversity, but it also lets me create ideas from scratch." In 1998, during his feud with rapper Cage, New York rapper Necro (who had previously made three songs for Cage) gave Eminem a CD with the beat for what later became "Black Helicopters" by the rap group Non-Phixion. Although Eminem never used the beat, Necro spoke positively about him and later appeared on Shade45.

Public image

In 2002, the BBC compared how people viewed Eminem to how they once viewed Bob Dylan. The BBC said that, like Dylan in the 1960s, Eminem’s work has been carefully studied by experts to understand modern society. American critics noted that Eminem’s songs describe the lives of people who feel left out, using simple and direct language from real life to show problems like unfair treatment in society. The BBC also wrote that while some parents were once upset by his music, many now accept that his songs connect with young, angry white people in the United States.

Eminem uses different characters in his songs to explore various styles and topics, such as Slim Shady and Ken Kaniff. Throughout his career, he has been involved in public arguments with other musicians through his lyrics.

Some of Eminem’s lyrics have been criticized for using words that are considered harmful to people who are homosexual. A politician in Australia tried to stop him from entering the country. Eminem says that when he was growing up, words like "faggot" and "queer" were often used in a general way to insult people, not specifically to target homosexuals. He is friends with Elton John, a singer who openly supports gay rights, and he publicly backs the rights of gay people.

Legacy

Eminem is one of the most successful musicians in history and the most successful rapper to reach a wide audience beyond hip-hop. Comparing him to Elvis Presley is partly true, but it does not fully describe his influence. He was the first white rapper since the Beastie Boys to gain both popularity and respect from critics, but his impact on music went far beyond this.

Eminem helped make hip-hop more popular among people in the middle of the United States. His music often expresses the anger and struggles of people with fewer opportunities in America.

In 2002, Stephen Hill, who worked for the television network BET, said:

In 2002, a music critic named Alan Light compared Eminem to John Lennon:

During a rehearsal for a song called "Stan" at the 2001 Grammy Awards, Elton John said, "When Eminem entered the room, I felt chills like I did when I first saw Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin. Eminem was that good. I thought, 'This man is amazing.' Only the greatest performers can make people feel that way the first time they perform. Eminem is a true poet of his time. He tells stories in a powerful and unique way. As a lyricist, he is one of the best ever. He writes about his feelings, like Bob Dylan did for his audience. His anger, sadness, and humor come through clearly." Dylan praised Eminem in an interview in 2022.

Eminem has helped launch the careers of many young hip-hop artists, including 50 Cent, Yelawolf, Stat Quo, Royce da 5'9", Cashis, Obie Trice, Bobby Creekwater, and Boogie, as well as groups like D12 and Slaughterhouse. Many musicians have said Eminem influenced their work.

Other ventures

Following Eminem's sale of many platinum records, Interscope Records offered him his own label. In late 1999, he and Paul Rosenberg created Shady Records. Eminem signed his Detroit group, D12, and rapper Obie Trice to the label. In 2002, he signed 50 Cent in a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label. In 2003, Eminem and Dr. Dre added Atlanta rapper Stat Quo to the Shady-Aftermath roster. DJ Green Lantern, who was once Eminem's DJ, worked with Shady Records until a disagreement linked to the 50 Cent-Jadakiss feud caused him to leave the label. The Alchemist is currently Eminem's tour DJ. In 2005, Eminem signed another Atlanta rapper, Bobby Creekwater, and West Coast rapper Cashis to Shady Records.

On December 5, 2006, the compilation album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up was released on Shady Records. The project began as a mixtape, but Eminem decided to release it as an album because he found the material to be of high quality. The Re-Up was meant to introduce Stat Quo, Cashis, and Bobby Creekwater. While recording Infinite, Eminem, Proof, and Kon Artis formed a group called D12, short for "Detroit Twelve" or "Dirty Dozen." The group performed in a style similar to Wu-Tang Clan. In 2001, D12 released their debut album, Devil's Night. After this, the group took a three-year break from recording music. They reunited in 2004 for their second album, D12 World, which included the hit songs "My Band" and "How Come." According to D12 member Bizarre, Eminem was not on his album Blue Cheese & Coney Island because "he's busy doing his thing."

Eminem created his own satellite radio channel, Shade 45, which plays uncut hip-hop music. He also started a new morning radio show, Sway in the Morning with Sway Calloway, which airs at 8:00 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Eminem promoted the radio station during a 2004 mock national convention called the "Shady National Convention" at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. At the event, Donald Trump endorsed him. On his 2017 album Revival, Eminem expressed regret for having collaborated with Trump, writing, "I wish I would have spit on it before I went to shake his hand at the event."

On September 29, 2021, Eminem and Union Joints opened a spaghetti restaurant at 2131 Woodward Ave in Detroit. The name "Mom's Spaghetti" comes from the lyrics "His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy / There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti" from the song "Lose Yourself," which became an internet meme. Mom's Spaghetti was previously a pop-up in Detroit in 2017 and at Coachella in 2018. In 2023, Eminem announced the launch of a "Mom's Spaghetti" jarred pasta sauce.

Eminem had 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. He made his Hollywood debut in the 2002 film 8 Mile, a semi-autobiographical movie about growing up in Detroit. He recorded several 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 not present at 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. He also guested on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers and a Web cartoon, The Slim Shady Show. He played himself in the Entourage season-seven finale "Lose Yourself." He was signed to star in an unmade film version of Have Gun – Will Travel and was considered for the lead roles in the films Jumper (2008) and Elysium (2013). Eminem had cameo appearances in the films Funny People (2009), The Interview (2014), and Happy Gilmore 2 (2025). In a 2010 interview with Jonathan Ross, he said, "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."

Eminem created the Marshall Mathers Foundation to help disadvantaged youth. The foundation works with a charity started by Norman Yatooma, a Detroit attorney. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Eminem donated a pair of rare Air Jordan 4 Retro Eminem Carhartt shoes to be raffled off, with proceeds going to relief efforts. That same year, he donated spaghetti meals to healthcare workers at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, referencing the line "mom's spaghetti" from his song "Lose Yourself."

Eminem appeared in two commercials shown during Super Bowl XLV. In the first, a one-minute ad for Lipton's Brisk iced tea, he was a claymation figure. In the second, a two-minute ad—the longest in Super Bowl history at the time—for the Chrysler 200, Eminem drove through Detroit (with "Lose Yourself" as the soundtrack) to his show at the Fox Theatre.

On November 21, 2000, Eminem published Angry Blonde, a non-fiction book that includes commentary on several of his songs and previously unpublished photographs.

On October 21, 2008, his autobiography The Way I Am was published by Dutton Adult. The book includes never-before-p

Personal life

Eminem married Kimberly Anne Scott twice. They met in high school. Scott and her twin sister ran away from home and later lived with Eminem and his mother when he was 15. He began an on-and-off relationship with Scott on January 14, 1991. Their daughter, Hailie Jade, born on December 25, 1995, is Eminem’s only biological child. She later became a social media influencer. Eminem legally adopted two children: Alaina Marie, the daughter of his former sister-in-law, and Stevie Laine, the child of Scott and another father. He also raised his younger half-brother, Nathan.

Mathers and Scott married on June 14, 1999, and divorced on October 5, 2001. He dated actress Brittany Murphy in the 2000s. In 2002, he mentioned being in a relationship with singer Mariah Carey, though she denied it. Mathers and Scott remarried on January 14, 2006, but divorced again on April 5. They agreed to joint custody of Hailie, and the divorce was finalized on December 19, 2006. In 2010, Eminem denied reports that he and Scott had rekindled their romantic relationship, though they remained friends.

In his 2013 song “Headlights,” Eminem expressed love for his mother and apologized for lyrics in earlier songs, such as “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.” His mother honored him when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022. She died from lung cancer complications in December 2024.

Eminem has publicly discussed his addiction to prescription drugs, including Vicodin, Ambien, and Valium. During the production of 8 Mile, he worked 16 hours daily and developed insomnia. He took Ambien, which led to a prescription. This marked the start of his drug use, which lasted for years. He consumed large amounts of pills daily, such as 40–60 Valium or 30 Vicodin. The drugs caused him to gain weight, reach 230 pounds (100 kg), and eat fast food regularly. He became less recognizable due to weight gain and once overheard teenagers debating whether he was Eminem.

In late 2022, Marshall Mathers, known as Eminem, was hospitalized for pneumonia complications. He has since recovered at home.

In December 2007, Eminem was hospitalized after accidentally overdosing on methadone. He obtained the pills from a dealer who claimed they were safe. After collapsing in his bathroom, doctors said he had ingested the equivalent of “four bags of heroin” and was “two hours from dying.” He left the hospital without full detoxification and later had a knee injury and a seizure. He began attending church meetings and sought help from a counselor. He started running and was supported by Elton John, who checked in weekly. Eminem has been sober since April 20, 2008.

In April 2020, Matthew David Hughes broke into Eminem’s home in Clinton Township, Michigan, with a brick. He told Eminem he was there to kill him. Hughes was charged with multiple offenses and pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion in 2021. He received probation and served 524 days in jail. In 2024, Hughes returned to Eminem’s property and was arrested again. In May 2025, he was convicted of first-degree home invasion and aggravated stalking, facing a 15–35-year prison sentence.

In August 2023, Ryan Palmeter, the perpetrator of the 2023 Jacksonville shooting, criticized Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly in his manifesto.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Eminem criticized political figures from both major parties, including President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Second Ladies Tipper Gore and Lynne Cheney.

Before the 2004 U.S. presidential election, he released the protest song “Mosh,” which criticized then-President George W. Bush. He later supported Barack Obama in 2009.

In 2016, he released “Campaign Speech,” a freestyle attacking Republican candidate Donald Trump. In 2017, he performed “The Storm” at the BET Hip Hop Awards, supporting NFL player Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem protests. He stated fans who supported Trump were no longer welcome.

His 2020 song “Darkness” referenced the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and called for stricter gun control. He also allowed “Lose Yourself” to be used in a campaign video for Joe Biden in 2020.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Eminem expressed opposition on social media, linking to a Michigan pro-choice organization.

In 2023, he sent a cease and desist letter to Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, asking him to stop using “Lose Yourself” at campaign events.

In 2024, Eminem publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. He spoke at a rally in Detroit, emphasizing voter turnout and supporting Harris’s views on civil liberties and free speech.

Eminem has referenced Christianity in his music. On a 2022 remix of “Use This Gospel,” he included explicit Christian lyrics, thanking Jesus and discussing salvation. The song reached the top of the Billboard Christian Songs chart.

Achievements and honors

Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists in history, with global sales of over 220 million records. He has released thirteen albums that reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart: nine as a solo artist, two with the group D12, and one with Bad Meets Evil. According to Nielsen SoundScan, he was the top-selling music artist in the United States during the 2000s and the top-selling male artist of the 2010s. In the United States alone, he has sold 47.4 million albums. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) officially recognized his total album and single sales as 61.5 million.

Several of his albums and singles have received Diamond or higher certifications from the RIAA. These include The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Curtain Call: The Hits, and the singles "Lose Yourself," "Love the Way You Lie," and "Not Afraid."

Eminem has won many awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, and 17 Billboard Music Awards. Billboard named him the Artist of the Decade (2000–2009). In 2013, he received the MTV Europe Music Award for Global Icon.

For his work in the film 8 Mile, he won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself," making him the first hip-hop artist to win this award. He also won two MTV Movie & TV Awards—Best Actor in a Movie and Best Breakthrough Performance—and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song.

Eminem has been included in many "greatest" lists by music organizations. Rolling Stone placed him on both its 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time lists. He was ranked:
– 9th on MTV's Greatest MCs of All Time,
– 13th on MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music,
– 79th on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time,
– 82nd on Rolling Stone's "The Immortals" list.

Other rankings include:
– 7th on The Source's Top 50 Lyricists of All Time (2012),
– 7th on About.com's list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007),
– 3rd on Billboard's 10 Best Rappers of All Time (2015),
– Named "Best Rapper Alive" by Vibe readers in 2008,
– Named "King of Hip-Hop" by Rolling Stone in 2011 based on commercial and critical success.

In 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Discography

Albums by Eminem:
• 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)

Other Releases:
• Devil's Night (2001)
• D12 World (2004)

Tours

• The Slim Shady LP Tour (1999)
• The Recovery Tour (2010–2013)
• Rapture Tour (2014)
• Revival Tour (2018)
• 2019 Rapture Tour (2019)
• Middle East Tour (2024)

• Up in Smoke Tour (with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and others) (2000)
• Anger Management Tour (with Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach) (2002–2005)
• The Home & Home Tour (with Jay-Z) (2010)
• The Monster Tour (with Rihanna) (2014)