STACK #159 Jan 2018

MUSIC FEATURE

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SUPER SLIM: the story of EMINEM Eminem's commanding talent has always rested on directly referencing, and deliberately blurring, the story of his life.We look back through the journey that sent a bullied teen to the absolute top of the rap game, in celebration of the release of his ninth studio album Revival . ZKR

Oct 17, 1972 Marshall Bruce Mathers III is

1987 Debbie allows runaway twins Kim and Dawn Scott to stay at the home. Kim, Dawn and Mathers are all 15 years old, and know one another from high school. 1989

1997 In response to suggestions he try a different style of music, Eminem develops the furious and sadistic Slim Shady alter-ego. His Slim Shady EP is full of raps about poverty and family issues, as well as murder, drugs and rape. It attracts a lot of critical attention. Oct 24, 1997 Eminem places second in the Los Angeles Rap Olympics. Through an attendee connected with Interscope Records, the Slim Shady EP finds its way to Interscope co-founder Jimmy Iovine and then to rap icon Dr. Dre. February 1999 The Slim Shady LP is released. It’s certified triple platinum by Mathers marries long-time girlfriend Kim Scott; his mother sues him for $10 million for slandering her on The Slim Shady LP . She wins $1,600 in the suit. May 2000 The Marshall Mathers LP arrives. It sells more than 1.7 million copies in its first week, breaking records previously held by Snoop Dogg and Britney Spears (fastest- selling hip hop album, and fastest- selling solo album respectively). It contains singles The Real Slim Shady and Stan . Two months later, Kim Scott attempts suicide. the year’s end, and marks the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership between Eminem and Dr. Dre.

February 2001 Eminem performs with Elton John at the 43 rd Grammy Awards amidst controversy surrounding the rapper’s lyrics. He wins three

born in St. Joseph, Missouri. The labour lasts 73 hours and Mathers’ mother, Debbie Rae Nelson, nearly passes away. When Mathers is still a child his parents separate; he and his mother move often, seldom staying in one place longer than 12 months. 1984 Mathers spends much of his adolescence in a working-class area of Detroit, and he belongs to one of three white families on his block. He finds joy in comics and storytelling but is often bullied. He writes many letters to his father, all of which come back marked ‘Return To Sender.’ He hears his first rap track in ‘84: Chris Taylor’s Reckless featuring Ice-T. 1986 At age 14, Mathers begins to rap with friends; it’s during this time he adopts the name “M&M”, which evolves into his permanent moniker “Eminem.” He spends most of his time practising writing raps, penning long sentences on paper and working out syllable rhymes for each word.

Mathers drops out of Lincoln High School, aged 17. 1992

awards out of the four categories in which he’s nominated. The musician divorces Kim Scott and falls back into a pattern of drug abuse. He’ll struggle with substances for the next several years, constantly swinging between their noxious pull and his desire to be a responsible father to Hailie. June 2001 Eminem is fined $2,000 and sentenced to one year’s probation and community service on weapons charges. He’s also sued by DeAngelo Bailey, whose high school bullying Eminem describes in the track Brain Damage (on The Slim Shady LP) . The judge

Mathers’ reputation grows with underground hip hop audiences, and he raps with several collectives. He joins The Dirty Dozen (D12), and is arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting with a paintball gun. The case is dismissed. Dec 25, 1995 The daughter of Eminem and Kim Scott is born; the couple name her Hailie Jade Scott Mathers. November 1996 Eminem releases his debut solo album Infinite , which is not a success. He and struggles to raise their daughter on his dishwasher pay – although reportedly working 60 hour weeks in the months following Hailie’s birth. He’s fired just before Christmas. Mathers attempts suicide, and afterwards, moves into his mother’s mobile home with Kim and Hailie. lives with Kim in a dangerous neighbourhood

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JANUARY 2018

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