Eminem was always known for his controversial acts and outrageous behavior. He even seemed to make a profitable career because of it. But while the Millennials find him cool, the younger Gen Z wanted nothing to do with the Slim Shady and planned to cancel him.
However, the multi-awarded rap star appeared to hit back at the attempts to cancel him by releasing an animated video.
For those who do not have any idea who Eminem is, the hip hop icon was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. But he started his rise to fame in 1997 in his hometown in Detroit, Michigan.
After dropping from school, Eminem decided to make it big and worked hard to carve a name for himself in the underground hip hop world. It was particularly challenging, especially for a white person. He even endured scrutiny from the seasoned DJs and MCs off the stage for being a “skinny white boy.”
He also worked plenty of menial jobs to earn some cash during his struggling years. In 1996, he released his debut album “Infinite,” but it performed poorly in sales. But things started to change in 1997, when Eminem’s unique freestyle skills and alter ego, the Slim Shady, captured the attention of hip hop star and record producer Dr. Dre, in a rap battle in Los Angeles.
With Dr. Dre’s help, Eminem released the best-selling “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999. It earned him the Best Rap Album from Grammy Awards in 2000. He also won Best Rap Solo Performance for the song “My Name Is” during that year.
He solidified his success with his fourth album, “The Eminem Show,” in 2002. It was also when he made his acting debut in his biographical film “8 Mile.”
But despite his success, he also made the news due to various controversies and rebellious antics. Some people blamed these instances on his chaotic upbringing and abusive childhood.
Rumors claimed that he was abused as a child. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, reportedly had a troubled relationship with his mother, Debbie Nelson-Mathers. He even mentioned it in some of his hit songs.
Aside from his mom, he also dissed famous personalities in his lyrics, including Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, singer Christina Aguilera, and rapper-actor Will Smith. He also included several homophobic and sexist remarks in his lyrics. There was also a time when the public dissed him for rapping about his thoughts regarding hurting women, particularly his ex-wife Kim.
Now, Gen Z is trying to cancel him for his 2010 hit song “Love The Way You Lie” with Rihanna. They were concerned about the mental and physical abuse theme of the song. But the Millennials defended him by retaliating on social media.
Eminem seemed to address the cancel trend by releasing an animated video on Instagram for his new song called “Tone Deaf.” A particular line in the song said that he would not stop even if his hair turns grey.
Calla is a history, entertainment, and lifestyle writer born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Literature and Writing from California State University, San Marcos. When she is not writing professionally, she is reading and writing short fiction, traveling, hiking, or surfing.
