It sold 1.76 million copies in the first week becoming the fastest selling solo album in United States history. His second major album, The Marshall Mathers LP was released in May 2000 and smashed any previous records in the U.S. He was a beacon of hope for many people because he stayed true to himself and didn’t care what the critics were saying. What he says in his songs delivers a message to young people, and they look up to him because he stuck to his goals, and made it.

He became a social icon with influence over many people through his music. On the other hand he dealt with more serious themes of his life such as poverty, marital and family difficulties while responding to criticism. The albums lyrics were extremely controversial, with constant references to drug use, sexual acts, mental instability and over-the-top violence. Marshall was driven to be successful and popular in order to sell records, but he did that because he was trying to get away from a poor and disadvantaged life. Eminem used his new found power to tell realistic stories of his harsh personal life. The album was a huge success becoming 4X platinum certified by the RIAA. Dre one year later in 1999 to release his first major studio album, The Slim Shady LP. Although he struggled at first he succeeded in a predominantly African-American industry at 17, gaining the respect of underground hip-hop audiences.Įminem was signed to Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records in 1998 and worked with producer Dr. Marshall’s uncle, Ronald “Ronnie” Nelson (mentioned in many of his songs) first introduced him to hip-hop music at age 11 and from then on he frequently participated in freestyle ‘rap battles’ on the east side of Detroit. Marshall moved from numerous cities in his childhood but eventually settled in Detroit in his teens. His father abandoned the family when he was only 18 months old and was raised solely by his mother. Nelson Mathers-Briggs and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr. Marshall Mathers or Eminem was born on October 17, 1972, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. ‘One of the greatest artists of all time’ – the Rolling Stone

Did the slim shady lp go platinum