Eminem

To call Eminem hip-hop’s Elvis is correct to a degree, but it’s largely inaccurate.

Certainly, Eminem was the first white rapper since the Beastie Boys to garner both sales and critical respect, but his impact exceeded this confining distinction.

On sheer verbal skills, Eminem was one of the greatest MCs of his generation -- rapid, fluid, dexterous, and unpredictable, as capable of pulling off long-form narrative as he was delivering a withering aside -- and thanks to his mentor Dr.

Dre, he had music to match: thick, muscular loops that evoked the terror and paranoia Em’s music conjured.

And, to be certain, a great deal of the controversy Eminem courted -- and during the turn of the millennium, there was no greater pop cultural bogeyman than Marshall Mathers -- came through in how his violent fantasias, often directed at his mother or his wife, intertwined with flights of absurdity that appealed to listeners too young to absorb the psychodramas Eminem explored on his hit albums, The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP.

With hits “My Name Is” and “The Real Slim Shady,” he ruled the airwaves, but it wasn’t long before some detractors acknowledged his depth, helped in part by singles like the mournful “Stan,” written from the perspective of an obsessed fan.

Eminem capitalized on this forward momentum by crossing over onto the big screen with 8 Mile, earning acclaim for his performance and an Oscar for the film’s anthem “Lose Yourself,” but a number of demons led him to shut down for the second half of the decade, an absence that proved life is indeed empty without Em, before he returned in 2009 with Relapse. Born Marshall Mathers in the Kansas City suburb St.

Joseph, Eminem spent his childhood between Missouri and Michigan, settling in Detroit by his teens.

At the age of 14, he began rapping with a high-school friend, the two adopting the names "Manix" and "M&M," which soon morphed into Eminem.

Under this name, Mathers entered battle rapping, a struggle dramatized in the fictionalized 8 Mile.

Initially, the predominantly African-American audience didn’t embrace Eminem, but soon his skills gained him a reputation, and he was recruited to join several rap groups.

The first of these was the New Jacks, and after they disbanded, he joined Soul Intent, who released a single in 1995.

This single also featured Proof and the two rappers broke off on their own to form D-12, a six-member crew that functioned more as a Wu-Tang-styled collective than a regularly performing group.

As he was struggling to establish his career, he and his girlfriend Kim had a daughter, Hailey, forcing him to spend less time rapping and more time providing for his family.

During this time, he assembled his first album, Infinite, which received some underground attention in 1996, not all of it positive.

After its release, Eminem developed his Slim Shady alter ego, a persona that freed him to dig deep into his dark id, something he needed as he faced a number of personal upheavals, beginning with a bad split with Kim, which led him to move in with his mother and increase his use of drugs and alcohol, capped off with an unsuccessful suicide attempt.

All this Sturm und Drang was channeled into The Slim Shady EP, which is where he first demonstrated many of the quirks that became his trademark, including his twitchy, nasal rhyming and disturbingly violent imagery.

The Slim Shady EP opened many doors, the most notable of them being a contract with Interscope Records.

After Eminem came in second at the 1997 Rap Olympics MC Battle in Los Angeles, Interscope head Jimmy Iovine sought out the rapper, giving the EP to Dr.

Dre, who proved eager to work with Eminem.

They quickly cut Em’s Interscope debut in the fall of 1998 -- during which time Marshall reconciled with Kim and married her -- and The Slim Shady LP appeared early in 1999, preceded by the single “My Name Is.” Both were instant blockbusters and Eminem turned into a lightning rod for attention, earning praise and disdain for his violent, satirical fantasias.

Eminem quickly followed The Slim Shady LP with The Marshall Mathers LP in the summer of 2000.

By this point, there was little doubt that Eminem was one of the biggest stars in pop music: the album sold by the truckload, selling almost two million copies within the first two weeks of release, but Mathers felt compelled to tweak other celebrities, provoking pop stars in his lyrics, and Insane Clown Posse’s entourage in person, providing endless fodder for tabloids.

This gossip blended with growing criticism about his violent and homophobic lyrics, and under this fire, he reunited his old crew, D-12, releasing an album in 2001, then touring with the group. During this furor, he had his biggest hit in the form of the moody ballad “Stan.” Performed at the Grammys as a duet with Elton John, thereby undercutting some accusations of homophobia, the song helped Eminem to cross over to a middlebrow audience, setting the stage for the ultimate crossover of 2001’s 8 Mile.

Directed by Curtis Hanson, best-known as the Oscar-nominated director of L.A.

Confidential, the gritty drama fictionalized Eminem's pre-fame Detroit days and earned considerable praise, culminating in one of his biggest hits with the theme “Lose Yourself,” which won Mathers an Oscar.

After all this, he retreated from the spotlight to record his third album, The Eminem Show.

Preceded by the single “Without Me,” the album turned into another huge hit, albeit not quite as strong as its predecessor, and there were some criticisms suggesting that Eminem wasn’t expanding his horizons much.

Encore, released late in 2004, did reach into more mature territory, notably on the anti-George W.

Bush “Mosh,” but most of the controversy generated by the album was for behind-the-scenes events: a bus crash followed by canceled dates and a stint in rehab.

Rumors of retirement flew, and the 2005 appearance of Curtain Call: The Hits did nothing to dampen them, nor did the turmoil of 2006, a year that saw Mathers re-marrying and divorcing Kim within a matter of four months, as well as the shooting death of Proof at a Detroit club.

During all this, Em did some minor studio work, but soon he dropped off the radar completely, retreating to his Detroit home.

He popped up here and there, most notably debuting the hip-hop channel Shade 45 for Sirius Satellite Radio in September 2008, but it wasn’t until early 2009 that he mounted a comeback with Relapse, an album whose very title alluded to some of Mathers’ struggles with prescription drugs, but also announced that after an extended absence, Slim Shady was back.

While not quite a blockbuster, the album went platinum, and Eminem followed it at the end of the year with an expanded version of Relapse (dubbed Relapse: Refill) that added outtakes and new recordings.

Recovery, initially titled Relapse 2, was issued in June 2010.

The album debuted on top of the Billboard 200 chart, where it remained for five consecutive weeks, while its leadoff single, “Not Afraid,” debuted on top of the magazine’s Hot 100 singles chart.

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Eminem is in the studio with Dr. Dre, thought to be working on the producer's much delayed 'Detox' album.

(BANG) -

Eminem is in the studio with Dr. Dre.

The 'Love The Way You Lie' singer confirmed he was in the studio and working on a track with the hip hop producer, with whom he kick started his career in the 90s.

He revealed in an interview with Sirius radio in the US yesterday (29.10.10): "I'm in the studio right now, still working. I would just say I'm in the studio with Dre right now, I'll just say that.

"He's in the next room. There's nothing going on right now, but pretty soon he'll play a beat and I might rap to it."

Although he wasn't clear what project he was working on, it is though he is contributing to Dr. Dre's long delayed 'Detox' album, which has long been speculated to be released this year, but was pulled from release for last minute revisions by Dre after tracks were leaked on the internet.

Although the album is shrouded in mystery, one of the producers who has worked on it, Nottz, said some of the tracks are so good, they made him want to quit making music.

He said: "We got a couple of other joints on there. I really do think it is gonna come out this time, like come on man. You have been recording for years, let's do this. He got records, he got records that will shut people down. Make you don't even want to do records no more. Like, aw man, I'm doing this for no reason. Its dudes like this that makes me want to just quit."

Dr. Dre has previously said he hopes to released new material before the end of the year.

Eminem and country group Lady Antebellum lead the American Music Awards, with nominations in five categories each.

(BANG) -

Eminem leads the American Music Awards with nominations in five categories.

The 'Not Afraid' rapper picked up nominations in the night's biggest categories, including Favourite Male Artist and Favourite Album in the Pop or Rock categories and Artist of the Year.

Eminem's five nominations are matched only by country group Lady Antebellum, who have nominations for Favourite Band in the Pop or Rock category and in a number of country categories.

Teen sensation Justin Beiber has four nominations, while rapper B.o.B, and pop stars Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Usher all received three nominations.

Performers who have already signed up to appear at the awards include Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Usher, Pink and Bon Jovi.

British artists Sade and Taio Cruz have also picked up nominations, with Taio in the running for Breakthrough Artist and Sade having a nod in the Favorite Female Artist and favourite album in the Soul/R 'n' B categories.

Taio - who has had a number one single in the US with debut single 'Break Your Heart' - said of his nomination: "I was not expecting it at all, it was a massive surprise and it feels great to be out here and just recognised for the music I've made so far.

"We were surprised at the first single doing so well, just shocked with the second single doing as well as it's done. Now being nominated for an AMA is just as surprising."

The 2010 American Music Awards will be shown on Sunday, November 21. Winners are chosen by fans, who can vote online at ABC.com and AMAvote.com.

Full list of 2010 American Music Awards nominations

Favorite Male Artist, Pop or Rock

Justin Bieber

Eminem

Usher

Favorite Female Artist, Pop or Rock

Ke$ha

Lady Gaga

Katy Perry

Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Pop or Rock

The Black Eyed Peas

Lady Antebellum

Train

Favorite Album, Pop or Rock

Justin Bieber - My World 2.0

Eminem - Recovery

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Favorite Male Artist, Country

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Brad Paisley

Favorite Female Artist, Country

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Country

Zac Brown Band

Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album, Country

Jason Aldean - Wide Open

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

Carrie Underwood - Play On

Favorite Male Artist, Rap/Hip-Hop

B.o.B.

Drake

Eminem

Favorite Album, Rap/Hip-Hop

B.o.B. - B.o.B. Presents

Drake - Thank Me Later

Eminem - Recovery

Favorite Male Artist - Soul/R&B

Chris Brown

Trey Songz

Usher

Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B

Alicia Keys

Rihanna

Sade

Favorite Album, Soul/R&B

Alicia Keys - The Element of Freedom

Sade - Soldier of Love

Usher - Raymond v. Raymond

Favorite Album, Soundtracks

AC/DC - Iron Man 2

Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Favorite Artist, Alternative Rock Music

Muse

Phoenix

Vampire Weekend

Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary Music

Michael Bublé

Lady Antebellum

Train

Favorite Artist, Latin Music

Daddy Yankee

Enrique Iglesias

Shakira

Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational

Casting Crowns

MercyMe

TobyMac

Artist of the Year

Justin Bieber

Eminem

Ke$ha

Lady Gaga

Katy Perry

T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Nominations

B.o.B

Justin Bieber

Taio Cruz

Jason Derülo

Ke$ha

Lady Antebellum

Travie McCoy

Mike Posner

Eminem was told he'd never succeed as a rapper because he was white, which he says only spurred him on to succeed more.

(BANG) -

Eminem was told he'd never succeed as a rapper because he was white.

The 'Love The Way You Lie' hitmaker had to overcome prejudice from other members of the tough rap scene in his hometown, Detroit, when he first started out after quitting school, because he was white.

He told US TV show 60 minutes: "There was certainly a rebellious youthful rage in me. And no getting away from the fact I am white and this is predominantly black music, and people telling me, 'You don't belong and you're not gonna succeed because you're this colour.'

"Then you want to show those people that you can and you will."

Eminem quit education after failing the ninth grade - usually taken between the ages of 14 and 15 - three times, but said his skills with a dictionary helped him with his wordplay.

Giving an example, he said: "People say that the word orange doesn't rhyme with anything and that kind of p****s me off because I can think of a lot of things that rhyme with orange - like, 'door hinge', 'storage' and 'porridge'."

He also described why he had problems with the education system, saying his constant changing of schools made him a target for bullies.

Eminem added: "I would change schools two, three times a year and that was probably the roughest part.

"I got beat up in the bathroom, beat up in the hallways, shoved in the lockers, just, for the most part, being the new kid."