Detroit Proud Playlist: Week of 9/15 -Special Eminem Edition!
Detroit has been the birthplace for many greats over the years…but, without question, there are some that instantly come to mind every time you think of Detroit.
Marshall Mathers, aka Slim Shady, or Eminem, (as you and the rest of the world know him) is one of Detroit's most notable celebrities. In a true" rags to riches" story, Eminem grew up outside of Detroit in Warren, Michigan. He dropped out of Lincoln High School in Warren at the age of 17, so he could work several jobs to help his mother with bills and rent, but he said that they would always end up being kicked out anyway. Always having a passion for music, when his mother was not home, Eminem would blast the stereo and write lyrics.
His career started back in the early 1990s, where Eminem (known then as M&M) would compete in free-style rap battles in the underground hip-hop scene in Detroit. That is where he met rapper Dr. Dre, which ultimately jump-started his success in the music industry.
Today, aside from being Detroit's favorite bad-boy, he's rocking a pretty impressive list of accomplishments and awards. He's released eight full-length albums, and has sold over 115 million albums and singles world-wide. That makes Eminem the Best Selling Artist of the 2000s in the United States. He's also considered 6th Best Overall Selling Artist in the United States...ever. Whoa – that's right, he's from Detroit.
Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Eminem as 82nd on their list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and later in August 2011 named him "The King of Hip Hop." …And that crowning does not come undeserved, as Eminem has been nominated for over 35 Grammy Awards – winning 13 of them. He's also been nominated for 20 American Music Awards, taking home 14, and he's also the FIRST-EVER hip-hop artist to be nominated AND win an Academy Award.
In 2003, Eminem took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song "Lose Yourself" from his 2002 film 8 Mile. Eminem starred in the film that followed the life of a young white rapper, struggling to make it big in the underground hip-hop scene in Detroit in the 1990s. The film was supposed to have strong similarities to Eminem's real-life claim to fame.
Apart from his incredible set of Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and an Academy Award, Eminem also gets much love here in his hometown. The Detroit Music Awards (DMAs) is the annual awards ceremony presented by the Motor City Music Foundation that honors local musicians and bands. Eminem has been nominated for 16 DMAs and has won 9.
Having just finished his The Monster Tour with pop-star Rihanna (wrapping up with two SOLD OUT shows at Comerica Park in Detroit), we thought we'd dedicate this week's playlist to our shining star, Eminem. Keep making us proud!
Check out our pick of Eminem's 10 Best Songs!
The Slim Shady LP – Reached #1 on the 1999 US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
"My Name Is"
"Rock Bottom"
The Marshall Mathers LP – Reached #1 on the 2000 US Billboard Top 200 Albums
"The Way I Am"
"The Real Slim Shady"
The Eminem Show – Reached #1 on the 2002 US Billboard Top 200 Albums
"Without Me"
"Superman"
Recovery – Reached #1 on the 2010 US Billboard Top 200 Albums, and Top R&B/Hip-Hops Albums, and Top Rap Albums
"Not Afraid"
"Love The Way You Lie" Featuring Rihanna
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Reached #1 on the 2013 US Billboard Top 200 Albums, and Top R&B/Hip-Hops Albums
"Survival"
"The Monster" Featuring Rihanna
Find more information on Eminem here!
