50 Fun Facts About Eminem

What is Eminem's real name?

His stage name grew out of 'M&M', the tag he used when he began rapping at 14 with schoolfriend Mike Ruby.

In which Missouri city was Eminem born?

He and his mother moved constantly before settling in Detroit when he was 12.

How old was Eminem when his family finally settled in Detroit?

They lived in a working-class, mostly Black neighbourhood, and he snuck into Osborn High School for lunchroom rap battles with Proof.

Which high school did Eminem drop out of at 17 after three years in ninth grade?

He then worked jobs including one at a Little Caesar's Pizza in Warren to help his mother pay the bills.

What was the title of Eminem's 1996 debut album, a commercial failure?

By his own account it sold about 70 of the roughly 1,000 copies pressed; DJs told him to try rock and roll instead.

At which 1997 competition did an Interscope intern get the tape that reached Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre?

He had just been fired and evicted; he signed with Aftermath and Interscope on March 9, 1998.

Which producer's label, Aftermath Entertainment, signed Eminem in 1998?

They finished 'My Name Is' in an hour on the first day of recording.

'My Name Is' interpolates a 1975 track by which British singer?

The song won Eminem his first Grammy, for Best Rap Solo Performance, in 2000.

How many copies did The Marshall Mathers LP sell in its first week in 2000?

That broke records held by Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle and Britney Spears; the album went on to sell 21 million worldwide.

With which singer did Eminem perform 'Stan' at the 2001 Grammy Awards?

He was under fire for homophobic lyrics at the time, which made the duet with a gay icon front-page news.

'Stan' samples the opening lines of which Dido song?

Producer the 45 King heard it while watching Sliding Doors and went straight to his studio; 'stan' is now in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Which Eminem single was his first UK number one and interpolates a Tom Green novelty song?

Its 'will the real ... please stand up' hook comes from the game show To Tell the Truth.

Which of his studio albums is the best-selling hip-hop album of all time?

It sold 27 million copies worldwide, was the best-selling album of 2002 and is certified 12-times platinum in the US.

Which Aerosmith song is sampled on Eminem's 'Sing for the Moment'?

He said 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' was the second song written for the album.

What is the name of Eminem's character in 8 Mile?

Curtis Hanson directed; Kim Basinger plays his mother Stephanie and Brittany Murphy his girlfriend Alex.

8 Mile Road divides Detroit from what?

Eminem grew up on the suburban side before moving into the city.

For how many consecutive weeks did 'Lose Yourself' top the Billboard Hot 100?

That is still the record for a solo rap song, and it was his first US number one.

'Lose Yourself' made history at the Oscars as what?

He did not attend in 2003; he finally performed it as a surprise at the 2020 ceremony.

Which two co-writers shared the 'Lose Yourself' Oscar with Eminem?

Bass, one of the Bass Brothers, said the song took about a year of back-and-forth to finish.

What does the name of Eminem's group D12 stand for?

Formed in 1996 with Proof, Bizarre, Kuniva, Swifty McVay and Denaun Porter, they released Devil's Night in 2001 and D12 World in 2004.

Which childhood friend and D12 member was killed in April 2006?

They had sneaked into Osborn High School together for lunchroom battles; the compilation The Re-Up followed that December.

With whom did Eminem co-found Shady Records in 1999?

They needed a home for D12; the label went on to sign 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf.

Which rapper did Eminem sign to Shady in 2002 after hearing his mixtape Guess Who's Back?

Get Rich or Die Tryin' followed in 2003 with the number ones 'In da Club' and '21 Questions'.

Which 2004 album's middle stretch was heavily criticised, though "Mockingbird" and "Like Toy Soldiers" won praise?

Its lead single 'Just Lose It' parodied Michael Jackson, prompting calls to pull the video; a hiatus followed.

What was the name of Eminem's satellite radio channel launched on Sirius in 2004?

His manager described it as a destination for things other people were not playing.

Which 2009 concept album has Eminem playing a serial killer, with Dr. Dre producing every track but one?

He produced 'Beautiful' himself; 'Crack a Bottle' topped the Hot 100 and Relapse: Refill added seven tracks.

Eminem's 2010 album was originally announced under what working title?

He tweeted 'There is no Relapse 2' in April 2010 after the new songs sounded nothing like the first album.

Eminem's 2010 album was the first ever to do what in the United States?

It sold 741,000 in its first week and was the best-selling album worldwide in 2010.

Who sings the chorus of 'Love the Way You Lie'?

Skylar Grey wrote and demoed it with Alex da Kid; the pair also made a Part II.

'Not Afraid' was only the 16th song in Billboard history to do what?

It was the album's first single and also debuted at the top in Canada.

Bad Meets Evil is Eminem's duo with which Detroit rapper?

Their 2011 EP Hell: The Sequel went to number one and 'Lighters' with Bruno Mars reached number four.

How many words does 'Rap God' contain, earning it a Guinness World Record?

They arrive in six minutes and three seconds; the song was the third single from The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

Which single from The Marshall Mathers LP 2 reached number one in the US?

The album sold 792,000 in its first week and won him a record sixth Grammy for Best Rap Album.

Which producer executive-produced The Marshall Mathers LP 2 alongside Dr. Dre?

He also produced 'Berzerk'; the album is a sequel to the 2000 record.

The cover of Kamikaze (2018) pays homage to which group's debut album?

It copies Licensed to Ill; the surprise release reached number one in 21 countries and includes 'Venom'.

Music to Be Murdered By (2020) takes its title and cover from a 1958 album by which filmmaker?

'Godzilla' broke his own record for the fastest verse on a charted track at 10.65 syllables per second.

How many syllables per second did Eminem rap on the third verse of 'Godzilla'?

That beat his own marks on Nicki Minaj's 'Majesty' and on 'Rap God'.

Eminem's 2024 album, subtitled Coup de Grâce, is a concept album about what?

Singles included 'Houdini', 'Tobey' and 'Somebody Save Me' with Jelly Roll.

How many Grammy Awards had Eminem won by the end of 2024?

Plus an Oscar, a Primetime Emmy, 17 Billboard Music Awards and 15 MTV VMAs.

How many Eminem albums had reached number one on the Billboard 200 by the end of 2024?

He also has five Hot 100 number one singles and estimated sales above 220 million records.

Which four other artists headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show with Eminem in February 2022?

A surprise guest joined and the show won the first Emmy ever given to a halftime show.

What was notable about Eminem's 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction?

In his speech he named more than 100 golden-age hip-hop artists who shaped him.

On what date is Eminem's daughter Hailie's birthday, according to his story about being fired from a job?

He said he was let go five days before Christmas after working 60-hour weeks following her birth.

How many times did Eminem marry Kim Scott?

They married in June 1999, divorced in 2001, remarried in January 2006 and filed for divorce again that April.

Which two girls, besides Hailie, did Eminem raise, one his former sister-in-law's daughter?

He legally adopted Alaina Marie and gained custody of Stevie Laine, Kim's child from another relationship.

What is the name of the restaurant Eminem opened in Detroit, first a 2017 pop-up?

The name comes from the famous line in 'Lose Yourself'; it also popped up at Coachella in 2018.

For which carmaker did Eminem drive through Detroit to 'Lose Yourself' in a two-minute Super Bowl ad?

The 'Imported from Detroit' spot for the Chrysler 200 was the longest Super Bowl ad up to that time.

Which compilation, released in December 2005, was later certified Diamond in the US?

It added three new songs including 'When I'm Gone' and 'Shake That' with Nate Dogg; a sequel came in 2022.

Which Eminem album was the best-selling album worldwide in 2010?

It sold 741,000 copies in its first week and had passed 5.7 million worldwide by December, giving him a second worldwide year-end number one after 2002.

Which 1999 album won Eminem his first Best Rap Album Grammy?

Recorded in Ferndale, Michigan, it also won Best Rap Solo Performance for 'My Name Is' at the 2000 Grammys.