Eminem's Personality

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem (EMINƎM) is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan who is not difficult to classify as a creative genius who dominated a black race music industry. Since the release of his debut album The Slim Shady LP (1999), Eminem has dictated the hip hop charts worldwide. A holder of thirty awards and fifty nominations, Eminem’s awards include seven Grammys and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He was the first rapper to ever acquire an Academy Award in this category. He sits comfortably at the fourteenth position on the Billboard 200 Greatest Artists of All Time chart and eighty-third on the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Artists chart. In the United Kingdom alone, Eminem has accumulated fifteen

However, to let his creativity flow, the rapper must be a holder of strong psychological traits. Eminem’s psychological traits are dependent on the ego he chooses to act upon. He is famous for the creation of an alter-ego, Slim Shady. In ‘Without Me’, Eminem explains that he has created a monster as nobody wants to see Marshall, they want Shady. (Eminem, 2002). The difference could be explained as follows: Slim Shady uses humour, high-pitched style voice, and is regularly angry; Eminem is the more lyrical rapper who cares about the impact his words have; and Marshall is the sincere, jokes aside, family man. (Eminem and Jenkins, S. 2008). In song terms: Slim Shady rapped ‘We Made You’, Eminem rapped ‘Not Afraid’, and Marshall rapped ‘Mockingbird’. The image of Slim Shady was a contrast to that of Eminem. Slim Shady’s blond, bleached hair, tank top, and earrings topped with a goofy face, opposed the dark hair, leather jacket, serious look of Eminem. As the song, ‘The Real Slim Shady’ goes, “There’s a Slim Shady in all of us” (Eminem, 2000). To summarise the egos, there is the evil side (Shady), the good side (Marshall), and a mixture of both (Eminem). A psychological trait that is common to all three egos, is the trait of determination and drive. ‘Lose Yourself’ is the perfect example of Eminem’s determination. “Success is my only motherfucking option,

Eminem ever since studied the music and the lyrical work of rappers such as 2Pac, Ice Cube, and Yella. In ‘Rap God’ he confesses, “I am a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, 2Pac, N.W.A, Cube, Doc, Ren, Yella, Eazy.” (Eminem, 2013). In All I Know, Part 1 chapter of his book, Eminem further breaks down how rapping legends inspired the music he crafted. LL Cool J was responsible for teaching Eminem to rap about girls, Rakim was deep and very specific in his wordplay, Boogie Down Productions were an alternative to school as their work was educational and the Emcees being honest and real with their words, inspired Eminem to do the same. (Eminem and Jenkins, S. 2008). However, being a fan of hip hop and having a talent, was not enough to break into an industry heavily dominated by black people. DeShaun Dupree Holton, better known as Proof, is the craftsman behind Eminem’s success. The two rappers first met around 1986, and Proof has instantly recognised Eminem’s creative talent. He became his mentor and promoter even though both were in the same age frame. “Proof was the key to my game...he was my mentor.” (Eminem and Jenkins, S. 2008, p. 9). Proof was the host of battles in the Hip Hop Shop. Eminem got his start as a rapper there under the name of M&M. In 1996, Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Kuniva, Kon Artis, and Bugz created a group D12 (The Dirty Dozen) as each of them had an alter ego, an idea