Marshall Mathers
By: Samantha Milkey
Period: 4
Background
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Born October 17,1972 in Saint Joseph Missouri
- His mother was 15 years old when she had him
- Father abandoned family when he was 18 months old
Moved back and forth between Saint Joseph and Detroit
- Changed schools 2-3 times a year
- Often in housing projects
- Settled on Eastside of Detroit at age 12
Outcast at each new school
-”Beat up in the bathroom, beat up in the hallways, shoved into lockers.”-Marshall
Failed 9th grade 3 times
• Dropped out of high school at age 17
Relations with mother
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Relations with his mother
-Though song lyrics, he publically accused his mother of being addicted to prescription
drugs and subjecting him to emotional and physical abuse
- Deborah Mathers ( Marshal’s Mother) Denied all accusations
*1999 Filed $10 million lawsuit against her son
* Settled the case for $25,000
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Deborah Mathers walking out of court (lawsuit against Marshal)
Relations with Kim
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Relations with Kim (Current ex wife)
- Debbie Mathers took Kim at her home where she grew up as Marshall’s foster sister
since she was 12
- Kim has often been playing with Marshall’s feelings, leaving him as soon as he was
financially down and using their daughter Hailie as a weapon against him.
- Despite the frequent arguments Marshall and Kim used to have in their on-and-off
relationship, both got married in June 1999.
- Their marriage was an unhappy union and Eminem decided to divorce when he
caught Kim kissing John Guerra.
- Kim attempted suicide in front of her mom and of Marshall’s little brother Nate
* She was hospitalized on July the 7 the 2000. Marshall talks about the
tragic event in the song ‘ Don’t approach Me ‘
- Between 2001 and 2003, Kim has been arrested twice in possession of cocaine.
- Since the time Eminem has been back with Kim, their relation has been the same that it
was in the past, always on and off.
Marshal and daughter
Career
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Frequent competitor in rap "battles, well respected in Detroit rap undergrounds
Worked odd jobs while rapped at night
Landed a recording contract, released album “Infinite” in 1996
Gained mainstream popularity in 1999 with the album “Slim Shady”
“The Eminem Show” was best seller of 2002
Sold over 90 million albums world wide
"The biggest rapper in history."-Rolling Stone
Won 13 Grammys
Nick Names:
*M-and-M
*Eminem
*Slim Shady
Cultural References
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Movie: “8 Mile”
-The people of Detroit know 8 Mile as the city limit, a border, a boundary. It
is also a psychological dividing line that separates Jimmy Smith Jr. (Eminem)
from where and who he wants to be. A provocative fictional examination of
a critical week in Jimmy's life. Resembles a lot of Eminem’s way of life,
personal references to his life in Detroit.
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Book: “The Dark Story of Eminem” By: Nick Hasted
-charting Eminem's period of seclusion following the death of fellow rapper
and close friend Proof, who was shot dead in 2006,
-covering Eminem's battle with addiction to painkillers
-the huge success of the two albums spawned by these events, Relapse
and Recovery.
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Song References
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“Criminal” – His own song
- He talks about how people take his lyrics literally when really it’s an allegory
- Sarcastically saying that stereotypes are right about all rappers being a criminal
- Quote from song: “ I’m a Criminal, ‘cause every time I write a rhyme, these people think
it’s a crime. To tell ‘em what’s on my mind. I guess I’m a criminal.”
“Sing for the moment”- His own song
- Says that it’s the bad parents and our dangerous culture that messes up kids, not the
rappers they listen too
- Marshal feels it is his job to tell it and people should not sue him because they are in
denial who is at fault
- Quote from song: “It’s all political, if my music is literal and I’m a criminal, how the ****
can I raise a little girl? I couldn’t. I wouldn’t be fit to. You’re full of **** too,
Guerrera, that was a fist that hit you”
- Quote from song: “ They say music can alter moods and talk to you but can it load a
gun for you and cock it too?
Crimes Committed
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First Arrest
- 20 years old (1992)
- Arrested for shooting a police car with a paintball gun
- Marshall was not the triggerman, his friend was.
- Alleged victim did not show up for court so Marshall’s case was dismissed
Second Arrest
- 28 years old (2000)
- Assaulted John Guerra over the head with a 9mm gun (not loaded) without intent of
committing crime of murder
- Reason why: Marshall saw Guerra kiss his wife, Kimberly Maters
- Kim’s reaction: Said her husband “overreacted” to a friendly kiss between friends
- Charges: Carrying a concealed weapon (Felony)
- Result: Marshall pleaded guilty
* Sentenced 2 years of probation, 4 months jail, avoided 5 years of jail time
* During the probation period, Eminem had to do periodic drug
and alcohol testing.
* was fined $2,500 and assessed $5,000 in court costs that he had to pay
within 30 days. The judge directed the Marshall to pay $60
to the local crime victims’ rights fund, plus $30 a month in supervision
fees over the course of the probation.
Rehab/Recovery
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During Divorce with Kim in the start of 2000, he became further into alcoholism
2007: over dosed on sleeping pills and prescription painkillers
Lengthened his break from music, went to rehab
2008: Marshall kicked his addictions to drugs/ alcohol and returned to recording music
2009: First album in 5 years called “Relapse” featuring song “Beautiful”
2010: Released “Recovery” album
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Attempt to come to terms with his struggles with addiction, experiences and rehabilitation
More Inspirational tone
“I don’t want to go overboard with it but I do feel like that if I can help people that have been though
a similar situation, then, you know, why not?” – Marshall Mathers
“ I started learning how to not be so angry about things, learning how to count my blessings instead.
By doing that, I’ve became a happier person, instead of all this self-loathing I was doing for awhile”. –
Marshall Mathers
Sociological Theory of Deviance
I Strongly believe Marshall Mathers reasoning for being linked to criminal activity
could be closely related to the Differential Association Theory. The definition of
Differential Association Theory is explained as “Criminal behaviors is learned through
interaction with others.” Marshall’s past relationships link perfectly with this theory. For
example, his mother was 15 when she had him, his father left shortly after. They moved
often into multiple housing projects. Within the housing projects, drugs are often used,
especially in Detroit, which is where they were living. Marshall witnessed his mother do
drugs and often be around abusive men. Also at school Marshall was bullied physically
and mentally as well. This lead him to resort to using words to win most of his battles,
although he was involved in a few physical fights in his time at school. Drugs and alcohol
was also used commonly around peers. Almost everywhere he went there was drugs,
alcohol and fights arising. Over time he accepted this way of life as his own.
Sociological Theory Continued
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As Marshall Matters got older he lived the way the rest of his peers did. He started off
abusing alcohol which eventually lead to drugs, mainly prescription such as Vicodin. He also
became abusive towards women. Which became more relevant after he committed the
felony regarding a male kissing his wife at a local bar. Although he did go down a wrong path
due to what I claim from peers, he did manage to get himself help through a rehab. After
taking a break from music and checking out of rehab he made multiple new tracks venting
about his past, but in a more inspiring perspective. Marshall is now using his music to help
cope and learn from his past instead of bringing up old anger.For example, In the song “Love
the way you lie”, Marshall and Rhianna both talk about their perspective about abusive
relationships. For they both took part in multiple forms of abuse. Marshall talks about the
contradicting fine line between love and hate. How loving someone so much could make you
cross into hate by using threats, words and physical abuse to hurt the other person. Rhianna
mentions how abuse can be a sign of love through putting work into the relationship. Here is
a quote explain this “High off of love, Drunk from the hate, It’s like I’m huffing paint, And I
love it the more that I suffer, I suffocate, And right before I’m about to drown, She
resuscitates me, She ****** hates me, and I love it.”. This song reached out to many people,
Including me, showing that some love is very dangerous and you should know the signs
before it’s too late. Marshall’s let his relationships and upbringing lead to inspiring others
through music, teaching lessons, and making us come to grip with what society truly is
struggling with. One’s past does not always define their future.