Looking Back
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 Drops: Look Back at Eminem Over the Years
Emimnem's latest album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 , drops today. It's his first album since 2010's Recovery. After a musical appearance on SNL over the weekend and defending his homophobic lyrics, it looks like Slim Shady is still not one to shy away from controversy. Check out Eminem over the years from his high school days to today. By Danielle Turchiano
Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library
Eminem, Freshman Yearbook Photo at Lincoln High, 1989
As a skinny white kid growing up in Detroit, Marshall Mathers had a tough time in school and ended up repeating at least one grade before ultimately dropping out. He used his experiences to fuel early lyrics, like in “Brain Damage,” where he rapped, “Way before my baby daughter Hailie/ I was harassed daily by this fat kid named D'Angelo Bailey/ An eighth grader who acted obnoxious, cause his father boxes/ so everyday he'd shove me in the lockers.” But because he was a quiet, unassuming kid who withdrew into his writing, he started performing early too, becoming a fixture at rap battles in his city.