Essay #2 in progress!!!

Not Afraid by Eminem

Introduction and thesis-Slim Shady vs. Marshall Mathers:

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, also known as “Slim Shady,” is one of the most famous rappers in the music making world. His music is based on personal experiences he is facing or past events throughout his childhood. Marshall had a rocky experience as a child and he is still learning how to cope with his personal life problems. Marshall Mathers was neglected by his family during his young adolescent years and today he is following the same path with his own daughter, Hailie. Even though he grew up in the “hood,” he was able to turn his life around by becoming one of the most wealthy rappers in the United States. As a child his family couldn’t even afford clothes, compared to his lifestyle today, Marshall doesn’t have to worry about paying rent each month, yet alone buying clothes; he has an average income of $31.8 million dollars a year. Even though Marshall Mathers had a difficult time getting started as a rapper, today he is one of the top artists to hit the top 100 list; along with winning several Grammy awards over the past ten years. At the beginning of his career, artists didn’t take him seriously and he was rejected by many other rappers. Today many artists grovel at his feet; he’s been able to completely turn the table around. By creating the persona Slim Shady, Marshall was able to overcome the neglect and poverty of his youth; he went from being a nobody to a world-famous, multi-millionaire rapper (Biography for Eminem).

1st point- Neglect
Then: moved around a lot as a child (Kansas City to Detroit). Took root in Detroit, Michigan in 1985. His family didn’t pay much attention to him or support him very well; on his own. His dad left his family and never came back. Switched schools every two to three months; it wasn’t easy making friends, staying out of trouble and couldn’t graduate high school. He failed the ninth grade three times. (his childhood was a “painful experience”)
Now: Due to his career, Marshall doesn’t have time for his daughter Hailie Jade Scott. (She’s experiencing what he had to go through as a child.)- Marshall’s career is more important than family.
(Biography for Eminem)

Marshal Mathers spent much of his childhood adapting to new neighborhoods every few months. His family moved back and forth between Kansas City and Detroit. In 1985, his family finally settled down in Detroit, Michigan. His father had never been in the picture; Mathers learned the basic ways of manhood on his own as well as independence. Because of quick transitions between schools it wasn’t easy making friends, staying out of trouble and trying to graduate high school was impossible. Mathers failed ninth grade three times before realizing school wasn’t for him by dropping out. His childhood was a “painful experience” because he was neglected as a child (Biography for Eminem).He never had a father figure in his life to admire; instead he had a mother who couldn’t decided where she wanted to spend her life. His mother wasn’t able to support him emotionally. This caused Mathers to have an unexplainable behavior and many other psychological problems. Mathers’ rapping persona mentions in one of his songs, Not Afraid, “his gift is a curse,” meaning that his fame and fortune that Shady has brought him has torn him from his family. Mathers continues to neglect his daughter, Hailie, just as he was neglected as a child. Ever since Hailie was born his career has been first priority in his life. It’s hard for a little girl to grow and mature without a father figure present in her life. Hailie might follow the same foot steps her father did as a struggling adolescent fighting for attention from her parents.

2nd point- Poverty
Then: grew up in poverty and in bad neighborhoods. (Eminem Biography)
Now: Billionaire-due to his career the past ten years.

Growing up in impoverished neighborhoods doesn't exactly describe a healthy and normal childhood; as for Marshall Mathers it was the basis to his life. His mom, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, faced many financial problems raising a family on her own without any support from her husband. Her financial status was the main reason for the continuous moving back and forth between cities. Debbie would find themselves living in trailors, mobile homes, living with relatives or public housing. During Mathers chilhood, his mom was under the influence of many drugs such as Vicodin and Valium (Eminem's Biography). Marshall's finanical status has risen since his early childhood. Within the past ten years Mathers has become one of the most famous rappers alive. Because of his success in the music industry, Mathers lives on the upscale of life. He's able to afford almost anything his heart disires.

3rd point- Early rapping career
Then: started rapping at the age of four years old (putting words together and rhyming), battled schoolmates in the lunchroom, people thought he was a joke and he was rejected by many other rappers. At the age of seventeen he made a new name for himself; M&M. Later he changed it to “Eminem.”
Now: sold 8 million records in the United States alone, won several Grammies and awards. 1st rap album to be nominated “Album of he year.”
(Biography for Eminem)
THEN: Rapped in clubs in Detroit and Michigan
Began working with Dr. Dre after he was present in the Freestyle category at the 1997 rap Olympics in Los Angeles.
1st album, Infinite, was crashed by many critics.
Joined ad hoc groups like Basement Production, the New Jacks and D12.
(Eminem Biography)

Works Cited

“Biography for Eminem.” The Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com, 2010. Web. 25 Sep 2010.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004896/bio.
“Eminem Biography.” Sing365.com, 2007. Web. 27 Sep 2010.
http://www.sing365.com/music/lync.nsf/eminem-biography/