| Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972) is an American rapper and occasional actor, best known as Eminem, his stage name. He is one of today's most popular and controversial rappers, as well as a Grammy and Academy award winner. He was born near Kansas City in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was raised in the Detroit. Discovered by rapper and producer Dr. Dre, Eminem became a crossover sensation with his debut single "My Name Is", and earned respect for his lyrical talent. He is noted for his ability to change his vocal pace and style multiple times within one song without losing the beat, and has been praised for his skill in alliteration and assonance. At Interscope, Mathers released The Slim Shady LP, which went on to be one of the most popular albums of 1999, going triple platinum by the end of the year. With the album's enormous popularity came controversy surrounding many of the album's lyrics. In "'97 Bonnie and Clyde", he describes a trip with his infant daughter, disposing of the body of his wife. Another song, "Guilty Conscience," ends with him encouraging a man to murder his wife and her lover.
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