Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, he is often credited with popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and breaking down racial barriers for the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, Eminem has become a representation of popular angst of lower income America and is noted for his conscious lyrics—which include political criticism and social commentary—and skilled rap flow.

With global sales exceeding 220 million records, Eminem is among the best-selling music artists of all time. He has earned thirteen number-one albums on the Billboard 200: nine as a solo artist, two with D12, and one with Bad Meets Evil. He was the best-selling music artist in the U.S. during the 2000s, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the best-selling male artist of the 2010s. In the United States alone, he has sold 47.4 million albums. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified his combined album and single sales at 61.5 million.

Eminem has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, and 17 Billboard Music Awards. Billboard also named him the Artist of the Decade (2000–2009). In 2013, he received the MTV Europe Music Award for Global Icon.