When Did Eminem Blow up?

After Eminem's unprecedented success for a white rapper, via “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999 and its follow-up, questions abounded. Was he a prankster, an industry plant, a generational voice? (The last was asserted in 2003 by the Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney.)

When did Eminem get famous?

He dropped out of school in the ninth grade and worked odd jobs until finally making it as a rapper upon the release of The Slim Shady LP in early 1999. The album went multi-platinum, garnering Eminem two Grammy Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards.

When did Eminem get his big break?

Eminem had his big break in 1997 when we traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the Rap Olympics competition. Although he came in second place, his performance impressed the managers at Interscope Records who passed his name to Dr. Dre.