Get To Know The REAL Slim Shady With These 15 Facts You Didn't Know About Eminem

By Frank Donovan

Get ready to feel old: Fifteen years ago today, Eminem dropped his smash hit The Marshall Mathers LP. Can you believe it?! Sure, he took a break somewhere in there, but Em is one of the rare artists to blow up the scene and remain relevant—Rihanna tour!—all these years later.

In honor of the The Marshall Mathers LP’s crystal anniversary, we bring you 15 incredible facts about the album and the rapper who created it.

Em holds multiple entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, including most words in a hit single—a whole 1,560 of ‘em in “Rap God.”

Because it's where he wrote much of the album, and where he was angered by journalists enough to inspire lyrics, The Marshall Mathers LP was originally titled Amsterdam.

Mark Wahlberg’s lead role in The Fighter was first written for Eminem. Eminem was offered the lead in Elysium, which he declined and went to Matt Damon. He was also up for a part in Training Day that eventually went to Ethan Hawke.

A lyrics from a 2003 leaked track “We As Americans” lyric I don't rap for dead presidents/I'd rather see the president dead made Em the target of a Secret Service investigation.

While going through rehab for prescription drug abuse, Em confided in and befriended Sir Elton John.

The Marshall Mathers LP is the fastest-selling solo album in U.S. history.

He used to be a cook at a restaurant outside Detroit called Gilbert’s Lodge, which explains a lyric from “That’s All She Wrote” I still live like I budget a Gilbert's Lodge check stub, bizzle.

In 2002 “Lose Yourself” became the first rap song to win the Oscar for “Best Original Song.”

Before establishing his ambitions as a rapper, lil Slim wanted to be a comic book artist.

When he brought young daughter Hailie into the studio to record her part in “97 Bonnie & Clyde,” he lied to Kim that he was taking her to Chuck E. Cheese.

Eminem dropped out of high school after failing 9th grade three times. Guess it worked out!

According to his mother, Em used to carry around a miniature model of the house he grew up in (which can be seen on the cover of MMLP).

Em admits “My Name Is” and “The Real Slim Shady” sounded “cheesy” to him after a few listens.

He doesn’t know how to use a computer! According to him, he’s willfully kept himself in the digital dark so as to avoid reading about himself online.

He recorded “Lose Yourself” in one take while on set of 8 Mile.