Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in 1972 in Missouri, had a difficult childhood as his father abandoned him and he was frequently bullied. He discovered his passion for hip hop at age nine. Eminem went on to have a hugely successful solo career as well as with his group D12, known for his ability to tell stories through rhyming lyrics. He is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time due to his technical skills and storytelling.