22 year old Eminem(Marshall Mathers/pronounced M&M), has been rhyming words with prolific intensity since age 14. He is currently signed to a production company, Web Entertainment, that is shopping him to other labels and/or shopping his music for distribution. Unlike many of today’s rappers, Em does'n’t come with just tight beats and lyrics. His creative song writing and tendency to actually say something on record results in full songs-melodies, chorus hooks, lyrics that go somewhere and the that work off of his complimentary music.

As a confessed hip hop junkie, I'’ve heard just about every rap group that has ever made any type of name for themselves and I can honestly say that it is rare to see a new talent come along that warrants the kind of attention that Eminem does. What’s the key to his success? What makes him stand apart? Well, on top of the phat production…on top of on-point delivery and infectious voice, and on top of the over the top personality that he unveils, Eminem possesses and advanced ability to connect with words. The magic is in the syllables. Where most MCs rhyme the last one or two, Eminem will rhyme the last five or six. It sounds good on paper, but it really must be heard. Sample lines like, Smell the Folger’s Crystals/this is lyrical combat, gentlemen hold your pistols or Too many mental problems got back on dope and smokin’ weed again/I’m going up over the curb, driving on the median/I finally made it home but I don’t got the keys to get in. You can feel the imaginative and calculated effort that goes into an Eminem rhyme.

As a member of Detroit’s super rap group, D12(The Dirty Dozen), Eminem adds his signature vocal presence to a large group of well respected MCs that includes 5 Elements’ Proof, Eye-Kyu, members of The Levels and others. More recently he was inducted as a member of New Jersey’s infamous MC collective, The Outsidaz, who were heard on The Fugees’ multi-platinum The Score(included in the group are Young Zee{Perspective/Polygram}, Rah Digga{Flipmode/Elektra/WEA and Pace 1{Ruffhouse/Columbia}. Eminem is well respected by his peers and know for his energetic performances(headlining, as well as opening for Wu-Tang, Hiero, etc.), and for being a worthy opponent in MC battles. Besides winning several rap contests in Detroit, he displayed his freestyle battle prowess at the ’97 Skribble Jam, performing in front of several hundred MCs, DJs, graffiti writers, B-Boys and music industry professionals from NY to LA. He placed second against 70+ opponents, going four tie-breaker rounds with the winner, Chicago’s undefeated Juice. He’s been covered by Billboard, Stress, Underground Soundz, SJS Urban, the Detroit Free Press, as well as other publications. Recently he was selected on to a team of five MCs to participate in Rap Sheet’s Rap Olympics, originally scheduled to face off against Ras Kass, Kurupt, Maddskillz, and others. As many rappers’ didn’t show, Eminem’s team faced off against Project Blowed’s team and was cut short due to overbooking. All was not last as Eminem made his presence felt in the MC battle, defeating many to come in second(out of 50+) and he became the talk of the evening. Sway & Tech had him perform the following evening on their worldwide show(9 million listeners) next to industry vets like Kool G Rap and Craig G. Representing at industry conferences like How Can I Be Down, Mecca, and VIBE, he as allied with and impressed many peers and industry insiders(and Outsidaz). Thus the buzz outside of Detroit has begun.

Eminem is currently seeking a deal with a major or well-poised independent label that can take him to the masses, where his penchant for intense rhyme structure and entertaining personality can be fully flet. Your everyday rapper-not to be confused with your average rapper.

Hip Hop Politiks would like to give credit to Marc Kempf on the use of this article.