• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
People are just finding out how Eminem actually got his stage name

Home> Entertainment> Music

Updated 09:38 21 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 12:17 19 Sep 2024 GMT+1

People are just finding out how Eminem actually got his stage name

Eminem is known for his infamous alter-ego, Slim Shady, but where did his stage name come from?

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

Fans are only just discovering the meaning behind rap icon Eminem's stage name - and it's surprisingly simple.

The rapper - real name Marshall Mathers - has been a long-running fixture in the hip hop scene since his debut album came out in 1996, having topped the charts numerous times with songs such as 'Lose Yourself', 'Stan', 'The Real Slim Shady' and 'Love the Way You Lie'.

He's also known for his infamous alter-ego Slim Shady, who received his final honours on the 51-year-old's newest album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).

Advert

But have you ever wondered how Eminem came up with his stage name?

With most of the discourse focusing on his counterpart Slim Shady, many have probably not spared a thought about how Mathers came up with Eminem. But thankfully the internet is a wonderful place where there is an answer available to every question you could ask - and this includes the apparent story behind the rapper's stage name.

Taking to Reddit, one of his fans asked: "Why did he call himself Eminem?

Advert

"Does anyone know why he called himself that? I have been listening to him for quite a long time but I never understood why he chose Eminem instead of something like Slim Shady."

The name Eminem is a play on the rapper's MM initials (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
The name Eminem is a play on the rapper's MM initials (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

It's said the name is linked to the rapper's real name Marshall Mathers. Back in high-school Mathers and his friend Mike Ruby would go by the names Manix and M&M while rapping together and the name seemingly just evolved from there.

"Marshall Mathers. Two M's. Used to be M&M. Eminem came from M&M," one person replied, while a second added: "His initials are MM, or M&M, which is pronounced Eminem when said quickly."

One fan claimed Mathers used to go by M&M during the early days of his career, later changing it to the phonetic Eminem in order to avoid landing himself in hot water with the chocolate brand of the same name.

Advert


As for the meaning behind the name Slim Shady, the inspiration for his alter-ego came to him while he was in the bathroom after the failure of his debut album Infinite, with 'Slim' being a reflection of his skinny frame.

The Slim Shady character would go on to be a way for Mathers to vent his frustrations about the world in an uncensored and over the top manner.

LADbible has contacted representatives for Eminem for comment.

Featured Image Credit: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Topics: Eminem, Celebrity

Brenna Cooper
Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper is a journalist at LADbible. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, followed by an NCTJ accredited masters in Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer for Digital Spy, where she wrote about all things TV, film and showbiz. Her favourite topics to cover are music, travel and any bizarre pop culture.

X

@_brencoco

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Justin Bieber says he felt 'pushed aside' by doula as Hailey Bieber gave birth

    Hailey has spoken about the trauma she experienced during Jack's birth, as Justin says she made him apologise

    Entertainment
  • Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for HFA
    4 hours ago

    Dave Franco hits out at people who say he's only successful because of his brother

    The actor has addressed claims he is only famous due to brother James Franco

    Entertainment
  • A24
    5 hours ago

    The scariest horror movies of all time you need to watch this Halloween

    Need something watch over spooky weekend? We've got you sorted

    Entertainment
  • BBC
    6 hours ago

    Paranormal BBC show that will never be aired again still leaving people 'traumatised' 33 years later

    The show was so traumatic that it was banned from being aired again

    Entertainment
  • People are just finding out how Jeremy Clarkson's parents made fortune
  • People ‘never eating hot dogs again’ after finding out how they’re really made
  • People are just finding out that the red liquid in steak isn't actually blood
  • Weird conspiracy theory behind how Eminem actually got his name