The Evolution of Eminem

Today is Em's 43rd birthday—and what a ride it's been.

4. Eminem & Dr. Dre\r - The most commercially successful duo on this list. Dre's cosign and production work gave Em's intricate battle-tested stylings instant cred on both the corner and the airwaves; in turn, the Detroit MC gave Dre new energy and new relevance in the new millennium. Highlights: "My Name Is," "Kill You," "The Real Slim Shady"\r\r\r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images)
"My Name Is" - Em's 1999 debut single, "My Name Is," and its video were a shock to the system. The juxtaposition of the clip's off-the-wall visuals, Dr. Dre's new-millennium G-funk and a bleached-blond Em's twisted, irreverent humor was a left-field smash, and the archetype for Em's early 2000s sound. The single lifted Em's debut full-length, The Slim Shady LP, to triple-platinum status. All of the sudden Marshall Mathers was a star, and a lightning rod for critics from all corners. (Photo: Interscope Records)
The Marshall Mathers LP - Em's 2000 sophomore set, The Marshall Mathers LP, put him on a whole other level. The album sold 1.76 million copies in its first week, breaking records set by Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle as the fastest-selling hip hop album and Britney Spears's Baby One More Time as the fastest-selling solo album in history. Packed with innovative, seminal songs like "Stan" and "The Way I Am," the album is widely regarded as Slim's best. (Photo: Interscope Records)
2001 Grammys - Em won over mainstream America and many critics when he linked with Elton John to perform "Stan" at the Grammys. The high-profile duet with the gay pop icon was seen as an olive branch of sorts from Em to the gay community, who had blasted him for his lyrics in the past.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)D12 - Despite all of his successes, Em hadn't forgotten his roots. He reunited with his old Detroit crew D12 and signed them to his new imprint, Shady Records. With Em at the forefront, the group's 2001 debut Devil's Night went double-platinum. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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"My Name Is" - Em's 1999 debut single, "My Name Is," and its video were a shock to the system. The juxtaposition of the clip's off-the-wall visuals, Dr. Dre's new-millennium G-funk and a bleached-blond Em's twisted, irreverent humor was a left-field smash, and the archetype for Em's early 2000s sound. The single lifted Em's debut full-length, The Slim Shady LP, to triple-platinum status. All of the sudden Marshall Mathers was a star, and a lightning rod for critics from all corners. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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