Eminem, who celebrates his 47th birthday today, has made a Grammy-winning career out of blurring boundaries—between white and black America, obscenity and vulnerability, despair and fantasy. Bullied as a child growing up in Detroit, Eminem thrived in rap battle competitions. In 1997 his first album, The Slim Shady LP, caught the attention of legendary rapper and impresario Dr. Dre. His second, The Marshall Mathers LP, went diamond, selling more than ten million copies despite its controversial lyrics. His 2002 autobiographical movie, 8 Mile, led to an Academy Award for the song “Lose Yourself.” Plagued by convictions for carrying concealed weapons, drug addictions, and a troubled family life, Eminem remains one of the most influential rappers of all time.
Artist Elizabeth Peyton, long drawn to painting controversial rock stars, uses soft grays and a generous brushstroke to highlight rapper Eminem’s fine features and strong tattoos. He assesses the viewer with a look that is at once steely-eyed and alluring.
Eminem
- Exhibition Label
- Born St. Joseph, Missouri
- Artist Elizabeth Peyton, long drawn to painting controversial rock stars, uses soft grays and a generous brushstroke to highlight rapper Eminem’s fine features and strong tattoos. He assesses the viewer with a look that is at once steely-eyed and alluring. Eminem (born Marshall Mathers) has made a Grammy-winning career out of blurring boundaries—between white and black America, obscenity and vulnerability, despair and fantasy. Bullied as a child growing up in Detroit, Eminem thrived in rap battle competitions. In 1997 his first album, The Slim Shady LP, caught the attention of legendary rapper and impresario Dr. Dre. His second, The Marshall Mathers LP, went diamond, selling more than ten million copies despite its controversial lyrics. His 2002 autobiographical movie, 8 Mile, led to an Academy Award for the song “Lose Yourself.” Plagued by convictions for carrying concealed weapons, drug addictions, and a troubled family life, Eminem remains one of the most influential rappers of all time.
- Em (Blue)
- Eminem nacido en 1972
- Nacido en St. Joseph, Misuri
- La artista Elizabeth Peyton, quien ha demostrado su gusto por pintar estrellas de rock controversiales, utiliza aquí grises suaves y una pincelada generosa para resaltar los finos rasgos del rapero Eminem y sus impactantes tatuajes. El modelo sondea al público con ojos fríos y a la vez seductores. Eminem (nacido Marshall Mathers), ganador de numerosos premios Grammy, ha hecho una carrera a base de traspasar fronteras: fronteras entre la América blanca y la negra, entre la obscenidad y la vulnerabilidad, entre la desilusión y la fantasía. Víctima de acoso escolar durante su niñez en Detroit, Eminem comenzó a destacarse en las competencias de improvisación de rap. En 1997 su primer disco, The Slim Shady LP, llamó la atención del legendario rapero y empresario Dr. Dre. Su segundo disco, The Marshall Mathers LP, alcanzó la categoría de disco de diamante al vender más de diez millones de copias a pesar de sus controversiales letras. En 2002 protagonizó la película autobiográfica 8 Mile, que ganó un Oscar por la canción “Lose Yourself”. Su vigencia ha quedado demostrada en su exitosa gira “Monster” junto a Rihanna y en la distinción de ser, en 2014, el primer rapero que se ha presentado como atracción principal en el estadio Wembley de Londres.
- Elizabeth Peyton (nacida en 1965)
- Aguafuerte y aguatinta, 2003
- Data Source
- National Portrait Gallery
- Artist
- Elizabeth Peyton, born 1965
- Sitter
- Marshall Bruce Mathers III, born 1972
- Date
- 2003
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- Medium
- Etching with aquatint on paper
- Dimensions
- Plate: 69.2 x 52.7 cm (27 1/4 x 20 3/4")
- Type
