Eminem is one of the biggest rappers of all time, but before he became a global superstar, he was broke, desperate, and nearly quit music altogether.
Long before he was signed by Dr. Dre, the Detroit rapper struggled to get noticed. In 1996, after releasing his debut album Infinite, he thought he had finally landed a record deal—but it turned out to be a scam that left him feeling hopeless.
The Record Deal That Never Was
In an interview with XXL, Eminem revealed that in the mid-1990s, someone promised to sign him to a hip-hop label.
🔹 “We had somebody at this hip-hop label who said they wanted to sign me when I was working with the Bass Brothers.”
Excited by the opportunity, he recorded three or four songs and handed them over—only to later discover the so-called label rep worked in the mailroom.
🔹 “We found out that he wasn’t really who he said he was.”
The scam crushed Eminem’s spirits, leaving him wondering if he’d ever make it as a rapper.
Rock Bottom: Broke, Depressed & Ready to Quit
By 1997, Eminem was 24 years old with a baby to feed, and his dreams of making it in rap seemed out of reach.
🔹 “I didn’t even know what I was going to do because it didn’t look like it was going to happen.”
🔹 “I was super depressed.”
With no money and no record deal, things were looking bleak.
Fate Steps In: The 1997 Rap Battle That Changed Everything
Just when Eminem thought it was over, everything changed in one night.
He entered the Rap Battle Olympics in LA, showcasing his lyrical skills. In the crowd that night was an Interscope Records intern—who quickly passed Em’s demo to Dr. Dre.
🔹 Within months, Eminem was signed to Aftermath, and his life was never the same.
From a Scam to Superstardom
Eminem went from being scammed and hopeless to becoming one of the best-selling rappers in history. His 2002 album The Eminem Show was the highest-selling hip-hop album for decades, and he’s now a 15-time Grammy winner.
His story is proof that even when everything seems lost, the right opportunity can change everything.
