Seventeen years ago today, Eminem made a choice that didn’t just save his life — it gave him a second one.
On April 20, the rap icon marks another year of sobriety, standing as a symbol of resilience in an industry where self-destruction is often glorified.
In past interviews, Em has spoken candidly about his battle with addiction. “I overdosed in 2007, like right before Relapse came out,” he told NPR. But even that brush with death wasn’t his turning point. “I went right back to using again… I felt like it was over for me — professionally. I was in a really dark place.”
Eminem’s descent was fueled by a mix of depression, pressure, and a debilitating case of writer’s block. But after a near-fatal methadone overdose, he vanished from the public eye to detox, heal, and rebuild.
“When I got sober, I needed something else to focus on, so I started running,” he told Men’s Journal. “It gave me a natural high. Helped me sleep, helped with my mood, and helped me get back in shape.”
What followed was a comeback that even the most die-hard fans didn’t expect. Albums like Recovery, Kamikaze, and Music to Be Murdered By proved that sobriety didn’t dull his edge — it sharpened it. In fact, four of his 10 most-streamed songs on Spotify were released after he got clean.
More importantly, his transformation sparked a domino effect.
Longtime collaborator Royce da 5’9” revealed: “I got sober because Marshall got sober. He showed me that it was possible to be dope, successful, and sober at the same time.” Mr. Porter and KXNG Crooked soon followed.
Eminem has not just survived addiction — he’s helped others survive it, too.
Whether or not he shares his 17-year AA chip like he did last year, fans around the world are honoring the moment. Not just because Em is still here — but because he’s still fighting, still rhyming, and still proving that strength doesn’t mean being unbreakable.
It means rebuilding what broke.
