At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, rap legend Eminem reflected on the darkest chapter of his life—his near-fatal methadone overdose—and how music ultimately saved him.
Standing on stage at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, he turned to his daughter, Hailie Jade, and made a heartfelt confession:
💬 “I lost what I had in mind to say… Did I say the drug was delicious, didn’t I?”
His raw honesty about his battle with addiction underscored the long fight to reclaim his life and career.
From Addiction to Recovery: Eminem’s Struggle with Substance Abuse
Eminem’s battle with addiction escalated in the mid-2000s, reaching a breaking point in December 2007 when he overdosed on methadone.
💊 The start: His dependency began on the set of 8 Mile in 2002, where he was given Ambien to help with sleep. “I was like, ‘I need this all the time.’”
⚠️ The downward spiral: What started as a sleep aid turned into a full-blown addiction, leading to his near-death experience.
🏥 Rehab & relapse: After the overdose, Eminem relapsed before finally checking into rehab in April 2008.
Looking back in 2017, he admitted that his music suffered during those years as he fought to regain control.
Rebuilding and Redemption: The Road Back
By 2022, Eminem shared on Paul Pod that it took years for his brain to fully recover. But that struggle reshaped him, making him more resilient than ever.
His Hall of Fame induction wasn’t just a career milestone—it was a symbol of survival.
A Performance to Remember
To mark the occasion, Eminem performed a powerful medley of his biggest hits, including:
🎤 My Name Is
🔥 Rap God
🎶 Sing for the Moment
Behind the celebration was a story of strength, redemption, and resilience—a reminder that even at rock bottom, there’s always a way back.
💬 “I had to fight my way back to being a good person. I’m grateful to still be here making hip-hop music. I love it with everything in me.”
