The death of Tupac Shakur was a devastating blow to the hip-hop community. Tupac was one of the most influential and beloved figures in the genre, and his death in 1996 left a void that has yet to be filled. But what about Eminem? Was Eminem famous when Tupac died?
The answer is no. At the time of Tupac’s death, Eminem was still a relatively unknown artist. He had just released his debut album, Infinite, but it had failed to make much of an impact on the hip-hop scene. Eminem was still working at a fast food restaurant and making music in his free time with his friend Denaun Porter.
It wasn’t until 1999 that Eminem’s career began to take off. That year, he released his second album, The Slim Shady LP, which was a massive success. The album featured the hit single “My Name Is,” which helped to propel Eminem into the mainstream. The album was certified quadruple platinum and earned Eminem two Grammy Awards.
Eminem’s success continued with the release of The Marshall Mathers LP in 2000. The album was an even bigger success than The Slim Shady LP, selling over 10 million copies in the United States alone. It earned Eminem four Grammy Awards and solidified his status as one of the biggest names in hip-hop.
In the years since, Eminem has become one of the most successful and influential hip-hop artists of all time. He has sold over 220 million albums worldwide and won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards. He has also been credited with helping to revive the hip-hop genre in the early 2000s.
It’s hard to imagine what the hip-hop scene would be like today if Tupac had lived. But it’s clear that Eminem’s career would have been very different. He may never have achieved the level of success he has today if Tupac had not died in 1996.
Eminem has often spoken about how much Tupac’s death affected him. In a recent episode of his podcast, he talked about how personal it was for him to lose someone he looked up to and admired. He also spoke about how Tupac’s death motivated him to become the artist he is today.
It’s clear that Eminem was not famous when Tupac died. But his career has been shaped by Tupac’s death in many ways. His success is a testament to Tupac’s influence and legacy, and it’s a reminder of what could have been if Tupac had lived.
Eminem’s career has been an incredible journey, and it’s one that has been shaped by Tupac’s death. It’s a reminder of the power of music and how it can transcend time and space. It’s also a reminder of the impact Tupac had on the hip-hop community and how his legacy continues to live on.