Eminem’s road to recovery began in December 2007 when he almost died from a drug overdose. After a night of heavy using, Em collapsed in his bathroom was rushed to the hospital. Doctors informed him he’d consumed the equivalent of four bags of heroin and was “about two hours from dying.”
As a result, Slim Shady ultimately decided to put the prescription drugs down 11 years ago and he’s been clean ever since. He celebrated the milestone on Saturday (April 20) with a Twitter post of his 11-year coin from a 12-step program.
“11 years,” he wrote in the caption. “still not afraid.”
To help him stay clean, Slim Shady became an avid runner. His weight had ballooned to 230 pounds while he was using and he was surviving on a steady diet of fast food. At one point, he was running up to 17 miles a day.
According to a 2015 Billboard article, Em opened up to Men’s Journal about how he combated addiction with exercise.
“The coating on the Vicodin and the Valium I’d been taking for years leaves a hole in your stomach, so to avoid a stomachache, I was constantly eating — and eating badly,” he explained. “I got an addict’s brain, and when it came to running, I think I got a little carried away.
“I became a fucking hamster. Seventeen miles a day on a treadmill. I would get up in the morning, and before I went to the studio, I would run eight and a half miles in about an hour. Then I’d come home and run another eight and a half.”
Now, he reportedly juggles running with intense workout DVDs.
“I guess I’m pretty compulsive working out,” he said. “I feel like if I step away from it for too long, if I have a crazy week and take a five-day break, it’ll be like starting over. I’m afraid that if it goes beyond that, I might lose the motivation.
“Once you’re at a place where you’ve made progress and you’ve got some time invested in it, you don’t wanna quit and give up what you started.”
Eminem’s latest album, Kamikaze, was released last August. He’s since been touring the world in support of the project, breaking attendance records in the process. He also sold more albums than any other artist in 2018.
Probably the most overated rapper of all time
If you are talking just as a rap act, not a marder, not an icon and not a symbol… Then the most over rated rapper of all time is B.I.G.
Absolutely ridiculous. If there was no Biggie, there would be no Jay-Z, let alone all the other extensions of Bad Boy (L.O.X., Shyne, Black Rob, Junior Mafia and all of Diddy’s other artists.) that would have never shined without him. He had lyrics and flow and an undeniable classic album with only two albums.
Nah,, they would have found another way to get in there if they tried,, also we can keep going,, there would be no biggie if it wasn’t for tupac
I doubt that. Biggie had some dope shit, don’t get me wrong, but I do think his legacy got a major boost from the fact that he died on top. Nobody really thinks about Busta Rhymes or Master P anymore, but they used to sell millions in the mid-90’s, and I bet if either one of them had passed away in ’97 and biggie didn’t, then they would be mentioned in everyone’s top 5 instead. Again, biggie wasn’t wack by any means, but he gets more credit than I think he should get as a GOAT.
And you do what? Keep claiming welfare you fucking chump,
Lmaoo man you are right! Em is so overrated it’s crazy. Dude is terrible
overrated and terrible are two different things. you can be great but still be overrated
There’s nothing wrong with drugs
Except running out of them
-gonna OD
Can’t believe Relapse was 10 years ago. Em in Top 5 DOA. If you jump on the Em is trash bandwagon I feel bad for you because you’re missing out on great lyrics. He’s a student of the game, arguable the greatest of all time
Sell outs can’t be one of the best.
You clearly don’t listen to hip hop then.
Eminem WAS good once upon a time, but he hasn’t dropped a consistently good project since The Marshall Mathers LP.
If you think an artist who drops songs like ‘Puke’ and ‘Big Weenie’ is in the top five then it’s evident you only listen to radio rappers.
I feel sorry for you for being so close minded to hip hop as a genre.
Eminem looks like a lesbian transitioning into a man.
All you that are dissing Em are just poor jealous losers…
Lets see one of you come and do what he does… I’m waiting………waiting …. Yeah that’s what I thought lmfao
Good for him. I did Vicodin and Oxy for 8 years and have been clean for almost 4 months now. Gotta start somewhere.
Congrats! Be strong! I’m rooting for you!
he was better when he was on drugs
5 days can turn into 5 months. I had to fall off a few times before I learned that lesson.
It’s a challenge. Keep staying strong!
Fuck 4:20 stupid white boy holiday
Sell out! When is m going to be white again? This acting black routine is played. Warning: once the pop audience is done with u don’t come crawling back to hip hop music. In opinion, m never love hip hop. He is just another white boy stealing black music for money.
Russian trolls smh Don’t worry, we’re privy on your divide and cause chaos plan. Next elections won’t be the same deal. Go back to drinking your “wodka” and come up with new ish plz
Russia troll! That was good shit. Keep them coming.
This is obviously a white troll. Go back to your mama’s basement.
I don’t have a basement. Lol
No doubt! I’ve had the same issue with this website too. Black on black negative comments are allowed. DO NOT TALK ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE ON HERE. THEY WILL REMOVE THE COMMENTS.
Who gives a fuck? To the people writing these articles get Ems di** out your mouth. The man takes a shit and it’s news on this wack ass site. This a hip hop site!!! Eminem blew up bc Dre was his producer!!! End of story.
Shutup you gimp.