Would the real Slim please stand up? Slim, Marshall Bruce Mathers III, Eminem, Double M, M&M - this is a man with many aliases. But what is the truth about the man behind the name? Eminem began rapping in 1996 and since then has won over 500 of the 1000 awards that he has been nominated for. These include being the first rapper ever to win the Global Icon Award.

But although his music has been on the best seller’s list for over 20 years, his family life has also been the subject of much public interest. Famously marrying and divorcing his childhood sweetheart Kimberly Scott twice, Eminem has 3 children and is close to them all. Having cut off ties with the majority of the rest of his family, including his mother, he is reported to care deeply for his girls, including the famous Hailie.

Probably the best way to follow the story of his personal life is through his music, which is packed with references to his feelings for his family. Over 20 of his tracks mention Hailie, who was born on Christmas Day in 1995. Although she has shunned the limelight until recently, her foray into the world of social media has shot her back into the public eye, where discussions about her future and her relationship with her dad are now a popular topic.

22 Approving Of The Boyfriend

Now 22, Hailie graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in psychology. Turns out she is extremely gifted and was on the Dean’s list in recognition of her academic achievements. However, it wasn’t just a degree she picked up during her studies. She also found fellow student Evan McClintock, who she has been dating for around two years. A keen golfer, Evan is an economics graduate who enjoys the simple things in life such as walking the dog and cozy nights in. According to ladbible.com, her family have welcomed Evan into the fold and think they are a fantastic young couple.

21 Teaching The Importance Of A Good Education

Moving frequently between Missouri and Detroit as a youngster, Eminem changed schools several times a year and as a result, had a very disrupted education. He was bullied constantly and treated like an outcast. He flunked out of the ninth grade three times and eventually dropped out at the age of 17.

He showed a talent for language, enjoying comic books and the dictionary and tells us in biography.com:

‘I always was good at English ... I just felt like I wanna be able to have all of these words at my disposal, in my vocabulary at all times whenever I need to pull 'em out. You know, somewhere, they'll be stored, like, locked away.’

Hailie has clearly been given much better opportunities, having graduated Chippewa Valley High School with the highest honors and going on to university. She describes her parents as ‘her most important influences’.

20 Including Her In Videos

Released in 1999, Eminem went so far as to actually use clips of home video in the official music video for "Mockingbird". This is a beautiful tribute to both Hailie and Alaina, in which he expresses his understanding of their desire for two stable parents. He apologizes for the behavior of both himself and Kim. His promises to stop their nightmares, wipe their tears and be there for them show how much he values and adores the girls. His final statement:

"Cause all I ever wanted to do was just make you proud," shows that they are the most important thing in his life.

19 Regretting The Past

Last year’s new album, ‘Revival’ features the song ‘Castle’. This is a song that is dedicated to Hailie, in which he apologizes for the publicity he has put her through. He realizes in the song that although he had her best intentions at heart he actually put her into the public eye. He also says how sorry he is for building a castle in which they all became trapped. The lyrics:

‘'I've said your name but always tried to hide your face.  

This game is crazy, I wanted to claim my love for you, but dang I never knew it'd be like this,

if I did I wouldn't have done it"

18 Keeping A Close Relationship

Hailie and Eminem have not been seen together publically for years. Yet despite this Hailie has claimed in a number of recent interviews that they are very close. On her high school website, she even names her parents as her biggest influence. Digitalspy.com tells us that she claims her parents were the "most influential during my lifetime', because "my mother and father… have given me all the support to achieve what I have." Eminem has even said that when he visits her school he is simply ‘Mr. Mathers’.

So maybe Eminem has finally achieved his desire to be close to his daughters without the public being involved?

17 Wanting Something Better For Her

It is no secret that Eminem had a difficult upbringing. Moving around a lot, changing schools and houses regularly; having Hailie really brought out the protective instinct. Allegedly, he worked 60 hour weeks to raise money for her as a baby. He is quoted by dailymail.co.uk as saying:

'She has been my main source of drive and motivation, especially when she was first born. I didn't have a [job] yet, I didn't have money, I didn't have a place to live. 'How am I going to raise her?'

And it’s certainly worked out well because, at the age of 22, she has a degree and her own 4 bedroomed house.

16 Keeping Him Real

"Hailie’s Song", written in 2002 was, of course, written for Eminem’s daughter. At the time she was only 7 and Eminem wrote it as a celebration of her and the fact that she keeps him stable and grounded. The lyrics:

"Why am I here, am I just wastin’ my time?

But then I see my baby

Suddenly I’m not crazy

It all makes sense when I look into her eyes"

really bring home the feeling that she is the reason that he keeps going in a world full of craziness. The song also features a sample of Hailie laughing happily.

15 Lying To Kim

Eminem’s relationship with Hailie’s mum Kim is notoriously stormy. Having been married and divorced twice the pair often argued. Although Eminem tried to maintain the utmost respect for Kim in their private lives he often criticized her in his raps. It would seem that by "‘97 Bonnie & Clyde", he had had enough and went so far to feature Hailie’s vocals on this song that talks us through the end of Kim. Knowing Kim would not give permission for this recording event he lied to her, saying he was taking Hailie to Chuck E Cheese. Having discovered the song Kim left again.

14 Missed Birthdays

Being a world-famous, and much in demand rapper, clearly meant that Hailie was never going to have a traditional upbringing with both parents around every day. Eminem was frequently absent during Hailie’s childhood on tours and concerts, as you might expect. However, couple that with Eminem’s personal struggles and you end up with a father who missed out on a lot of family celebrations. In ‘Arose’ he sings about missing Christmas holidays and birthdays and even his worry that he will miss her graduation and wedding day. However, deep down he expresses his feeling that he is a good person, and Hailie’s comments about him now certainly hold that up.

13 Defending Her Honor

Got beef with another rapper? Then why not have a rap battle to settle it? Rap battles have been traced back to Muhammed Ali’s 1960s pre-match trash talk raps and are now a fun and popular way to show off your lyrical skills. However, sometimes rappers really do fall out and then you end up with a sequence of rap songs which are written to continue an argument. When rapper MGK made unsavory remarks about 16-year-old Hailie in 2012 Eminem was quick to respond and it is a disagreement that rumbles on to this day. Who knows how long this will go on, but Eminem has certainly proved that you don’t dis his family.

12 Festival Crashing

When your dad is headlining festivals why not take advantage and go along for the ride? Hailie and Eminem were spotted spending some quality time together recently as Eminem headlined the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York, in June this year. However, of all the pictures she posted on her social media, not one included her famous dad. She did, however, say how much she had enjoyed exploring cities and being part of the festivals for a few weekends. Maybe he was too busy hanging out with his friends Skylar Grey, 50 Cent, Royce Da 5'9' and Phresher to be taking photos. 

11 "Going Through Changes"

"Going Through Changes" is a song that is not only dedicated to Hailie but also to his two adopted daughters, Alaina and Whitney. In it, he seems to admit that he is embarrassed about some of his past behavior but that his complicated life makes it hard for him to move on. He is publicly apologizing to his girls here about how he must appear to them and admits that he finds it hard to get help:

‘Why do I act like I am all high and mighty

When inside I’m dying, I am finally realizin’ I need, help

Can’t do it myself, too weak’.

10 Keeping It In The Family

In the 2002 hit ‘My Dad’s Gone Crazy’, 7-year-old Hailie makes a rare appearance in the recording. According to metro.co.uk, Eminem has reported that whilst working with Dr Dre on a hit, little Hailie was running around the studio shouting "Somebody please help me! I think my dad’s gone crazy!" She was ushered into the booth and immediately recorded, getting it down perfectly on her first take. In typical Eminem style, he starts with this child’s innocence but moves on to a rap littered with unsavory imagery. He refers back to Hailie, stating that no one can save him, not even Hailie.

9 Concerns About Paparazzi

"The Way I Am" is a song from his third album The Marshall Mathers LP, released in 2000. This song was released as the second track after "The Real Slim" in September 2000. Eminem was under great pressure from his record label executives to replicate the success of his first albums and in particular ‘My Name Is’. He wrote this song as a message to those putting him under huge pressure to leave him alone. At the same time, this was a request to his super enthusiastic fans to respect his privacy and stop disturbing himself and his family.

8 Fame Separates Them

Eminem has always wanted the best for Hailie and to give her a better life than he had. However, in his 2002 song "Say Goodbye Hollywood" he gives us a glimpse into the pressures of living in the spotlight. It is a song in which he explains to us the downside of fame and how everyone should be careful what they wish for. Similarly in his 2005 hit "When I’m Gone" he expresses his sadness that his fame has actually kept them apart more than he ever intended.

His wish to give it all up and spend time with family shows us that Hailie always has been his main priority.

7 Defending His Family

In 2002 Ja Rule made some very unsavory remarks about both Kim and Hailie. Eminem didn’t take it well and responded the following year with "Hailie’s Revenge". However, the hurtful comments must have really stung, as he followed up his family defense with "Toy Soldiers" in 2004 and "Greatest" on his latest album "Kamikaze". He also uses this year’s track "Not Alike" to hit out at rappers who use his family in their music and make unnecessary comments about them. The message is clear; do not mess with Eminem’s family and do not use Hailie to try to annoy him!

6 Personal Vs Professional Life

Despite constantly mentioning his family troubles in his raps, Eminem has always tried to keep his personal and professional life separate. Having now cut ties with his mother and various other family members, his focus on Hailie, Alaina and Whitney is now his passion and focus. Hailie’s birth changed his outlook on life and increased his desire to be a success.

'She's always been the driving force for me to stay busy, stay focused, always been my number one reason for [being successful]. [...] I can't have her grow up and not be able to say, 'My dad succeeded'.

5 A Caring Dad

Although Hailie Scott is famously Eminem’s only biological daughter, he also has two further adopted daughters. Alaina Marie Mathers is the daughter of Kim’s twin sister, and when she passed away Eminem didn’t hesitate to adopt her. She is often mentioned in Eminem’s work and is referred to as ‘Lainey’ and being like a sister to Hailie. Whitney Scott Mathers is Kim’s daughter but Eminem has full custody of her. Aged 15, she is a closely guarded secret and is kept well away from the public eye. Eminem has really shown his caring side by taking another two daughters under his wing and treating them like his own.

4 Teaches Equality

Eminem is well known for saying exactly what he thinks and certainly doesn’t hold back in his rap lyrics. According to babygaga.com, Eminem was once quoted as saying:

"I don't care [who you are, where you come from or what your background is]. If you're nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Simple as that."

What a great message to give to your children as they develop. Equality is clearly important to Eminem, and as someone who came from ‘the wrong side of the tracks’, treating everyone the same regardless of their background is close to his heart.

3 A Great Solo Dad

Eminem never knew his dad, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr, who left the family home very shortly after his birth. Eminem wrote several letters to him during his teenage years, which his mother claimed all came back marked "return to sender". Eminem appears to feel bitter about the lack of father figure in his life and consequently has stepped up to be a better father himself. And with Kim not always being there, it is fair to say that Eminem has done a great job in producing an intelligent and smart daughter, who has wanted for nothing in her life.