Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, has died at the age of 69 Bulletin board confirmed the tragedy on Tuesday (December 3).
TMZ was the first to report the news as the publication reported that Nelson was suffering from complications related to a lung cancer diagnosis and died in St. Joseph, Mo.
The oldest of five children, Nelson gave birth to future rap phenomenon Marshall Mathers III on October 17, 1972 as just a teenager. Eminem and his mother's relationship has been complicated and tumultuous over the years. He had no problem incorporating parts of their relationship into his music, referencing Nelson on tracks like “Cleanin' Out My Closet,” “My Name Is” and more.
Nelson sued Em for defamation in 1999 seeking $11 million. Per ABC Newsa judge ruled in her favor but for only $25,000 and she won less than that after legal fees.
“One of the things I said and realized is, I mean at the end of the day, she's my mother and I love her because she's a mother,” Em told BET's. 106 & Park in 2009. “I mean, even though we don't really talk, she's my mother. I love her and I think I have a better understanding of what she was going through or what she may be going through now that I see myself and what I really became. I think there's a little bit of a compassion factor that goes into it.”
Over the years, Em came to understand what his mother was going through and brought it into his music when he extended an olive branch and expressed regret for how he handled certain things and apologized to Nelson on “Headlights” in 2013.
Lately, things seemed to be going better between the two. Nelson publicly showed her son some love on Eminem's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction day in 2022. “Marshall, I couldn't let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame.” , he said in a video. “I love you very much. I knew you'd get there. And it's been a long ride.”
Here are 10 songs Eminem made touching on his relationship with his mother below.
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“My name is”
Year: 1999
Lyrical: “I just found out my mom does more drugs than me/ I told her I'm gonna grow up to be a famous rapper/ Make a record about drugs and name it after her.”
Chart history: No. 36 (Billboard Hot 100)
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“Cleaning Out My Closet”
Year: 2002
Lyrical: “I'm sorry, mom/ I never meant to hurt you/ I never meant to make you cry/ But tonight I'm cleaning out my closet.”
Chart history: No. 4 (Billboard Hot 100)
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“My mom”
Year: 2009
Lyrical: “My momma loved Valium and a lot of drugs/ That's why I'm the way I am 'cause I'm like her/ Because my momma loved Valium and a lot of drugs/ That's why I'm on what I'm on 'cause I'm my mom .”
Chart history: N/A
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“Our home”
Year: 1999
Lyrical: I'm getting thinner, I'm hungry, is mom cooking dinner/ Mom! Let me in again! I forgot my coat/ Mom, come on, I'm not playing, it's cold!/ Okay, sorry, I need a jacket.'
Chart history: N/A
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“Headlights”
Year: 2013
Lyrical: “But I don't hate you because, mom/ You're still beautiful to me, 'cause you're my mom/ Though away from you be calm/ Our home was Vietnam, the desert storm.”
Chart history: No. 45 (Billboard Hot 100)
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“brain damage”
Year: 1999
Lyrical: “My mother started screaming, what are you taking, drugs/ Look at you, you're getting blood all over my carpet/ She hit me over the head with the remote control.”
Chart history: N/A
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“Marshall Mathers”
Year: 2000
Lyrical: “My mother is my mother for 10 million dollars/ She must want a dollar for every pill I stole”/ S–t, where you think I got the habit/ All I had was go to her room and pick up her mattress.”
Chart history: N/A
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“Father”
Year: 2020
Lyrical: “I called out for mama (mom) and as she rushes to my defense/ I stood up and said, 'F–k you, punk' and took off and ran/ Into my bedroom as I left.”
Chart history: N/A
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“Insane”
Year: 2009
Lyrical: “He just hanged himself in the bedroom, he's dead/ Debbie, don't let that look get you down/ Go over there, put a cigarette down his throat.” [Fictional]
Chart history: N/A
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“The Apple”
Year: 2011 [Leaked/Unreleased]
Lyrical: “Ever since my mother was pregnant with a second egg/ Because she said I had a baby brother/ That fell out the window, I was too young to remember.”
Chart history: N/A
