The Only Book Eminem Has Ever Read Was Written by Another Famous Rapper

Eminem is one of the most famous rappers in the world. And while he’s had plenty of feuds with some other big names in music, he’s paid homage to the rappers who came before him. One rapper Eminem listened to a lot before he broke into the game is also the author of the only book Slim Shady has ever read in full.

Eminem isn’t a big reader but loved these books when he was a child

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, was born on Oct. 17, 1972, to Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. and Deborah Nelson in St. Joseph, Missouri. His father left when he was an infant and Eminem and his mother moved around from place to place, eventually settling in Detroit.

The Things reported that before he fell in love with rap music, the future star loved comic books. He was very good at drawing and at one point wanted to be a professional comic book artist.

But magazines with cartoon images were the only books he would read. That is until he picked up one rapper’s autobiography.

The only book Eminem has ever read in full was written by this legendary rapper

Capital Xtra noted that Eminem revealed the only book besides a comic that he has ever read cover to cover is LL Cool J’s I Make My Own Rules.

The “Doin’ It” artist wrote the book, released in 1998, with the help of Karen Hunter, who has teamed up with others for their biographies including Ma$e’s Revelations: There’s a Light After the Lime, Donda West’s Raising Kanye, and Queen Latifah’s Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman.

Some of the quotes that stand out from LL’s book are: “There are rebels and there are innovators. I’m an innovator,” and “Keeping it real ain’t about carrying a gun or smoking blunts. It’s about being true to yourself and those around you,” as well as “Not every child who’s abused has to be a negative statistic. I write this book for anyone who thinks they can make it, to show them they can.”

LL Cool J: I Make My Own Rules has become a bestseller.

LL Cool J attended Eminem’s book release party

While Eminem may not read many books, he has written one of his own, and LL Cool J showed up at Slim’s book release party in 2008.

According to a description for Em’s The Way I Am, via Goodreads, the hip-hop artist “shares his private thoughts on everything from his inner struggles, to the trials of being famous, to his love for his daughter, Hailie, creating a book that is every bit as raw and uncensored as the man himself. Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs of Eminem’s home and life along with original drawings, The Way I Am is filled with reflections on his greatest hits, previously unpublished lyric sheets, and other rare memorabilia.”

As for if Eminem ever actually sat down and read through his book, well there’s really no urgent need to since he wrote it.