Eminem Was Taking ’30 Vicodin A Day’ And Nearly Died Before Elton John Saved His Life

Eminem burst onto the rap scene in the late 90’s. 

His controversial lyrics and off stage antics catapulted the Detroit resident into a star.

But despite becoming a 15 time Grammy winner, the rapper, born Marshall Mathers, was struggling. 

According to a new biography by author Anthony Bozza, the Lose Yourself artist was consuming up to “30 Vicodin a day.”

The Oscar winner was rushed to the hospital and was two hours away from death in 2007. He reportedly took the equivalent of “four bags of heroin.” 

The book, Not Afraid: The Evolution of Eminem, also reveals that he almost early died of an overdose before receiving help from Elton John.

“As a fellow musical superstar with nearly 30 years of sobriety under his belt, Elton John was the perfect mentor to help guide Marshall,” writes author Bozza in the bio available on November 5.

“The two started on a program of weekly check-ins and grew very close.”

Elton remained true to his friendship with the rapper despite him being accused of homophobic lyrics. The pair famously performed a duet together at the 2001 Grammy’s.

“I didn’t know he was gay,” Eminem, 47, stated in 2004. “I didn’t really care.”

Elton never viewed Eminem as homophobic but saw him as “just writing about the way things are,” Elton said, before declaring his love for him.

“I love you, too,” Eminem responded. 

But the Stan rapper’s drug and alcohol intake worsened after the murder of DeShaun “Proof” Holton in 2006.

He was seen as the pioneer of Detroit hip hop music and Eminem’s best friend.

Following Proof’s murder, Eminem admits that he became hooked on opiates and benzodiazepines.

“Some days I would just lay in bed and take pills and cry,” he stated.

“I needed pills in my body just to feel normal so I would be sick. It was a vicious cycle.” 

When Em was a kid, his mother Debbie bought a trailer in crack-infested neighborhood in Detroit.

She was allegedly emotionally and physically abuse her son. The social worker later invited a runaway, 13-year-old Kimberly Ann Scott to live with them.

Eminem began a relationship with her when he was 15. He married Kim when his career was taking off in 1999, but it was a tumultuous relationship. The pair soon divorced. 

The two tried marriage again in January 2006 but this time it only lasted three months. The couple had a daughter, Hailie, who was born on December 25, 1995.

Eminem however preserved in his career. 

But he was a white man in a black dominated field. He was constantly partying, taking drugs and alcohol, carrying a concealed weapon, getting involved in fights, and fighting endless lawsuits. 

“Fame hit me like a f***ing ton of bricks,” Eminem said.