Eminem is no M&M. Here are more facts about the rapper on his 51st birthday

As an angsty kid, I often found respite in Eminem tracks. Skillful poetry, you might call it. Slim Shady continues to be a revolution in the world of hip-hop. Did you know his real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III? Here are a few more facts about the Oscar-and Grammy-winning rapper as the man celebrates his 51st birthday.

Eminem has worked as a cook
Before his rapping days, he worked as a cook at a restaurant called Gilbert's Lodge on Harper Avenue, St Clair Shores. He had a troubled childhood because his father abandoned him and he grew up amidst financial distress. Adding to his problems was his mother's drug addiction. He was fired from Glibert's Lodge five days before Christmas and the incident inspired him to write the song, Rock Bottom.

1997 Rap Olympics
He travelled to Los Angeles to compete in the Rap Olympics in 1997 and stood second. Interscope Records noticed him and introduced him to Dr. Dre.

The name Eminem isn't inspired by the candy 
Many say the rapper derived his stage name from the chocolate, M&M’s. But that's not how he got it. The initials of his first and last name inspired it. He claims that Eminem is his alter-ego when he's mad.

His love for comic books
Besides comics, he hates reading books. When he was battling addiction in rehab, he found solace in comic books. 

He almost joined a church choir
He started writing poetry about his life as a child growing up in Detroit after drawing inspiration from Tupac. One of the poems became popular and rappers began appreciating it. He heard of a church choir from a friend and wanted to audition for it and met Sir Elton John there, who later said at the Grammy's that if it weren't for hip-hop, Eminem would have been in a church choir for sure. 

Feud with Machine Gun Kelly 
Dissing is a major activity in the hip-hop world. The feud between Machine Gun Kelly and Eminem went out of control. The former dissed Eminem in his number Rap Devil and got it right back in the latter's track, KILLSHOT. 

His love for his daughter 
Hailie Jade Scott, 27, has been his father's muse for decades now. As a child, her voice has appeared in many of his songs and once he lied to his wife about taking her to Chuck E. Cheese to play; he took her to a studio instead and recorded her part for ’97 Bonnie and Clyde.