Marshall Mathers grew up poor and often bullied in Detroit, a background this film uses to explain how he became Eminem, one of hip hop's most divisive and commercially dominant figures. Interviews and archival clips trace his years battling in Detroit's underground rap scene, his discovery by Dr. Dre, and the arrival of the Slim Shady persona that made him both a chart-topper and a lightning rod for controversy over violent and explicit lyrics. The film looks at how his difficult childhood, strained relationship with his mother, and struggles with fame and addiction fed directly into his songwriting, turning personal chaos into some of the best-selling albums of the era. Critics and commentators weigh in on his technical skill as a lyricist alongside the backlash he drew from parents' groups and journalists. It is less a full biography than a focused look at the connection between the man's private life and the words he put on record.