Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has been known to include personal matters and relationships in his music.

One such relationship is with his mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs.

She sued her son for $10 million (£7m) after she claimed he defamed her on The Slim Shady LP and in interviews.

The rapper’s contentious relationship with his mother has been a long-standing theme in his music.

In his 1999 single ‘My Name Is’, he mentioned his mother’s drug use, rapping: “My mom smokes more dope than I do.”

Later in his 2002 track ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’, he references his mother’s prescription drug abuse and the Munchausen syndrome.

Debbie filed the lawsuit in 1999, accusing Eminem of lying about his upbringing and defaming her.

The rapper’s lawyer, Paul Rosenberg, stated that everything he had said in his music could be verified as true.

He also mentioned that Eminem’s mother had been threatening to sue him since the success of his single ‘My Name Is’.

Despite the lawsuit, Eminem’s relationship with his mother remained strained.

Debbie was awarded a settlement of $25,000 (£17,928) in 2001, considerably less than the $10 million she had initially requested.

However, the settlement money was further divided between Debbie and her lawyer Fred Gibson, with only $1,600 (£1,147) going to Debbie.

Gibson was dissatisfied with the settlement, saying that the amount was a far cry from the time he had personally dedicated to Debbie’s case.

He also noted that Debbie was the most high-maintenance client he had encountered in his legal career.

Debbie’s lawsuit against her son was based on accusations of defamation.

However, Eminem’s music is largely autobiographical, with lyrics reflecting his personal experiences.

As such, the rapper’s words were considered true and were protected by the truth as a defense to defamation.

Despite the legal proceedings, Eminem continued to include his personal life in his music.

His relationship with his mother was a recurring theme in his songs, including the 2013 track ‘Headlights’, which saw the rapper apologize to his mother for the hurtful things he had said about her in his music.

Eminem has also discussed his relationship with his mother in interviews.

In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, he said that his mother’s drug addiction had affected him deeply and that he had spent most of his life trying to “figure out how to make it right.”

Debbie’s lawsuit against Eminem highlights the complexity of family relationships, particularly those strained by addiction and trauma.

The legal case also serves as a reminder that truth is a defense to defamation, and that artists often draw inspiration from their personal lives.

The rapper’s experience with his mother shows that despite the challenges of familial relationships, it’s possible to reconcile and make amends.

It’s also a reminder that music is an art form that often reflects an artist’s personal experiences and struggles.