Eminem Books Life Story

Fri., Feb. 22, 2008 2:52 PM PST by Josh Grossberg

Eminem is about to lose himself with his word processor.

The rap megastar, who has chronicled his turbulent life on his albums and the film 8 Mile, is now cranking out an autobiography, his U.K.-based publisher revealed Friday—to the chagrin of the hip-hopster's camp.

Titled Eminem: The Way I Am, the memoir is scheduled to arrive in book stores in Great Britain on Oct. 16, according to a statement from the Orion Publishing Group.

"Everyone has their own take on Eminem. Because of where he is from, people think they know where he is at, what kind of person he really is. This book cuts through all that and gets to the source," said Orion senior commissioning editor Ian Preece. "It has an edge. It’ll be one of the books of the year."

The book will purportedly feature never-before-released photographs, rare hand-drawn art, sketches for lyrics and journal notes along with his reflections of an award-winning, headline-hoggin career that has made him the biggest selling rap artist of all time.

The Way I Am will chronicle his rise from a Detroit-area trailer park to his breakthrough album, The Slim Shady LP. The 35-year-old artist will also likely describe his major successes, including an Oscar, Grammys and millions in sales, and his chaotic personal life, from his two failed marriages with wife Kim and his tempestuous relationship with his family to a stint in rehab.

Penguin-owned Dutton/Gotham Books controls the rights to The Way I Am in the U.S., but has yet to announce a release date.

But not everyone was thrilled with the announcement.

Eminem's label slammed Orion for putting out word of the book, calling it premature since the project is still in the works.

"There is no firm release date scheduled, although it is anticipated to arrive in the latter part of this year," Interscope Records said in a statement. "It's unfortunate that someone who does not have intimate knowledge of [the project] felt compelled to jump the gun on announcing it by delivering partial and inaccurate information."

Eminem, meanwhile, is said to be holed up in the studio working on King Mathers, his sixth studio album and first offering of new material in three years. (Presumably the album and book will be out around the same time.) He's also busily producing other up-and-coming rappers on his label, Shady Records.