Eminem’s mother Debbie Nelson passes away aged 69

Debbie Nelson, mother of rapper Eminem, has died aged 69. The mother and son are said to have had a tumultuous relationship, as displayed through the artist's music.

He mentions her in the track ‘Cleaning Out My Closet’ in the album The Eminem Show rapping,“witnessin’ your mama poppin’ prescription pills in the kitchen. Bitchin’ that someone’s always goin’ through her purse and shit’s missin’. Goin’ through public housing systems, victim of Münchausen’s syndrome.” The lyrics led to Nelson suing her son twice for defamation of character, once asking for 11 million dollars.

Nelson famously released a biography, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, writing of her rocky relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. She admitted to having a troubled upbringing herself, and candidly writes of her struggles as a single mother.

The nature of her passing has not been revealed, although Nelson had previously battled lung cancer.

In 2013 Eminem released his track ‘Headlights’, which features lyrics apologising to his mother and lamenting on a relationship she could have had with his own children, "Cause to this day we remain estranged, and I hate it though," he raps, "Cause you ain't even get to witness your grandbabies grow. But I'm sorry, momma, for Cleanin' Out My Closet. At the time I was angry, rightfully? Maybe so. Never meant that far to take it, though."

Eminem has yet to make a statement on his mothers passing, however his stepbrother Nathan “Nate Kane” Mathers has shared his thoughts. Taking to Instagram yesterday, Nate posted a story captioned "Hatred and mixed emotions today".