Eminem: The Real Slim Shoemaker

By Josh Grossberg

Semi-retired as a rapper, Eminem has decided to try his hand as a cobbler.


The hip-hop superstar is joining forces with Nike to create a limited-edition line of Air Max sneakers that to be auctioned off for charity.


Eminem will design eight different shoes in the series, from the Air Max '87 to Air Max 360. Nike will manufacture just 64 pairs, which will be numbered and then autographed by the rapper. Bids will be accepted beginning Thursday at NikeTowns in London, Berlin and Paris, and via eBay on Sept. 12.


"Who wouldn't want to design their own line of Nikes?" the Real Slim Shady said in a post on his Website. "And to do it for charity makes it that much better."


Money raised from the sale of the Eminem-branded kicks will benefit his Marshall Mathers Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofits that assist troubled youth in southeast Michigan, and ninemillion.org, a global initiative to create education and sports programs for children living in refugee camps around the world.


"We're always looking for new ways to try to raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us we jumped at the chance," said Eminem.


Aside from his shoe duties, the 33-year-old Detroit native, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been busy helping out some buddies. He produced protege Obie Trice's latest CD, Second Round's on Me, which debuted at number eight on the album charts last week.


He also had a star turn in the new video for R&B singer Akron's "Smack That"--a title he apparently took a little too seriously.


According to sources, Eminem had a confrontation with Kendra Wilkinson, one of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's trio of girlfriends and a costar of E!'s The Girls Next Door. (E! Online is a division of E! Networks.) Wilkinson played Em's love interest in the clip.


Apparently, an on-set prank by Eminem led to a blow-up between the two. In any case, the rapper apologized for his outburst and made amends by sending flowers to Wilkinson at the Playboy Mansion.


Maybe next time he'll include some Nikes.