Debbie Nelson, the mother of rap star Eminem, has died, a representative for the musician confirmed to NBC News. She was 69.

As TMZ reported, Nelson died of lung cancer in a Missouri hospital on Monday evening.

The strained relationship between Nelson and her son was often highlighted in his music early in his career. In two of his most popular songs, “My Name Is” and “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” he accuses his mother of drug abuse and neglect.

Nelson filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against her son, born Marshall Mathers, in 1999 and won, Variety reported. She also responded to her son’s music in 2008 with a book called “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” attempting to clear her name.

“‘My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem’ is her refutation of these widely believed lies – a poignant story of a single mother who wanted the world for her son, only to find herself vilified and excluded when he had her.” says a statement blurb on the back of the book.

In an interview with TODAY after the book’s release, Nelson said it was not her intention to sue Mathers. Eminem and his then-wife were living in Nelson’s home, which was about to be repossessed, which led them to hire a lawyer. It was the lawyer who filed a defamation lawsuit after finding out who her son was.

A representative for Eminem had no further comment.