But he didnt spend too much time in trailers like his character did in 8 Mile. And I think all of the actors felt the same way that the whole movie was leading up to this moment. Plus, the title was undecided until it was almost completed and was worked under the name Untitled Detroit Project. They made the right choice going with 8 Mile. Eminem was supposed to play the role of the boxer. Should we do something about this?, Miller: On the final song nobody knew what he was gonna say. Next, the Three One Third reaches up to his crew again and punches Lotto in the face, resulting in a fight. Jigga teams up with State Property frontman Freeway for "8 Mile and Runnin'" while Nas's song, "U Wanna Be Me . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. By today's standard of writtens, no they weren't very good (well, maybe the Papa Doc round where he disarmed him would've been fire if it were actually relevant in use). For example, Marshall met Kim back when he was 15, and the two were in a long-term (slightly toxic) relationship while Em was struggling to make it in the hip hop scene. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1800-GAMBLER . They sent me the script and pretty much outlined where they needed rhymes. Paul Rosenberg (Eminems manager and executive producer): Before we put the camera up to shoot one frame, we took everybody around the city, to all the spots that the story was based on. Although he was focused on his music career, Eminem was really close to signing on for the lead role in Southpaw back in 2009, but it ended up in Jake Gyllenhaals lap. Her mother is white and her biological father is African American. On September 29, it was announced that she had been nominated for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards, where she was also a performer. Being up there hosting and feeling that energy, it just felt special. Marvin MarvWon ONeal (local MC;8 Mile cast member): That was real cool. Silver: Obviously, there was no way that I was gonna be able to write rap lyrics for anybody, let alone for Em. Its all a cappella. His Full name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. An oral history of the 8 Mile rap battles. Based on his lyrics, interviews, and a movie loosely based on his life, you dont have to be an Eminem superfan to know that he didnt have an ideal childhood. Cause hes fast and he likes to fuck a lot!, [Intro: Nashawn 'Ox' Breedlove (as Lotto)]. [13] The song samples Gucci's 2007's single, "Freaky Gurl". She first appeared on American rapper Jermaine Dupri 's reality television series The Rap Game in 2016, where she was known as Miss Mulatto and won the show's first season, but she . And sometimes that was followed, and sometimes it was discarded by the rappers who were actually going to be doing the scene. At the end of the day, we shot them many times. The film "8 Mile" depicts one of the most successful caucasian hip-hop artists to ever live battling the scrutiny of trying to make it in a culture and area where he was not always accepted. The DJ we cast, DJ Head, that was Ems DJ at the time. One of the major sets for 8 Mile was the trailer park, and that kind of life was depicted extremely well on screen. I was like, I need this all the time, the rapper told Rolling Stone. Omar Benson Miller (Sol George): I can remember it like it was yesterday. Except for Anthony Mackie, whos, like, from Juilliard. So busy was he during the time of production, the only time that Eminem could write the songs for the film was during breaks between scenes. Jones: Em was always working he always had his headphones on, sitting in a corner with a notepad. As 8 Mile was a reflection of Eminems early days, Southpaw was to be an echo of his struggles at the top. After 8 Mile, Mekhi starred as Dr. Gregory Pratt on the medical drama ER from 2002 to 2008. The ongoing feud between the two resulted in diss tracks from both parties with insults about drug use, homosexuality, and past experiences from the show. Strike: It was funny because I was on the run from the feds at that time. You not on his level.. He didnt mince words. Marshall Mathers got his rap moniker in a pretty simple way, from his initials, M.M., or more famously, Eminem. Rosenberg: Theres a little scene where Marshalls about to go in his last round and we see Brittany Murphy in the crowd, in this red dress like shes going to the prom. Well, it was more like justice when they burned down an abandoned home where a little girl was sexually abused. One of his latest roles was an 8-episode stint as Markus Knox on Truth Be Told (2019). I had to leave him how he left Rabbit earlier in the movie. Hollywood Gossip alluded to the fact that the costars had a more than a professional relationship during production, but the rapper shot down these allegations saying, [That] was completely untrue, emphasizing that I would not tell a lie. I believe him. We went to the basement at [music venue] Saint Andrews: the Shelter. Although this wasnt Mekhis first acting gig, it was definitely the role that launched him into movie stardom. Strike: Paul wrote instructions for me to write my own rap. She released a new single titled "The Biggest", to go with the announcement of her new name. Silver: A success story, that just wasnt interesting to me. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards. It was a lot of Mecca, Carhartt, Triple Five Soul, Champion, that type of stuff. Then, the character spends weeks practicing and preparing for his triumphant return. [28] Latto was featured on Chloe Bailey's single "For the Night". On July 15, 2022, she released the song "Pussy". Eminem was asked by director Curtis Hanson to dye his hair back to its natural brown. Not literally in story, but a good fit for him, Peter exclaimed. His acting career doesnt seem to be slowing down. They are the supporting antagonists of the movie, and they haze B-Rabbit's Crew (The 313) in the movie often, both by battle rapping and physical violence. Although 8 Mile definitely put her on the map, the actress got her breakout role a few years later in Hustle and Flow (2005). It cant just be about, Hey, Im doing it better than him. I wanted to do something different. He didn't know what he'd be wearing. But the second reason is even more frightening. The track received a second life thanks to being used in a rap battle for 2002's 8 Mile, but it wasn't until the Eminem-starring blockbuster's premiere that Fredro Starr found out the . Lotto is seen again when his crew is in the Parking Lot, heckling the rappers there. And he turned on his microphone and killed him! The guy wearing the white wife beater: So after looking on IMDB I find that his name is Nashawn "Ox" Breedlove. However, when Southpaw was eventually made in 2015, Antoine Fuqua was brought on as director and Jake Gyllenhaal, not Eminem, took the lead role. Here are 15 things to know about 8 Mile Eminem was asked by director Curtis Hanson to dye his hair back to its natural brown. People ask me what its like to work with him. What is surprising is how quickly it picked up such a loyal fan base because when it was first sent out to theaters, the film was under the name The Mars Project in order to keep the project a secret before it was released. Unfortunately, things didnt work out with Eminem as the lead, and the project fell through. And I think the plan was always at the end for me to start dissing myself. He then overdosed later in that period. Now, Eminem did, in fact, start off doing rap battles, some held at The Shelter (a real venue in Detroit). Hes up there making jokes nonstop, about everyone, keeping the crowd hype. Discussion, Battles and Media for the international battlerap community, Press J to jump to the feed. Its like a musical. Strike: Nobody knew what he was gonna say. Regarding the contentious decision between B Rabbit and Lotto, I think most judges in 2002 would have picked B Rabbit. DeShaun Dupree Holton (October 2, 1973 - April 11, 2006), also known as Proof was an American rapper and actor from Detroit, Michigan. Even down to, when you look at the crowd in the Shelter, there werent that many women. Rosenberg: It was all a hundred percent real. . Eminem: I remember that the script always ended in a battle since the beginning. Marshall was using it as a weapon. Unfortunately, the club became a nice place, and it didnt fit the vision for the scene. I made it through. Because thats what I actually did in battles to try and take peoples ammo away. On May 21, she released the second promotional single, "He Say She Say". B-Rabbit almost worked as a hotel bellhop before they settled on the factory. Leave him the fuck alone. It caught me all by surprise. Another distinguishable difference is Eminems tattoos; he covered them all up for the movie. Back then you would lose if you went a cappella. Didn't you listen to the last round, meathead? I was like, Dont worry about money. Fenelon: We tried to shoot the movie as much as possible in [chronological] order. My manager was like, If they try to arrest you, Ill shoot in the air, you run! [Later,] Em done bailed me out on my attempted murder case. Holton was first known as . Rosenberg: I wouldnt think that any screenwriter in their right mind would try to pen freestyle battle lyrics. [3] At the age of ten, Stephens decided to become a rapper and began writing her own rap songs. Theyd build Monday through Friday, and wed come in on Saturday or Sunday. A sample page from Scott Silvers script for 8 Mile. There are nearly a dozen instances in 8 Mile, where Jimmy B-Rabbit Smith Jr. shows off his lyrical genius, but one scene, in particular, was never meant to come out as authentic as it did: the freestyle battle in the parking lot. For example the line where he says: "I ain't hear a word you said. Rendered in muted blues and grays, obsessively authentic, and boldly understated, the result was, quite possibly, the best rap movie ever made. One of her most notable roles was on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, where she played Pennsatucky from 2013-2019. But in real life, Eminem has a younger brother named Nathan. Lottery payouts. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2020, peaking at number 95. In real life, neither Eminem nor his friends ever burned a house down. 8 Mile can be described or thought of as a semi-autobiographical account of Eminem in a 1995 Detroit setting. That movie changed my life. This is fucking phenomenal. In order to truly appreciate Rabbits rap battle victory, audiences first watch him choke and lose a battle. He actually started working on a second 8 Mile where a boxer loses custody of his daughter and tries to get her back. He wasnt supposed to be using his voice. His voice was getting raw. When Em battled, Proof wouldnt, and vice versa: They never went at each other. Rosenberg: He, uh, he was quickly hushed. One member even threatened B-Rabbit with it. [12] On April 23, Latto released the promotional single, "No Hook". MarvWon: He wasnt supposed to rap against [me]. He ended up just getting booed off the stage. 8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film that follows Jimmy Smith Jr, a struggling young rapper. Then, Dr. Dre signed Em and got him the heck out of there. [31], In 2021, Latto founded the Win Some Give Some Foundation to to empower at-risk young women by providing them resources and support to achieve a lifetime of success.[32], In 2017, Latto opened her own store, Pittstop Clothing, in Jonesboro, Georgia. He was modestly successful too. We got together over the weekends before we actually started shooting the scenes, to fine-tune it. [24], On September 24, Latto released the lead single from her upcoming second studio album, "Big Energy". As much as its a title his mother gave him, his friend Future seems to have other ideas as to why he got his name: So why do they call you Rabbit? Just give me a credit at the end of the movie.. The same week the rapper dropped the Marshall Mathers LP (featuring a photo of Marshalls now-abandoned childhood home), that same house in Detroit caught on fire and caused major damage. Byrd: The energy was electric. He doesn't really say anything memorable in that round. Lotto won so clear it was actually weird they didn't just make his rounds worse, Id love to see someone like Hollow get to rap after Eminems round of dissing himself. Rosenberg: I remember some of the people at Paramount telling me, You know, this is really something special here. So I'm watching 8 Mile the other day and I realize that this guy is good. [9] In June 2019, she released her second extended play, titled Big Latto, which was preceded by "Bitch from da Souf". No way. Fuckin' wit Lotto, dawg, you gotta be kiddin! Before that it was only known as UDP: Untitled Detroit Project. He didn't want people thinking he was just playing his stage persona. It wasnt in the cards. Eminem: I only had to come up with some of the other rappers lines so that my replies would tie in. "Big Energy" won Song of the Year, and 777 was nominated for Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards. Fenelon: In the original script, in the rap battles throughout, itd kind of describe what the gist of it was. The remainder is then kept for administration costs and charitable donations or tax revenues. Imo overall, eminem's rhymes in 8 mile were a bit weak. 8 Mile Drama 2002 1 hr 50 min English audio R CC Buy or rent Rap icon Eminem stars in this semi-autobiographical tale of a white kid struggling in the hip-hop scene of 1995 Detroit. 2 notebook? Everybody after that was just like, Whyd you get up here and do this?. Jones: Its funny, some of the best times of my life was in the middle of winter in Detroit. Every 10 minutes someone was trying to slide us a demo to slide to Em. One of the most successful recording artists in the world is undoubtedly Marshall Mathers. Trying to define himself. Marshall Mathers has always been the kind of guy to say it how it is, which you can tell just by listening to his lyrics. Somehow, Eminem indirectly, and perhaps accidentally, squashed the feud between the two rap legends, as they combined forces on the album. Byrd: God, it was hot. There was a brief chase, but luckily, Rabbit managed to elude the cops. However, trailers werent such a big part of Eminems real life. Amos Barshad has written for New YorkMagazine, Spin, GQ, XXL, and the Arkansas Times. All he wants is to make it in the music business, but the only way he achieves real success is through his rap battle performances, at work, and at The Shelter. From the 80s Pistons to Bob Seger, Eminem to Miguel Cabrera, the Motor City is a rich tapestry of compelling figures, unbelievable moments, and uniquely American ingenuity. American singer Mariah Carey appeared on the official remix, which was released in March 2022. The coveted white rapper has been a recognizable face since he first stepped on the music scene, but when 8 Mile came out, fans got to see him on the big screen for the very first time. Eminem is widely referred to as a rap God and lyrical genius. I sent him a bunch of clothes, a bunch of footage of the parties. After the success of 8 Mile, he landed roles in Antwone Fisher, The Salon, and Mercy Street. Eugene Byrd (Wink): I was considering [Curtis Hanson] Splinter. He needed a movie makeover that required physical changes in order to play the down-and-out Detroit native living in a trailer park. He changed his style later. 3. Make everybody laugh at the other guy. One day somebody gave me Ambien, and it knocked me the f*ck out. Xzibit, another Dr. Dre protg, also made its way into the film. It wasnt some fresh little setup. (written by) Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto Film Editing by Craig Kitson Jay Rabinowitz Casting By Mali Finn Production Design by Philip Messina Art Direction by Kevin Kavanaugh Set Decoration by Kristen Toscano Messina Craig G (rapper, consultant): The feel of that movie was so authentic. And its always helpful when the best scene in the movie happens at the end. For the most part, it was a real battle, and it was set up that way. Prints of the film were sent to cinemas labelled as The Mars Project. Silver: Just as an aside [Dr.] Dre was a producer on the movie, and I had to pitch him, too. Byrd: That was unplanned. [8], In January 2019, Latto released the song "Bitch from da Souf". But when he walked away with his pants down that was everything. [7], Stephens' second mixtape, Latto Let 'Em Know, was released in April 2017. Rosenberg: Im pretty sure Ox [who played Lotto, Eminems second-round battle competitor] was brought in by Steve Stoute. 8. /. So I took my own life experience as a failure, and I used that. But it really was genuinely exciting every time. He pulled a Daylyt move and got cheered at the end of his round. In 8 Mile, youll notice his character Jimmy got his stage name from a childhood nickname. In May 2019, she was invited to perform at the Rolling Loud, an annual hip hop festival, located in Miami, Florida. She was also the voice behind Luanne Platter on the animated series King of the Hill. But Em wasnt supposed to talk because his voice was raw. He is arguably one of the best rappers/freestylers in history and proved to be more than a white rapper using shock value to earn success with The Eminem Show. The Mars Project isnt as catchy. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Eminem didnt exactly have an ideal childhood. You gotta get to that moment in the end: Fuck you, you dont define me. A real battler would probably still land some major punches rebutting that, marv won dusted him in the deleted scenes but other than that i think he won or edged all his battles. Id written and directed a movie called The Mod Squad, and it was an awful experience, and I couldnt get a job anywhere. This works better than anything I could have dreamed of. That rap was so much better than anything that I wrote. Rosenberg: We didnt do anything in L.A. We shot the whole thing in Detroit. Rappers today dont even really battle. I got a betta chance joining the kkk. The film "8 Mile" depicts one of the most successful caucasian hip-hop artists to ever live battling the scrutiny of trying to make it in a culture and area where he was not always accepted. Everybody knew each other. Fenelon: We rehearsed. The script eventually evolved and that idea was scrapped. He had laryngitis or some shit. They were messing around, taking turns shooting buildings and signs, until Rabbit (who is driving) took his turn and shot a parked police car. The man who recently took on the role of Captain America in one of the most historically successful cinematic film franchises faced his biggest enemy in 2002 in his first movie ever. [Laughs.] Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights/Children's Online Privacy Policy are applicable to you. Mekhi Phifer played Jimmys best friend Future in 8 Mile. Furthermore, when Em was a kid, people used to call him Mickey (aka Mickey Mouse) for the exact same reason. Rosenberg: Ultimately the decision was Curtiss.1He went through and watched tons of tape and saw people rapping live. Lose Yourself was the first rap song to ever win an Academy Award. [20], In February 2021, it was announced that Latto would be named MTV's Global Push Artist of the month. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In gambling terminology lottery payouts are the equivalent of RTP (Returns To Players). The creativity in the hit song sums up the struggles that Eminems character is dealing with and how they relate to Eminems real life. [17][18] On December 11, Mulatto released the extended version of Queen of da Souf, which included five new songs and spawned the single "Sex Lies", featuring American rapper Lil Baby. The film marked the first screen appearance by Anthony Mackie, who plays Papa Doc. "Yeah! As it turned out, its an exotic-themed nightclub in Motor City in real life, owned by Marvin Chin. She attended Lovejoy High School in Clayton County, Georgia. Director Curtis Anderson and Eminem agreed that it would add a unique authenticity to the movie if they would shoot the final rap battles at The Shelter, the club where Eminem got his start. But unless youre a Detroit native, this little detail probably flew over your head. Although his career gained him respect, recognition, fame, and wealth, things werent always easy for the aspiring rapper. Strike: The first rap I did they actually made me change. Although the gender of the sibling differs, this comes really close to Eminems real family dynamic growing up. At the time, the automotive industry was mostly viable in Detroit. But as he was listening to other people spitting out lyrics, Slim Shady stepped in to do what he does best. [Pauses.] Malone: The tongue-twister style was popular when [Eminem] was first rapping. But that doesnt mean he was the only rapper to appear in the film. He spent extended days -- from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- on that set. Of all the movies about white freestyle rappers who overcome a comical amount of hardships in order to win a rap battle, one of the most inspiring is 2002's "8 Mile . As it turns out, the real-life Bob never actually shot himself. Universal. . Jones: Mekhi was hilarious as the MC. He said his rhymes weren't as good during this drug period because his mind was sluggish. Miller: They had, like, a big competition. We had a monster New Years Eve party, and Ems voice was messed up. The "seven digits" line was given after the host called time, but again most judges in this era would count an extra line if if someone squeezed it in. Rap fans perhaps recall Detroit hip-hop collective D12, which Eminem helped make famous. 8 Mile is a film loosely based on the Eminems life, depicting what its like to be an aspiring artist on the streets of Detroit. Debatable with Lickity Split, loss against Lotto. The boot camp-style series followed young aspiring rappers in a competition against one another over a span of eight weeks. The Oscars are coming: this is who is in the running, all you have to do is vote A new millennium meant new classic films with these best movies from the 2000s. In order to get the crowd on your side, the best thing to do was to make a smart remark, or a joke. Rodrigo Prieto has become one of the top five cinematographers working today. Wilsons final film role was in Falling Away. He killed Lotto. [11], In March 2020, it was officially announced that Latto had signed with RCA Records. Jones: It was tough Detroit. He is a staff writer for Grantland. And if they did, they didn't get caught. However, some of the details are a little iffy. We hoped itd be good we had no idea itd be that good. 2. At the time, Eminem was rocking his signature bleach blond hair, but he was asked to dye it back to brown for the movie. The movie follows an aspiring/struggling white rapper named B-Rabbit. Latto made a cameo appearance in American rapper Cardi B's music video for her single "WAP", which was released on August 7, 2020. Id just stack a few punch lines up and mostly freestyle about the guy in front of me. Someone would have to talk about what Im wearing or whatever so that I could counter with such-and-such. He wouldnt go out with me unless I was dressed appropriately. We were going to do a rhyme here but any attempt at rapping would have just been mortifying for everyone, so lets just get on with the list shall we? The role was won by Michael Shannon. i'll do it the lotto style you gotta be kiddin. From 8 Mile movie. It only makes sense to incorporate real rappers in a movie all about rap. You had to battle people for the montage. This is who I am. And I like that, at the end, he goes back to work. Rosenberg: We brought in Craig G to help coach the other battlers and to help them refine and edit their raps to get the right attack, the right potency, as well as to be concise enough. If I were to describe Eminem in one world, I think extreme would be the way Id sum him up. But he showed them, with a critical hit, a box office smash and an Oscar. I remember him saying in a magazine interview (I think Vibe magazine), he was doing a ton of pills during 8 mile filming and also around the time of his Encore album. And they had to get excited every time. It had a more down-and-dirty look, a more rough warehouse look than the actual Shelter. Jay-Z partnered up with State Property frontman Freeway for 8 Mile and Runnin, and Nass track was U Wanna Be Me, number 10 on the album. [34] She released a track, "Fuck Rice Street", attesting to her innocence and anger toward the police. Isn't that Eminem rapping? As it turned out, this eerie rumor was just that, a rumor. And it always bothered me. Thanks to Detroits economic turndown, the place closed down in 1980, two decades before the filming of the movie. But how the battle actually went and what rhymes were used was pretty much open. B-Rabbits freestyle battle against Lotto. Strike: I was punch-lining, punch-lining, punch-lining him to death Elvis will start turning in his grave?! He didnt know what hed be wearing. Craig G: They had them come meet me at the hotel, they showed me their rhymes that they changed or whatever. Infidelity certainly plagued Marshalls real-life relationship with Kim Scott, so its easy to draw parallels. And Paul Rosenberg was conducting [audition] battles out and about in the cold. Directed by Curtis Hanson Writing Credits ( WGA) Scott Silver . Regarding the contentious decision between B Rabbit and Lotto, I think most judges in 2002 would have picked B Rabbit. It was crazy insane. If you didnt notice them the first time around, keep your eyes peeled the next time you watch the film. She is hooked on drugs, and Jimmy gets in a fight with her live-in boyfriends. Detroit. Her latest role is the title character in the upcoming film Karen. I just never thought her character would show up to that battle, and she wouldnt show up dressed like that. I think he had this shit already wrote for me, honestly. It was like Rocky or something. The same day, Latto was also featured on G-Eazy's single, "Down". The movie culminates in a virtuosic sequence: Scarred, reeling, and increasingly inclined to give no fucks, B-Rabbit wades into the grimy dungeon of the Shelter to do battle with his demons and the Leaders of the Free World.