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. We got together over the weekends before we actually started shooting the scenes, to fine-tune it. But unfortunately, DeAngelo Wilsons career was cut short. He wouldnt go out with me unless I was dressed appropriately. In the original script B-Rabbit worked at a hotel carrying rich peoples bags and had a lot of problems with his boss. I pulled him to the side and I told him he sucked. Rosenberg: The actual exterior was a facade. In 8 Mile, Rabbit works at an automotive factory, which makes complete sense. Gary Sinise was the first choice to play Greg, the boyfriend of Jimmy's mother (Kim Basinger). [28] Latto was featured on Chloe Bailey's single "For the Night". But the rapper never worked at a hotel either. In the final scene of 8 Mile, B-Rabbit (Eminem) has to battle rap three members of the Leaders of the Free World, back to back. After releasing her 2019 single "Bitch from da Souf", Latto signed with RCA Records. The DJ we cast, DJ Head, that was Ems DJ at the time. For some reason, some of the others mics were on and they started going at me in front of the crowd. It had a more down-and-dirty look, a more rough warehouse look than the actual Shelter. Alyssa Michelle Stephens was born in Columbus, Ohio, on December 22, 1998, to Misti Pitts and Shayne Stephens. So I just jumped on a bus from New York to Cleveland to Detroit. On August 11, Latto was included on XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[15][16]. In 2008, the actor died by suicide in Los Angeles. Eminem: Writing for the movie was very different because not only did I know who I was facing, but I knew the scenario and how Rabbit would have to come at people in each round. You may have noticed Poof, Eminems long-time best friend and D12 band member, who plays Lil Tic, B-Rabbits first battle opponent. Rabbit's best friend can be seen in both their candid moments together and also as the host of the underground rap battles that showcase some of the best freestyles in 8 Mile. He shared details of his life through his lyrics, but fans were excited to see it on screen. When the piece of paper on which Eminem wrote the lyrics to Lose Yourself was put up for auction it made over $10,000. i think proof/lil tics verse was the best in the movie and even if em/rabbit hadnt been scripted to choke that wouldve been tough to come back from. you think these niggas gonna feel the shit you say. It was animosity in the air a little bit. The reason Phifer almost passed up the role was that he was required to travel to Detroit for the audition two days after the 9/11 attack, and Phifer was residing in New York City. Motherfuckers would be like, Yo, your character sucks, so we just added this. Who is B-Rabbit? And it always bothered me. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. But at the time, he had not yet even shot a movie in the United States. i'll do it the lotto style you gotta be kiddin. Malone: At the Hip Hop Shop, probably 90 percent of the time, it was two winners: It was either Em or Proof. In real life, something similar happened with 20-year-old Marshall Mathers, but he was arrested. 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. Lottery payouts. This may sound confusing, considering they are functionally the same person. Quentin Tarantino wasnt as close as Boyle, but rumor has it that Tarantino was extremely interested in working on the film. And, uh, he didnt take too kind to the reaction that I got. After 8 Mile, Mekhi starred as Dr. Gregory Pratt on the medical drama ER from 2002 to 2008. Lotto is seen again when his crew is in the Parking Lot, heckling the rappers there. Fantastic films from the 80s, an amazing decade of movies. However, when Southpaw was eventually made in 2015, Antoine Fuqua was brought on as director and Jake Gyllenhaal, not Eminem, took the lead role. One member even threatened B-Rabbit with it. [8], In January 2019, Latto released the song "Bitch from da Souf". 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 . There was a brief chase, but luckily, Rabbit managed to elude the cops. People were generally a bit sniffy when rapper Eminem decided he was going into movies, expecting something a bit Ja Rule or Vanilla Ice. His Full name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. You know, you cant script the kind of stuff I say in this film.4. Proof went to him to get the money for that. Thankfully, 8 Mile specifically, its heart-pumping, near-pitch-perfect finale, explored here in full came along and forever immortalized the citys grimy scene. Regarding the contentious decision between B Rabbit and Lotto, I think most judges in 2002 would have picked B Rabbit. You not on his level.. Byrd: Em was sick. [Pauses.] That shit you spit was written.. The first line rebuttal and the finisher were both standout lines, and individual moments counted for so much more back in the freestyle era. Miller: That movie is permanently etched in my mind. He was reading for Cheddar Bob, Eminem's mate in the movie. He actually started working on a second 8 Mile where a boxer loses custody of his daughter and tries to get her back. Because it was Detroit, it was a lot of Maurice Malone, Hip Hop Shop clothing. That movie changed my life. And Paul Rosenberg was conducting [audition] battles out and about in the cold. Directed by Curtis Hanson Writing Credits ( WGA) Scott Silver . 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. Keep in mind this is the same year Mac Lethal vs Dos Noun happened, which really pushed the envelope as far as back and forth rebuttals and personal material. That was a really great decision that Curtis and Em made. 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. Strike: I was punch-lining, punch-lining, punch-lining him to death Elvis will start turning in his grave?! If you ever want to pump yourself up, just play the song. But they had me in the VIP entrance to go straight in. I was like, I need this all the time, the rapper told Rolling Stone. But when he walked away with his pants down that was everything. Marvin MarvWon ONeal (local MC;8 Mile cast member): That was real cool. Plus, it showcases the rappers lyrical genius. Fenelon: We wanted the feel of a boxing match, or some kind of underground sporting event. [26] On March 9, 2022, Latto announced that the song "Wheelie" would be released on March 11, and confirmed it would feature fellow Atlanta rapper 21 Savage. It didnt feel actor-y. We hoped itd be good we had no idea itd be that good. It was accompanied by a remix with rappers Saweetie and Trina. One of the greatest things about Eminem, and why everyone gravitates toward him, is that hes not shy about calling anyone out, even himself. There are a lot of things you can say about Eminem, but a liar is not one of them. Two of the most renowned filmmakers in Hollywood history wanted to direct Eminems motion picture Danny Boyle and Quentin Tarantino and both of them were incredibly close to getting the gig. his real name is Jimmy Smith Jr., though we never . Let me have this!. Im thinking, This guy is good he just gotta slow down! The script eventually evolved and that idea was scrapped. One of the major sets for 8 Mile was the trailer park, and that kind of life was depicted extremely well on screen. 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. I just told him he sucked. 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. Craig G: There was some restlessness going on. The film was a big hit as well. The tape featured artists like Molly Brazy, Lil Key, Crucial, and Silent. You know: Im trying to get on but this aint working for me. And thats all a bad mix. In 2020, Latto released the follow-up single "Muwop" (featuring Gucci Mane). Byrd: Em was complying for the most part. Eminem portrays the character as it was based on him. Although the gender of the sibling differs, this comes really close to Eminems real family dynamic growing up. His father was an English teacher, he was raised around poetry. And I had a verse that wasnt specifically for him, but, you know what Im saying, it fit. And if they were over-rehearsed, or if people knew too much about what the other person was gonna say, it would affect the immediacy of the reactions. Scares on subscription, with these best horror movies on Netflix. 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. The role was won by Michael Shannon. An oral history of the 8 Mile rap battles. Now, thats a behind-the-scenes fact that is terrifying for two reasons. I was fucking terrified: I mean, who the fuck am I to pitch a hip-hop movie to Dr. Dre? Mekhi Phifer played Jimmys best friend Future in 8 Mile. Rosenberg: Ultimately the decision was Curtiss.1He went through and watched tons of tape and saw people rapping live. And sometimes that was followed, and sometimes it was discarded by the rappers who were actually going to be doing the scene. Nah, Im cool., MarvWon: I think I actually told him, Yo, why you talking? Everybody knew each other. Byrd: God, it was hot. Just months later, Simon was found dead under the same mysterious circumstances. [9] In June 2019, she released her second extended play, titled Big Latto, which was preceded by "Bitch from da Souf". Although Jake Gyllenhaal was brought in as a replacement, the entire potential 8 Mile sequel subplot was nixed. Well, that thought came to the mind of highly sought-after director Kurt Sutter (who created the Sons of Anarchy series). Eminem and his unlikely collaborator, director Curtis Hanson fresh off a whimsical Michael Chabon adaptation, Wonder Boys loosely approximated a few hard days of Marshall Matherss come-up in rough-and-tumble 90s Detroit. On July 15, 2022, she released the song "Pussy". Someone would have to talk about what Im wearing or whatever so that I could counter with such-and-such. Ohhhh! 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. 8 Mile can be described or thought of as a semi-autobiographical account of Eminem in a 1995 Detroit setting. Carol Fenelon (executive producer): We went to Detroit three months before we started shooting. I think he had this shit already wrote for me, honestly. Eminem lost 24lb for the role. Hager-Leonard: The 1980 Middleweight Championship Fight, Showbiz & AGs Next Level (Nyte Time Mix),, We Went There: Blur Finally Plays Madison Square Garden, Jay Z and Tidal Bring Beyonc and Friends to Barclays Center, Trump, Miley, and Hillary Two-Times: The SNL Premiere, Bullock and Thornton Cant Save Our Brand Is Crisis, An Obsessive Ridiculous 6 Trailer Deconstruction, Box Office Winners & Losers: Everything Bombs, Russell, the Creator: Westbrooks Underrated Playmaking, The Laughs, Pathos, and Overwhelming Talent of Jan Hooks, World Series Preview: Five Questions for Games Three and Four, 50 Scenes That Do Not Appear in the X-Files Revival. Just like Marshall Mathers, B-Rabbit worked odd jobs in order to pay the bills while he was pursuing his music-making dreams to become a rapper. [34] She released a track, "Fuck Rice Street", attesting to her innocence and anger toward the police. The album peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard 200. It just felt like we were being.5. Thats what the whole movie was building toward. It was called The Untitled Detroit Projectat the time. Some unlikely facts about the 2002 Eminem film. If I were to describe Eminem in one world, I think extreme would be the way Id sum him up. Jones: Mekhi was hilarious as the MC. That instinct, Eminem saysof his will to battle, never goes away.. It only makes sense to incorporate real rappers in a movie all about rap. Much respect to Curtis Hanson he pulled us in the back: If you guys dont get this shit right now, Im gonna remove you out the whole fucking movie. He straightened us out real quick. Irl he would've been booed mooning him lmao. 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. 8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film that follows Jimmy Smith Jr, a struggling young rapper. 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. Ohhhhhhhhh!, Strike: Em said, How you gonna get up here with some shit you wrote in your no. But her amazing performance as a drug addict mother definitely helped her career. I feel bad that I gotta murder that dude from ", I used to like that show, now you got me in fight-back mode, But oh well, if you gotta go, then you gotta go, I hate to do this, I would love for this shit to last, Ward, I think you were a little hard on the Beaver. B-Rabbit actually chokes and leaves. So far, this is pretty close to Eminems real life. Byrd: He went into an evisceration of this dude. Fenelon: There was a real desire to have these battle sequences feel real. Fenelon: It was all about the power of the word for Curtis. Universal. Fenelon: I thought it was one of the most magical moments Ive ever been a part of. He completely overworked himself and admitted to working 16 hours a day because of how hectic of a year it was for the rapper. Plus, Claus doesnt seem nearly as endearing as Cheddar Bob. In addition to his demanding movie work, Eminem was getting ready to launch 50 Cents career and recording his own album, The Eminem Show. [Laughing.] First World Lottos Exposed Good on Paper, Shady in Real Life. 8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film, directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer. ", This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 14:08. Music videos for the third and fourth singles from Queen of da Souf, "On God" and "In n Out" featuring City Girls, were released in September and October 2020, respectively. And he turned on his microphone and killed him! Talk about a rags to riches story! DeShaun Dupree Holton (October 2, 1973 - April 11, 2006), also known as Proof was an American rapper and actor from Detroit, Michigan. Latto, under the stage name "Miss Mulatto" at the time, was the overall winner of the competition. Mackie: Im supposed to play a rapper, and there were all these real rappers on set. The film was a financial success, was well received critically, and won an Academy Award for the Best Original Song for Eminem's "Lose Yourself", becoming the first rap song in a movie to win an Academy Award. Jones: I think Em kind of came up with a lot of his stuff last-second. Strike: That was it. He killed Lotto. 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. He didn't know what he'd be wearing. Currently, he plays Harold Brooks on Love, Victor. During that time, he appeared in films like Imposter, Honey, and Dawn of the Dead, to name just a few. Throughout the movie, we saw B-Rabbit and his friends often chilling at the Chin Tiki. He showed the world his talent and what he is capable of as an artist. Jones: Em was always working he always had his headphones on, sitting in a corner with a notepad. At one point during filming, a series of scenes for a planned montage of local rappers competing against Eminem were shot. When she died, she was married to Simon Monjack. Latto. Latto then revealed the release of her single "Muwop", featuring Gucci Mane, which was released on July 30. The only problem was that taking on the film would mean that Tarantino would have had to back out of making Kill Bill, which wasnt really an option. I think not. Maurice Malone (proprietor, the Hip Hop Shop): I get a call from the director, Im thinking this a low-budget movie. He was such a professional. 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). Lotto appears frequently with his Free World crew. . But Marshall didnt wanna give up what he was doing. Strike: We was joking around on the mic. But the real Slim Shady never worked in a factory. Proof was really kind of the king of battle rapping back then. But he showed them, with a critical hit, a box office smash and an Oscar. Silver: A success story, that just wasnt interesting to me. This is fucking phenomenal. Jones: He was just supposed to be mumbling stuff, pretending for the camera. For some reason, it seemed like he took mine the most personal. Including us. Xzibit, another Dr. Dre protg, also made its way into the film. Its usually considered a good thing when an old, dingy, run-down place is able to turn itself around and become a respectable place of business. Strike: Everybody there in the crowd was a performer, a rapper, a ex-rapper, a never-could-really-rap-for-real real rapper. 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. Whenever hes on the screen, you cant take your eyes off him. Im thinking, OK, they really mean this, or they blowing smoke up my ass? These kids were in there for two weeks! It's been nearly 20 years since Eminem starred in 8 Mile, a sideways take on the rapper's life. Thanks to Detroits economic turndown, the place closed down in 1980, two decades before the filming of the movie. I made it through. Nashawn 'Ox' Breedlove played lotto in"8 mile" ;-) 8 Mile is a movie that stars Eminem and was released in 2002. . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I looked in the crowd, I see the rappers that would normally go up and battle they was like, Im not doing that. As 8 Mile was a reflection of Eminems early days, Southpaw was to be an echo of his struggles at the top. Every scene. Proof was a frequent hype man at Eminem's concerts, and he portrayed Lil' Tic in the film 8 Mile. Fenelon: Curtis assembled an amazing crew. . 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. But I knew what Marshalls favorite battle rap beats were. Mekhi Phifer: A lot of that stuff was off-the-cuff improv. Imo the first guy kinda cookee him tho. She is hooked on drugs, and Jimmy gets in a fight with her live-in boyfriends. He is known to go to extreme lengths in everything, good or bad. In the 90s, we knew what was happening as it was happening in L.A. and NYC hip-hop. MarvWon: The competitor that he is, you know, he came back at me. That was stuff people actually used to freestyle over in 95. As it turned out, its an exotic-themed nightclub in Motor City in real life, owned by Marvin Chin. The title was only decided on at the end of filming. It's kinda wild this came out in 2002 and even in the MarvWon battle Pat Stay went second. So I took my own life experience as a failure, and I used that. And I think the plan was always at the end for me to start dissing myself. Her latest role is the title character in the upcoming film Karen. The single "Response Diss" is a diss song directed toward Young Lyric, a fellow competitor from The Rap Game. 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. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights/Children's Online Privacy Policy are applicable to you. She credits Clayton County as the place that gave her street credibility. Given that the actual verses are written and 8 Mile came out in 2002 when most peoples' freestyles were pretty rough, all of these battles would have been considered classics. Eminem was so busy while working on 8 Mile that he had to write the songs for the movie in between the takes and scenes he was shooting. Do they look like the people thatd be watching this battle?. And although re-created on a soundstage in a warehouse for the movie, the Shelter was and still is a real place, where real, sweaty battles takeplace. Fenelon: We rehearsed. He didn't want people thinking he was just playing his stage persona. UPDATE: Seth Rogen has revealed that he once auditioned for 8 Mile but ended up not getting the part. Few cities have as rich a cultural and sporting history as Detroit. He was way too nervous about getting on a plane right after the tragedy, which is totally understandable. To celebrate, Grantland will devote an entire week, fromApril 11 through April 18, to the various stories of this wholly original place. Strike [who played Lyckety-Splyt, Eminems first-round battle competitor] was somebody local who was friends with a lot of people from the same scene, who had that sort of authenticity. But those crazy hours didn't matter because "8 Mile," a film that celebrates its 13th anniversary Nov. 8, was an important . The makes sure those number combinations never come up. And nobody is gonna try to write raps for Eminem. Mekhi Phifer nearly passed on the movie because he was asked to fly to Detroit two days after the 9/11 attacks in New York. Filed Under: Movies, Eminem, 8 mile, Detroit Week, anthony mackie, mekhi phifer, curtis hanson, paul rosenberg, the hip hop shop, RAP BATTLES, oral history. The movie is a fantastic look at hip-hop and its culture, showcasing how talent can rise from the myriad rap battles that take place in the US. 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. People are naturally inclined to root for the underdog, and things are no different in 8 Mile. When we started, I didnt really have no lines. He would come over, and get this look in his face, and he would stare at you for a minute when we would get it wrong, we definitely knew. The very talented Kim Basinger did a beautiful job portraying Stephanie, Jimmys mom, in 8 Mile. He can make fun of anyone with his clever rhymes. He was a childhood friend of Eminem, who also grew up in Detroit. Eminem didnt exactly have an ideal childhood. The role eventually went to Evan Jones who nailed the part. I gave him the look like, You asshole!. [20], In February 2021, it was announced that Latto would be named MTV's Global Push Artist of the month. Boyle even met with Eminem and producers but came to the conclusion that Boyle wouldnt be able to direct the movie the way he wanted due to creative differences. The actress continued to act in numerous projects throughout the years, including the films A Lot Like Love and Cold Mountain. Miz Korona (local MC; Vanessa in the lunch truck scene): A lot of the actors were active on the scene. It was a lot of Mecca, Carhartt, Triple Five Soul, Champion, that type of stuff. In order to truly appreciate Rabbits rap battle victory, audiences first watch him choke and lose a battle. Then I got a two-way from Paul, like, Come to Detroit, we need you to coach some of the actors. Im like, bet. He didnt know what hed be wearing.

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