The role was won by Michael Shannon. He saw it as a mastery and respect for the power of the word. [29], In February 2023, Latto was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. It was also, in no uncertain terms, a love letter to a scene. But we mentioned how Eminem dropped a few pounds before taking on this role, but that wasnt the only change. According to the script and director, Eminem was meant to write a freestyle, which would be dubbed over in the film as he just mimed some words to the camera. Grrrrrrrrr!3. But Marshall didnt wanna give up what he was doing. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Fenelon: There was a real desire to have these battle sequences feel real. When we started, I didnt really have no lines. B-Rabbit v.s Lotto 2nd Battle From 8 Mile. 8 Mile cast member): That was real cool. His rounds were amazing and impossibly clean by the freestyle-most-of-your-material-on-the-spot standard, but as we know they were written for the movie. Interest-Based Ads. Its no different when it comes to behind-the-scenes movie secrets, and here is a great example. His first appearance was him, along with his crew, chanting "choke" in front of B-Rabbit crew. Eugene Byrd (Wink): I was considering [Curtis Hanson] Splinter. It wasnt some fresh little setup. And I dont care how many times I see it I always remember how exciting that was. Alyssa Michelle Stephens (born December 22, 1998), professionally known as Latto or Big Latto (formerly known as Mulatto), is an American rapper and singer. Rosenberg: Marshall spent a lot of time educating Curtis about what goes on in battles and what kind of things people use to take down their opponents. The guy wearing the white wife beater: So after looking on IMDB I find that his name is Nashawn "Ox" Breedlove. She credits Clayton County as the place that gave her street credibility. During that time, he appeared in films like Imposter, Honey, and Dawn of the Dead, to name just a few. UPDATE: Seth Rogen has revealed that he once auditioned for 8 Mile but ended up not getting the part. It's been nearly 20 years since Eminem starred in 8 Mile, a sideways take on the rapper's life. We had all been in the scene for a moment. 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. And he nailed it. He is best known for when he shoots himself in the leg in the movie. Fuck the Free World!" ~MC Bob Cheddar Bob now known as M.C Bob is Jimmy 's "dumb friend" and a member of Jimmy's gang known as "313", They are involved in a street war with a rival gang known as "Tha Free World", Cheddar Bob is portrayed as rather dimwitted, but makes up for this by his loyalty, Cheddar was played by Evan Jones. Or, I should say was.. 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. One of the most noticeable differences is that in 8 Mile, Rabbit has a little sister named Lily. The best Star Wars characters in the galaxy - and without a Jar Jar Binks in sight. One of the greatest things about Eminem, and why everyone gravitates toward him, is that hes not shy about calling anyone out, even himself. Jones: Even if you had heard it before, the bars were so complex that you were reacting every time you heard it. 8 Mile is a 2002 semi-biographical hip-hop drama film starring Eminem. Or maybe they couldnt explain how the poor trailer park kid could afford all that ink. In addition to his demanding movie work, Eminem was getting ready to launch 50 Cents career and recording his own album, The Eminem Show. At the time, the automotive industry was mostly viable in Detroit. First World Lottos Review Lotto operators will more or less follow the same principle when making an offering to clients. Even our energy in the scenes, it felt like something I hadnt done before. Thanks to Detroits economic turndown, the place closed down in 1980, two decades before the filming of the movie. He lost to Lotto clear. 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. Craig G: There was some restlessness going on. Craig G: They had them come meet me at the hotel, they showed me their rhymes that they changed or whatever. The montage was never used. Silver: A success story, that just wasnt interesting to me. 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. Jones: Its funny, some of the best times of my life was in the middle of winter in Detroit. Im thinking, This guy is good he just gotta slow down! These kids were in there for two weeks! He didn't want people thinking he was just playing his stage persona. Latto's mainstream breakthrough came with the release of "Big Energy", the lead single from her second studio album 777 (2022). My high school basketball team loved to play it before games. Rosenberg: [Hanson] wanted someone that had a lot more experience, especially because he had to balance off of Marshall, who had no experience. The lineage of Detroit battle rap goes, first, through the Rhythm Kitchen, a weekly party hosted by party promoter and clothing designer Maurice Malone at a Chinese restaurant called Stanleys Mania Cafe. When Em battled, Proof wouldnt, and vice versa: They never went at each other. That could really have an effect on a persons self-esteem. I looked in the crowd, I see the rappers that would normally go up and battle they was like, Im not doing that. Rosenberg: The actual exterior was a facade. The main storyline in 8 Mile is B-Rabbit struggling to get studio time and put an album out. It took us a little while to catch on to Detroit. 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. He is known to go to extreme lengths in everything, good or bad. Before that it was only known as UDP: Untitled Detroit Project. And it always bothered me. 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. Having fun. 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. In 2020, Latto released the follow-up single "Muwop" (featuring Gucci Mane). 8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film that follows Jimmy Smith Jr, a struggling young rapper. Its all a cappella. Theyd line up 20 extras and say, OK, do these people look right? He is also seen punching B-Rabbit in the stomach during the fight. She also portrayed Michelle Knight in the Lifetime movie Cleveland Abduction, based on the real-life story of the Ariel Castro kidnapping. Silver: At the time, my career was over. Leave him the fuck alone. People were generally a bit sniffy when rapper Eminem decided he was going into movies, expecting something a bit Ja Rule or Vanilla Ice. you think these niggas gonna feel the shit you say. All rights reserved. Byrd: Em was complying for the most part. He actually started working on a second 8 Mile where a boxer loses custody of his daughter and tries to get her back. Miller: It was a trip. However, Em found his workaround to make the two rap heavyweights appear in the movie's album soundtrack. Answer (1 of 31): Yes, it's a scam. We wanted [Eminem] to go through the emotional arc in order. 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. Anthony Mackie (Papa Doc): It was crazy for me because it was my first job. The rhymes were dope, but the extras were They made it hype. The film was a big hit as well. Whether he is making music or doing drugs, Eminem doesnt mess around; its all or nothing with this guy. I feel like I could get Alzheimers and still remember this experience. Imo overall, eminem's rhymes in 8 mile were a bit weak. The iconic beats used in the scenes Showbiz & AGs Next Level (Nyte Time Mix), Onyxs Last Dayz, and, in the climactic battle, Mobb Deeps Shook Ones (Part II) were selected by Rosenberg. He took me and we got three Phat Farm jean outfits, matching Timberlands. Jigga teams up with State Property frontman Freeway for "8 Mile and Runnin'" while Nas's song, "U Wanna Be Me . I was like, Dont worry about money. Just months later, Simon was found dead under the same mysterious circumstances. Can you say intimidating? His Full name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. 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. The best Netflix movies right now - fantastic movies to stream. [25] The song became Latto's highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, so far peaking at number three. I havent had the opportunity to wear them as much. Eminem: I was told that the mics were going to be off when we were doing the montage scenes of Rabbit coming up through the ranks and we were supposed to pantomime. He was really wracking the brain. Few cities have as rich a cultural and sporting history as Detroit. His father was an English teacher, he was raised around poetry. Craig G (rapper, consultant): The feel of that movie was so authentic. The title was only decided on at the end of filming. Confidential. Cookie Policy. Fenelon: In the original script, in the rap battles throughout, itd kind of describe what the gist of it was. But they had me in the VIP entrance to go straight in. They told them the nicest rapper can rap against Em, blah blah blah. He was just 28 years old at the time, making him the second actor from 8 Mile to lose their life far too soon. Growing up with a drug addict for a mother in a dangerous neighborhood, Eminem never felt safe at home and spent his time rap battling on the streets. 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. You gotta get to that moment in the end: Fuck you, you dont define me. Isn't that Eminem rapping? Those startling battle rap scenes were faithful re-creations of the actual battles Em came through on his way to the top. You choose digits for your favorite lotto, you make a payment and they buy a ticket on your behalf. No way. And its always helpful when the best scene in the movie happens at the end. Although his hard work and dedication brought the rapper success, acknowledgment, and money, his overwhelming schedule began to take a toll on him. I made it through. They hook up, he develops feelings for her, and then he walks in on her cheating on him with some dude. From 8 Mile movie. Jones: Its weird: Middle America was able to understand rap more than they ever had before. All the drama pretty much forced Jimmy into being responsible for raising his younger sibling. His own mother was the first to call him Bunny Rabbit, and since he had buck teeth and big ears, the name kind of just stuck. Another significant difference between B-Rabbit and Eminem lies in their physical traits. Amos Barshad has written for New YorkMagazine, Spin, GQ, XXL, and the Arkansas Times. And then he starts writing his rebuttal right then and there. He was also collaborating with various artists for the 8 Mile accompanying soundtrack album and had to produce the debut album of his Detroit rat pack, Devils Night. Eminem: I remember that the script always ended in a battle since the beginning. In true Marshall Mathers fashion, he decided to stay home with his daughter instead. Silver: The challenge with any sports movie is, whats that last competition gonna be? She was offered a recording contract from Dupri with So So Def Records but ultimately turned down the deal claiming it was not enough money, opting to be an independent artist. In 2009, the actress tragically passed away at just 32 years old. Split lickety that shit was so weak to me. Lotto.com Inc. 111 Town Square Place Jersey City, NJ 07310. Miller: They built the set based on the actual place where [Em] and Proof used to do the battles. Love the music on 8 Mile? But according to police reports, the paintball didnt even break anything, and Eminem didnt even shoot it; his friend did. The same day, Latto was also featured on G-Eazy's single, "Down". The single "Response Diss" is a diss song directed toward Young Lyric, a fellow competitor from The Rap Game. Xzibit, another Dr. Dre protg, also made its way into the film. Gerald L. Strike Sanders (Lyckety-Splyt): Half of Detroit hip-hop was in line for that role. Fenelon: Everyone was encouraged to write their own words a little bit. 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. After releasing her 2019 single "Bitch from da Souf", Latto signed with RCA Records. 2014s Something Wicked was the starlets last movie. Wed be like, Whatever, you the king of the ludicrous lucrative lyrics, you be aiight!. Regarding the contentious decision between B Rabbit and Lotto, I think most judges in 2002 would have picked B Rabbit. It's been nearly 20 years since Eminem starred in 8 Mile, a sideways take on the rapper's life. The album peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard 200. 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. It's rare for such a platform to offer something . Marshall was using it as a weapon. Dye tryin'. All that stuff is improv that he does. If I were to describe Eminem in one world, I think extreme would be the way Id sum him up. It's kinda wild this came out in 2002 and even in the MarvWon battle Pat Stay went second. Although this wasnt Mekhis first acting gig, it was definitely the role that launched him into movie stardom. 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. . Origin 8 Mile Occupation Leader of the "Free World" gang Powers / Skills Intimidation Leadership Firearms Fighting skills Talented rap artist Hobby Rapping and fighting against people Antagonizing Rabbit Goals Beat Rabbit in their rap battle showdown (failed) Crimes Assault Abuse Attempted murder Type of Villain Musical Gang Leader It was accompanied by a remix with rappers Saweetie and Trina. Quentin Tarantino was also approached. That was kind of like, Wait a minute this is a movie moment. Lotto is a member of The Leaders Of Tha Free World. Once I saw the battle scenes assembled, I knew. People ask me what its like to work with him. He is a staff writer for Grantland. I mean, Eminem is one of the top-selling artists in music history, and the movie came out at the height of his popularity. [27] All three songs were included on Latto's second studio album, 777, which was released on March 25. Well, it was more like justice when they burned down an abandoned home where a little girl was sexually abused. Eminem lost 24lb for the role. He was such a professional. The actress continued to act in numerous projects throughout the years, including the films A Lot Like Love and Cold Mountain. Everybody knew each other. [Laughing.] OnApril 17, ESPN will premiere30 for 30: Bad Boys, a documentary about those unforgettable Pistons teams. 8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film that follows Jimmy Smith Jr, a struggling young rapper. The pair tied the knot in 1993 and had their daughter Ireland in 1995. B-Rabbits mom is portrayed by actress Kim Basinger. She went on to star in hit films like Just Married, Uptown Girls, Sin City, and more. He ended up just getting booed off the stage. Malone: At the Hip Hop Shop, probably 90 percent of the time, it was two winners: It was either Em or Proof. He wouldnt go out with me unless I was dressed appropriately. Plus, Claus doesnt seem nearly as endearing as Cheddar Bob. We went to the basement at [music venue] Saint Andrews: the Shelter. That was stuff people actually used to freestyle over in 95. The Man, the Legend, the Ladies Man: Gene Simmons Got Around, How Every Picture Tells a Story Launched Rod Stewart Into Superstardom, Backstreets Back Alright: The Truth About the Iconic 90s Boy Band, Some of the Most Popular Songs Ever Made Were Written About the Same Woman. In real life, neither Eminem nor his friends ever burned a house down. If you ever want to pump yourself up, just play the song. I didnt know he was gonna do that, and thats why thats the expression on my face in the movie. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I still have those. Every scene in the movie, everywhere [Rabbit] goes, someone reminds him of that failure when he chokes at the beginning. The greatest stories of war ever told on film. He didnt mince words. Of course, the star of 8 Mile is Eminem and the most recognizable face in the movie. Either way, its a nice thing to have on your resume. You know: Im trying to get on but this aint working for me. And thats all a bad mix. Malone inspired by the hip-hop parties he gleefully took in during a brief stint living in New York then opened the Hip Hop Shop, which became the epicenter of Detroit rap. She released a new single titled "The Biggest", to go with the announcement of her new name. 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. I pulled him to the side and I told him he sucked. We hoped itd be good we had no idea itd be that good. 8 Mile opened to $51.2 million domestically, the second-highest opening weekend for an R-rated movie at the time . The first obviously being that audiences cant imagine anyone other than Mekhi Phifer playing the role of B-Rabbits Uncle-Tom friend, Future. The DJ was crazy. Strike: Everybody there in the crowd was a performer, a rapper, a ex-rapper, a never-could-really-rap-for-real real rapper. In 1995 (the year the movie takes place), the couple had a daughter together. But unless youre a Detroit native, this little detail probably flew over your head. Fenelon: We wanted the feel of a boxing match, or some kind of underground sporting event. Silver: Obviously, there was no way that I was gonna be able to write rap lyrics for anybody, let alone for Em. Holton was first known as . Malone: The tongue-twister style was popular when [Eminem] was first rapping.