S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Eminem's longtime manager Paul Rosenberg recently dished out some previously untold stories behind 2002's 8 Mile, including how close Nas' "Made You Look" came to landing on the soundtrack.
According to Rosenberg, Nasty Nas’ ex-manager initially had his smash hit for the compilation.
“We really wanted Nas to be on the soundtrack. I was pushing Steve Stoute (Nas’ former manager) to get a track. He brought me “Made You Look.” Unbeknownst to me, Nas had already finished a track (“U Wanna Be Me”) on one of Marshall’s beats. Em went with it because he produced it; he was more attached.” (VIBE)
The famed manager also revealed how much control Em had on the movie’s memorable battle scenes.
“Marshall thought O.C.’s “Times Up” and Mobb Deep‘s “Shook Ones” were great battle records–they were his favorite to battle to back when he’d freestyle in the Hip-Hop Shop. He personally pushed to put them in the film.” (VIBE)
Em’s 2002 box office hit earned him an Academy Award based off the soundtrack record, “Lose Yourself.”
A rap version of “Saturday Night Fever.” B-Rabbit, a wannabe rapper from the wrong side of Detroit’s 8 Mile, has problems: he dumps his girlfriend when she tells him she’s pregnant; to save money to make a demo tape, he moves into his alcoholic mom’s trailer; his job’s a dead end, and he’s just choked at the local head-to-head rap contest. Things improve when he meets Alex – an aspiring model headed for New York – and a fast-talking pal promises to set up the demo. Then new setbacks: Alex isn’t faithful, mom rejects him, rifts surface with his friends, and he’s mugged by rivals. Everything hinges on the next rap showdown at the club. Can B-Rabbit pull truth out of his cap? (IMDb)
Prior to an untimely 2010 passing, 8 Mile co-star Brittany Murphy spoke on the film sparking her acting career.
Her role in “8 Mile” led to more recognition, Murphy told The Associated Press in 2003. “That changed a lot,” she said. “That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not.” Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success. “When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me,” Murphy told the AP in 2003. “I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn’t stifle any of that. She always believed in me.” (Associated Press)
Check out Nas’ “U Wanna Be Me” below:
