For Eminem 8 miles is a fictional autobiography with some freestyle rap battles. I’d like to take a few minutes and highlight my favorite catchphrases that occur during the various battles and explain why those lyrics are so powerful in the movie.
Outside the lunch truck: “Your style is doo doo… You’ve worked here longer than me. I make more than you!” followed by “Look at this yo yo, he cashed his entire check and bought 1 ho ho!”
“I’ll break your shoulder blade and hit you so hard Elvis will roll over in his grave…”
“So sue me… This is a horror movie, but the black man doesn’t die in this movie.”
“Is that a new bra? Look, Snoop Dogg had a boob job!”
These lines make me smile every time I see 8 Mile. So what makes these lines especially powerful, and how can battle rappers improve their finishers? As you’ll notice, each auction mentioned here has a few elements in common:
They are specific. Whether it’s making fun of someone who’s broke or whose shirt is too tight, these jokes only work on the person they’re thrown at. That’s why they work so well; We’ve all heard a million “Yo Mom” jokes, but as we’ve seen Eminem (aka B. Rabbit) and other rappers do over and over again in the movie, it’s the details that win the day.
The punchlines are also well delivered. Each one has a pause between the preparation and the auction. Just like a heavyweight boxer, it is important to land a strong double punch to knock opponents out. Eminem is a well-known freestyler, having placed second in the Freestyle Olympics (which caught the attention of Dr. Dre), and most of the 8 Mile freestylers as well. His smooth delivery is not an accident; for maximum effect, they pause so the audience can really understand where they’re taking the lyrics.
For Eminem, 8 Mile as a film is an opportunity to demonstrate his artistic abilities, richly and on screen. For those who have seen the bonus battles on DVD, you can certainly attest that he can freestyle anyone on 8 Mile! He was able to beat random MC’s who were chosen to be extras in the movie because they beat everyone else. If you haven’t seen the bonus DVD, I highly recommend it.
As for rappers in movies, which one do you prefer? Eminem 8 Mile or 50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Trying?