Monster Music & Movies

Reviews:

The gist of 8 Mile is this—success isn't important; integrityis everything. In the movie, Eminem relives, more or less, his early days asa struggling Detroit rapper grappling with the color line and the titular streetthat came to epitomize it. At the end of the film, once he's overcome hisshaky nerves to slay a series of black lyrical combatants, this lone-wolf whiterapper marches off back into obscurity, untarnished by fame and carrying thefavor of a crowd-full of stunned fans.

On the Eminem tracks on the 8 Mile soundtrack, he vividly captures whatit's like to reside at the bottom. "Lose Yourself" is stunningand intense, and "Rabbit Run" seethes with anger. Even though thenew signees to Em's label, Shady Records, should sound hungrier than theirboss, he's too skilled to let that happen. Nevertheless, 50 Cent and ObieTrice make more than respectable showings. Obie raises hairs with the gruesome"Adrenaline Rush"; 50, who figures to be the first legit star to emergefrom Shady's camp (provided he avoids bullets better than he has in thepast) sparkles with comedy on "Wanksta" and "Love Me."

Eminem also parlays his clout into assembling a host of powerful guests. Guruis in top form on "Battle." Nas turns in a vicious dis on "UWanna Be Me" (while Jay-Z's "8 Miles and Runnin'" seemstame by comparison).

And concluding the triple threat, 8 Mile is also a platform for Eminem,the producer. Behind the boards, he favors minor-key chords that evoke grayskies, the same aesthetic as the film itself. Seems as if no amount of successcan part those clouds.