Music from and Inspired By 8 Mile [Explicit]

Eminem

Exactly how Eminem was able to assemble so many credible emcees of today and yesteryear (Jay-Z, Rakim) to endorse his Holly'hood coming-out party, 8 Mile, is anyone's guess. What is clear, however, is that (dare we say it) the Shady One might be growing up. On "Lose Yourself" Em abandons his callous, hardcore posturing to write thoughtful hood-centric coming-of-age lyrics that would make Melle Mel proud. On "Battle" Gang Starr's Guru tears through a sick beat from rap's most prolific producer DJ Premier. Sadly, Nas wastes more valuable studio time dissing Jay-Z (ho-hum) on "You Wanna Be Me". Interestingly, once you get past the living-legend love-in and peep the skills from Em's lesser-known Shady Records roster of below-ground wordsmiths--50 Cent ("Wanksta") or Obie Trice ("Adrenaline Rush"), you might urge Em to consider giving up his thespian pursuits to become a full-time record executive. Not even the baffling inclusion of Macy Gray's humdrum "Time of Your Life" can sink this project. --Dalton Higgins