Lose Yourself in the "8 Mile" Soundtrack

By Sam Passow, Buesiness Manager

A lot of hip-hop oriented soundtracks don't really have anything to do with the movie. Usually they're just a glorified mix tape featuring all your favorite rappers. But "8 Mile" stands out as a cohesive and exciting soundtrack. Though it boasts songs from Jay-Z, Nas and Rakim, its real success comes from the artists on Eminem's own label, Shady Records.

Eminem provides three of the best songs, including the first single "Lose Yourself." If you've been to a club or bar lately, then you know Em has himself an anthem for the common man with this one. It descriptively summarizes the movie and can give anyone an adrenaline rush.

"8 Mile" explains the significance of the racially dividing street in Detroit that the movie was named after. He outlines the credibility that it gives him in the Detroit rap community. "Rabbit Run" is the last track and shows the energy of the "it's now or never" attitude that Em's character, "B-Rabbit" has in the movie.

Shady Records' two solo artists Obie Trice and 50 Cent share the track with Em on "Love Me." The three take turns talking about how the public loves their artists but turn on them just as quickly and the frustration of knowing can lose favor after they were once so loved.

Em's crew D-12, the first act on Shady Records, talks about the craziness of the "Rap Game."

Obie Trice shows his hard flow on "Adrenaline Rush," emphasizing the power of emcees to rock a crowd to their feet. B-Rabbit and his crew are anxious to make moves in the movie as 50 Cent says he has "Places to Go."

Jay-Z and Philly's own Freeway collaborate on "8 Miles and Runnin," as they take the "8 Mile" name and set it as a distance they have to cover. Xzibit follows on "Spit Shine" spewing the type of battle rhymes he's been known for and featured in the movie.
Macy Gray uses her distinct voice on the mid-temp ballad, "Time of My Life." After a triumphant run in a final rap battle, that was how B-Rabbit was feeling.

Nas lets everyone know "U Wanna Be Me," addressing the fight against envy when you're trying to get to the top.

50 Cent got his first radio hit with "Wanksta." "You say that you a gangsta but you never copped nothing/ I say that you a wanksta and you need to stop fronting," he tells all fake ganstas out there.

Boomkat sings a soulful ballad called "Wasting My Time," trying to see if her relationship is really worth it.

The master, Rakim, is in his usual brilliant form on "R.A.K.I.M." showing why he's influenced every rapper to come after him.

GANGSTARR is another legend serving it up on the soundtrack with "Battle."

No matter what anyone wants to say, Eminem is one of the hottest in Hip-Hop right now. His songs are the foundation of this strong collection and this is probably his best work yet. This soundtrack should sell as well as the movie did.