What's up Em, the movie 8 Mile, would you say this is a documentary on your life?

Well, 8 Mile is like, where I grew up on the borderline of Detroit. It’s the boundary line, I guess. Almost a colour line that separates the city from the suburbs, from white from black. You know, I grew up on it. I grew up on both sides of the fence, and that’s basically what the movie is about. It’s about this guy who’s in the same struggle, in the same predicament. keeps bouncing back and forth from place to place, or whatever, and just trying to make it and going through the whole, you know, the whole white/black thing, the whole poor thing, the whole ---you know, you got to see the story. Like, there’s a lot of similarities between me and this guy. There’s some shit that’s not exactly – maybe Marshall would’ve handled this situation a little bit different, and there’s some – that Em would’ve did that. No, he wouldn’t have did that. There’s some things that are different.

And being what you was and what you are now, are you sometimes shocked at what you have achieved?

I was reserved and I was shy scared to like – like had it in me, but wasn’t quite sure how to bring it out yet in – in a – I don’t know – in a positive way I guess, and show people. Like I really felt like I wanted people to hear me so bad, and I wanted to do my this – but it was like, you know, them jitters and then. “ – I’m scared. I’m not scared.” You know, that whole struggle and everything, especially early on for me. You know? I love being on stage and stuff like that. Once I got a mike, I was cool. But it was that prompting me to do it and get up there and not be scared to grab that – and juste – and just rock. But once I got it in my head, you know, that whole thing.

So, most actors need to be the part they playing, but this would obviously have come natural to you, coz you experienced it. Did that make it easier?

The process, basically, was just living the – movie. Like I really – it got to a point where I really was Jimmy Smith, Jr. I felt like I was that – person in the music. In between takes, I don’t know, man. We just worked really hard. Like, I never seen – Curtis was there before me, he was there after me, and I was pulling like 12, 14-hour days. 12-hour days at a minimum like six days a week. So I couldn’t help but feel like I was this person. Getting into the – clothes everyday and the whole – you know, going through all the motions and everything. That’s why I said most of the music that I recorded – we had a music trailer set, and during downtime I was writing and recording stuff. Most of that music was recorded for the soundtrack because that’s what I really felt at the time.

You are an example of what the limits of dedication can bring. If people want something really bad they can get it. 

I feel like you can do anything – anybody can do anything they set their mind to. If you like, really want to do it – it depends on how bad you want it, and I wanted to do it. I felt like, at this stage of my life, I don’t feel like there’s too much that I can’t do. I don’t mean to sound cocky or nothing, but if I like, really really want to do it, I don’t give up that easy.

When this 8 Mile concept was brought in did you jump into it immediately?

At first, when the idea was brought to me, I couldn’t give it 100% concentration. I was doing so much other --, like the Marshall Mathers LP. I was recording that, and it was in the process of that, and then touring, and then doing the D12 record, and I couldn’t – once I gave it my full concentration and I knew that I could give it 100% then I—that’s when I decided. That’s when I jumped into it. It was like, “Okay, I’m going to do it.”

Did you have to make any sacrifices for the movie? 

Yeah, had to lose a little bit of weight and told me what he saw Jimmy as. I lost a good 15 pounds for that movie, and like, really went on a strict diet, and really was, you know, exercising and doing my thing in that way. And, you know, the hair -- grew my hair back the natural colour and everything. You know. Just didn’t want to look like Eminem. The movie takes place pre—Eminem B.C.

And you daughter, did you get to see her with all the filming?

It was a lot of work, but luckily the film was shot in Detroit. So Haley could come to the set and see me. I went home every single night. You know, see Haley at night. And get up, she’d come to the set a lot. She’s seen a lot of scenes and stuff like that. 

And will you do another hip hop movie in the future?

Uh, I may. I don’t think I’m going to do another hip-hop movie and I don’t think I’m going to do another movie where I’m in every scene, you know? If I do another hip-hop movie, I don’t want it to be exploiting me as a rapper and just being used for that. I want to be recognised for my acting skills or whatever if I have any. So yeah, I may do it, but not that gruelling of a schedule.

What's next in terms of releases?

The next D12 record, Obie’s record, and 50’s record. Those are my—things on my agenda. And in the meantime, you know, if I feel like recording something for me, I’ll go in and do it. But just constantly making music.

I'm feeling your production on the 8 mile soundtrack, I didn't know you was producing, so is that something you want to branch out into more?

I want to be – you know, I definitely want to be looked at as a credible producer, too. That’s eventually the next level, the next step for. And also getting my business smarts up to par.

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