Summary

• 8 Mile soundtrack is a hip-hop treasure trove with iconic tracks by Eminem and genre veterans.
• Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” defined the film and won him an Oscar for Best Original Song.
• The music curation in 8 Mile showcases early struggles and underdog story perfectly.

The 8 Mile soundtrack is a hip-hop treasure trove, featuring classics by genre veterans as well as many iconic tracks by leading man Eminem himself. A cult favorite among hip-hop heads, 8 Mile is also synonymous with Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” an uplifting power anthem that won the rapper an Oscar for Best Original Song. Given its focus on an aspiring rapper’s life and the rap battle scene of Detroit, the characters deliver several original freestyles but the 8 Mile soundtrack also boasts other 1990s and 2000s-era hits in crucial scenes, bearing testimony to Eminem’s music curation skills.

Directed by L.A. Confidential‘s Curtis Hanson, 8 Mile serves as a semi-autobiographical take on Eminem’s life as he plays B-Rabbit, a battle rapper who must overcome his on-stage anxiety, a strained relationship with his mother, and other challenges. But as Eminem establishes in “Lose Yourself,” B-Rabbit never lets go of “the moment.” The protagonist’s never-give-up attitude makes 8 Mile a perfect underdog story. The songs only enhance the wordsmith’s early struggles. The original soundtrack has become so influential that Eminem even released a deluxe edition in 2022 to celebrate two decades of 8 Mile‘s release.

Here’s every song in 8 Mile, in order:

When Exactly Each Song Plays In 8 Mile

Hip-Hop Plays A Key Role In Memorable Scenes

“Shook Ones Pt. II” by Mobb Deep — The sequel to rap duo Mobb Deep’s iconic hit “Shook Ones” is the track that opens 8 Mile. It can be heard playing in the background as Rabbit practices his bars in front of a bathroom mirror. The song has been used in several other movies and shows, and is the title of an episode of Euphoria.

“8 Mile” by Eminem — Some Eminem’s best music is featured on the 8 Mile soundtrack, such as the titular track that offers some profound lyricism. In “8 Mile,” Eminem explores the challenges faced on the journey to making it big. “8 Mile” builds enough anticipation for what is to come, foreshadowing the film’s central themes. The beat plays while Rabbit listens to his headphones on a bus.

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd — The country rock hit, “Sweet Home Alabama,” plays on Future’s car radio. The song might be a far cry from the hip-hop-heavy 8 Mile soundtrack, but it is perfectly utilized as Rabbit starts rapping on the Lynrd Skynrd composition. He turns the song’s melody into an angst-filled freestyle. The scene also establishes the friendship between Rabbit and Future who, as per 8 Mile‘s behind-the-scenes details, was based on Eminem’s real-life best friend Proof.

“Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G. — “Juicy,” the first single off The Notorious B.I.G.’s landmark debut album Days to Die, plays in the film when Eminem and his friends embark on a joyride, shooting people with paintball rifles. It’s a simple scene but this track helps set the tone for the vibe.

“Gotta Get Mine” by MC Breed and 2Pac — Detroit veteran MC Breed joined forces with Californian legend 2Pac for “Gotta Get Mine,” a song that 8 Mile features in a scene where Rabbit is heading to a rap battle venue.

“Gang Stories” by South Central Cartel — Right after “Gotta Get Mine” fades out, West Coast gangsta rap group South Central Cartel’s “Gang Stories” starts playing. By this scene, Rabbit has reached a car park where the rap battle is set to start.

“This Is How We Do It ” by Montell Jordan — When Rabbit sees Alex for the first time, a connection between them seems obvious. It is in this crucial scene where the 8 Mile soundtrack adds a touch of R&B with Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It.”

“Feel Me Flow” by Naughty By Nature — The 1995 hip-hop hit “Feel Me Flow” plays in the club when Rabbit continues to be charmed by Alex as she is dancing to the song. The iconic rap group has the perfect style for a scene showcasing Alex’s entrancing vibe.

“Players Ball” by Outkast — The great rap duo Outkast’s first-ever single, “Player’s Ball,” plays in Rabbit’s car as he starts talking to Alex. Again, this is a case of using a memorable track in the background while establishing the relationship between Rabbit and Alex.

“Get Money” by Junior M.A.F.I.A. — Junior M.A.F.I.A. is mostly identified by their 1995 single “Get Money,” a song that can be heard when Alex asks Rabbit if she can come to one of his rap battles.

“I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need To Get By” by Method Man and Mary J. Blige — The timeless collaboration between Wu-Tang Clan alumnus Method Man and singer-actress Mary J. Blige plays in the background when Future asks Rabbit if he likes Alex.

“Shimmy Shimmy Ya” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard — The 8 Mile soundtrack continues its connection to the Wu-Tang Clan by featuring another member’s classic track. Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” plays when Rabbit drives to the man who tried to beat him up earlier.

“Bring The Pain” by Method Man — Another Method Man hit plays in the film when Rabbit gets involved in a chaotic fight. The chaos only increases when Rabbit’s friend Cheddar ends up accidentally shooting himself. As evidenced by its title, “Bring the Pain” is a perfect track for a fight scene.

“Lose Yourself (Instrumental)” by Eminem — As Rabbit is shown writing his lyrics, the spark in his creativity is brought out with an instrumental version of “Lose Yourself.” The haunting piano-driven composition serves as an apt prelude for Rabbit’s future.

“Runnin” by The Pharcyde — “Runnin” has been used in multiple movies to great effect and 8 Mile is no exception. The alternative hip-hop group Pharcyde’s track plays as Alex drops by Rabbit’s home.

“C.R.E.A.M.” by Wu Tang Clan — After teasing solo Wu-Tang Clan members, the 8 Mile soundtrack incorporates a career-defining single by the group. “C.R.E.A.M.” can be heard when Miles is practicing his skills with Cheddar just moments before the film’s final rap battle.

“Next Level” by Showbiz and AG — This 90s rap track plays in the club when Future has a talk with Rabbit, offering him support before the battle finally starts.

“Temptations” by 2Pac — 2Pac’s take on infidelity, “Temptations,” can be heard right after the first battle that Rabbit handily wins. Using one of the greatest rappers of all time in this moment helps set the stage for how good Rabbit is at rapping.

“Player’s Anthem” by Junior M.A.F.I.A — As Rabbit continues his winning streak in the second battle, Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s Anthem” adds to the euphoria of the moment.

“Lose Yourself” by Eminem — Finally, after delivering some of 8 Mile‘s best freestyles, Rabbit wins all three rounds of the battle and defeats his arch-nemesis Papa Doc. Eminem’s Grammy-winning hit “Lose Yourself” starts playing, summing up Rabbit’s underdog journey and closing the film. The Eminem hit is still considered one of the best soundtrack singles of all time.

Where To Listen To The 8 Mile Soundtrack

It’s Available On Major Platforms

The official soundtrack album of 8 Mile, titled 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, can be streamed on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The deluxe edition 8 Mile (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture (Expanded Edition)) is similarly available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

8 Mile Soundtrack Songs That Aren’t In The Movie

Some Great Tracks From Eminem, Nas, Jay-Z, & More

While the 8 Mile soundtrack is a hugely popular album, the songs featured on it end up being quite different from the songs heard in the movie. There are several songs on the soundtrack that don’t appear anywhere in the movie with many of them featuring Eminem’s frequent collaborators like 50 Cent with “Wanksta” and “Places to Go,” Obie Trice’s “Adrenaline Rush,”

On top of that, there’s also the song “Rap Game” from Eminem’s rap group D12, “8 Miles and Runnin'” by Jay-Z, and “Spit Shine” from Xzibit who also appears in the 8 Mile cast. It is also worth noting that 8 Mile rap battles which are among the best moments in the movie and feature some epic freestyle verses are not featured on the soundtrack.