Simply, get the album for the Eminem songs because all of them are dope (well, duh). In fact, "8 Mile Road" is even better than "Lose Yourself", a song that radio will never get tired of. Other good songs are Young Zee of the Outsidaz with "That's My N For Real" and a rejuvenated 50 Cent with "Wanksta".

But like all soundtracks, there are a few missteps. Macy Gray gives us "Time of Your Life", an R&B song that disrupts the hip-hop feel of this album, plus she went out of style with the year 2000. Rakim's verses on "R.A.K.I.M." are decent, but the chorus and production are both terrible. And Nas gives an uninspired performance on the sluggish "You Wanna Be Me". But it's funny that the very next song that follows is from his rival Jay-Z, who shines so bright on "8 Miles and Running" (with Freeway) that it proves my theory that Hova gives his best performances everywhere but on his own albums.

So, to sum it up, there are some good songs and some bad songs on this soundtrack, but the good songs make the album a little worthwhile.


8 Miles and Runnin...   December 20, 2002
Matthew Spryszak (South Lyon, Michigan United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Yeah, I know Eminem is on this cd and his contributions are dope, of course everyone's heard "Lose Yourself," but check his verse on "Love Me" with Obie Trice and the star of the soundtrack 50 Cent. 50 Cent's "Wanksta" is one of the best songs in hip-hop this year, plus it's a diss song about Ja Rule (check the doll in video wearing Ja's guitar charm on his chain) how can you go wrong. 50's other solo song "Places to Go" has him spittin fire over a bangin Eminem back drop. Jay-Z slides into the mix flanked by his soldier Freeway on the solemn "8 Miles and Runnin," I dare you to listen to this song and not have the hook stuck in your head. Other hot ones include Rakim's sonic boom "R.A.K.I.M," Obie Trice's "Adrenaline Rush" and D-12's "Rap Game," another bangin hook by 50 on that one. There are only three missteps on the soundtrack, Macy Gray's annoying "Time of Your Life," Xzibit's below average "Spit Shine," and Nas' latest Jay-Z diss, "You Wanna Be Me." Other than these slip ups, 8 Mile is one of the best hip-hop soundtracks since "The Show."


Good Rap Mix, Nothing More   January 1, 2003
Jesse Smith
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

...What you need to know about this album, and the other reviews stress it too, is that it's not an Eminem album. Its not going to be an essential to your CD player. You won't hear people quoting lines from the songs all the time or anything like that (with the possible exception of Lose Yourself). But once you take that into account you should like this.

Needless to say, this CD is almost all rap. The first half is Eminem and everyone else signed onto Shady Records. If you like the movie "8 Mile" or "The Eminem Show," it should impress you. If you thought Eminem should never have stopped the insanity of The Marshall Mathers LP, you might not be so impressed. The songs are mostly about Rabbit, not Eminem. The tracks with Obie Trice have good beats, but he's kind of a clown. You can take 50 Cent a little more seriously. Theres an OK D12 track. Its not outstanding, but it's pretty good. The first half is aimed more at Eminem fans.

The second half has a variety of people and is aimed at rap fans in general. Jay-Z does a track that works very well. Pretty good beat, pretty good chorus, pretty good rhymes, pretty good guest. I've never once skipped that one. Macy Gray and Boomkat (who?) provide an R&B track each, which is great if you like R&B. I, for one, don't feel the need to listen to these all the way through. Xzibit has a track that's tight if you like Xzibit. The rhymes are good, but he only talks about how he's better than everyone else. The Nas track is pathetic. It's another Jay-Z diss, the reason I never liked Nas in the first place. It's funny how Nas's rival contributes something to the album, but Nas doesn't. The last few tracks are from lesser known rap people. People know Rakim, but his day has passed and I don't know anything about the other two. The tracks are OK, but you might not listen to them all the way through. It ends with another no-chorus Eminem track that I like a lot. It has fast rhyming and it works perfectly to end the album.

This CD is good, but not that good. You might enjoy it, but you won't be deeply impressed. Dont buy it if you don't like Eminem, and don't buy it expecting an Eminem album. But if you like mainstream rap in general, this is probably for you.

Closing comments: How come Nas spends half the time talking about how he's the "last real ... alive" and he's God's Son and half making old ... jabs at Jay-Z?