October 1, 2002 — Eminem is putting the finishing touches on the soundtrack for 8 Mile, the upcoming film from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment in which he stars. The album, Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile, is being readied for an October 29 street date. The film, directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys), will open in theaters on November 8. The 8 Mile soundtrack will be released on Shady Records/Interscope Records and will feature three new solo songs from Eminem plus new material from a number of established stars and up-and-coming acts.

Nas, Jay-Z, Gang Starr and Rakim are all familiar names and hip-hop legends, but Eminem is bringing some new artists to the forefront as well. 50 Cent, the Queens, NY artist who Dr. Dre and Eminem recently co-signed to Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment, is featured on three songs on the soundtrack. 50 Cent is already a household name to hip-hop fans, having generated an enormous street buzz off the strength of his self-released mixtapes and his latest underground hit, "Wanksta," which is also featured on this album. Obie Trice, a recent Shady Records signing from Detroit, is featured on two tracks on the album after having been introduced to America on the multi-platinum D-12 debut, Devil's Night. Obie could also be heard on "Drips," a song he performs with Eminem on the six-times-platinum The Eminem Show.

The first single from Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile, Eminem's "Lose Yourself," made its debut on radio last week and is already a massive track. "Lose Yourself" can also be heard as the musical bed in the trailer for the film. Eminem is currently filming a video for the single in his hometown of Detroit, where the film was shot.

"The 8 Mile soundtrack was different because it forced me to step into Rabbit, the character I play in the film, and write from his point of view," commented Eminem. "It was a challenge. Also, the project afforded me the opportunity to not only make an album with a wishlist of some of my favorite artists, but to showcase what we have coming on Shady Records."

The track listing from the album is as follows:

Eminem - "Lose Yourself"
Eminem - "8 Mile"
Eminem - "Run Rabbit Run"
Obie Trice/Eminem/50 Cent - "Love Me"
50 Cent - "Places to Go"
50 Cent - "Wanksta"
D-12 - "Rap Game"
Nas - "You Wanna Be Me"
Jay-Z - "8 Miles and Running"
Young Zee - "That's My Nigga Fo Real"
GangStarr - "Battle"
Xzibit - "Spitshine"
Macy Gray - "Time of Your Life"
Boomkat - "Wasting My Time"
Rakim - "R.A.K.I.M."
Obie Trice - "Adrenaline Rush"