See ‘8 Mile’ people and places 20 years later [PHOTOS]

By on Tue, Nov 8, 2022 at 10:54 am

Twenty years ago, Eminem's 8 Mile gave the world a cinematic look into Detroit's hip-hop culture.

Despite its global release, 8 Mile is very much a local movie, featuring places and landmarks that, at the time, were mostly known only to Detroiters. It made references to Motor City culture and featured more than a few familiar faces; it's the film that everyone in the metro area knows someone who was in it or worked on it. It also arned Eminem his Oscar for Best Original Song and the film, and told everyone that Cranbrook was a private school.

On the 20th anniversary of film's release, here is a look at some of the people and places of 8 Mile, then and now.
Scroll down to view images
Page 1 of 2
In real life: The Shelter 431 E. Congress St., Detroit The real-life Shelter is still rocking in the basement of the popular Saint Andrew’s Hall venue in Detroit. Both venues made the news earlier this year when the floor of Saint Andrew’s Hall started bending under the weight of fans during a Baby Keem concert, causing the show to be cut short and the city to order the venues to close for months for renovations. They are now back in action.
Google Maps

In real life: The Shelter

431 E. Congress St., Detroit

The real-life Shelter is still rocking in the basement of the popular Saint Andrew’s Hall venue in Detroit. Both venues made the news earlier this year when the floor of Saint Andrew’s Hall started bending under the weight of fans during a Baby Keem concert, causing the show to be cut short and the city to order the venues to close for months for renovations. They are now back in action.
In the film: The Shelter 431 E. Congress St., Detroit This one is tricky — technically, the Shelter is a very real music venue where Slim Shady actually did get his start rapping early in his career. However, all the scenes for the movie were actually shot in a set built at the Rivertown Warehouse District.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: The Shelter

431 E. Congress St., Detroit

This one is tricky — technically, the Shelter is a very real music venue where Slim Shady actually did get his start rapping early in his career. However, all the scenes for the movie were actually shot in a set built at the Rivertown Warehouse District.
1 of 21
In the film: 8 Mile Mobile Court 20785 Schultes Ave., Warren The trailer park Rabbit’s mom lived in was probably the most important location outside of the Shelter in this movie. It’s where Rabbit got into a heated argument with his mom’s boyfriend Greg, and where he was jumped by rival rap group Free World.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: 8 Mile Mobile Court

20785 Schultes Ave., Warren

The trailer park Rabbit’s mom lived in was probably the most important location outside of the Shelter in this movie. It’s where Rabbit got into a heated argument with his mom’s boyfriend Greg, and where he was jumped by rival rap group Free World.
3 of 21
In real life: A&L Mobile Home Park 20785 Schultes Ave., Warren Today, the mobile home community is still open on Eight Mile and Ryan. Fun fact: If you look it up on Google Maps, it’s also tagged as “Eminem's Trailer Park.”
Google Maps

In real life: A&L Mobile Home Park

20785 Schultes Ave., Warren

Today, the mobile home community is still open on Eight Mile and Ryan. Fun fact: If you look it up on Google Maps, it’s also tagged as “Eminem's Trailer Park.”
4 of 21
In the film: Lil’ Tic One of the film’s plotlines is Rabbit’s road to redemption after choking in the opening battle scene at the Shelter. Rabbit loses to L.T., who in real life was one of Eminem’s close friends, Proof (who the character Future, played by Mekhi Phifer, was based on).
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: Lil’ Tic

One of the film’s plotlines is Rabbit’s road to redemption after choking in the opening battle scene at the Shelter. Rabbit loses to L.T., who in real life was one of Eminem’s close friends, Proof (who the character Future, played by Mekhi Phifer, was based on).
5 of 21
In real life: Proof Besides being one of Slim Shady’s good friends and hype man, he was also a member of the group D12. In 2006, Proof was gunned down after an altercation over a game of pool. Fun fact: In his battle, Lil’ Tic says “L.T., that’s right, cock the heat and shoot ya, I’ll punish Rabbit or obsolete Future.” If you look at the first letter of each word in the last bar, it spells “Proof.”
Timothy M. Moore / Wikimedia Commons

In real life: Proof

Besides being one of Slim Shady’s good friends and hype man, he was also a member of the group D12. In 2006, Proof was gunned down after an altercation over a game of pool. Fun fact: In his battle, Lil’ Tic says “L.T., that’s right, cock the heat and shoot ya, I’ll punish Rabbit or obsolete Future.” If you look at the first letter of each word in the last bar, it spells “Proof.”
6 of 21
In the film: New Detroit Stamping 950 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit In the movie Rabbit gets a job at fictional New Detroit Stamping. While that company might’ve been created for the movie, it was filmed at the very real New Center Stamping.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: New Detroit Stamping

950 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit

In the movie Rabbit gets a job at fictional New Detroit Stamping. While that company might’ve been created for the movie, it was filmed at the very real New Center Stamping.
7 of 21
In real life: New Center Stamping 950 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit New Center Stamping is still open and operating today. No word on whether they still do rap battles during the lunch breaks, though.
Google Maps

In real life: New Center Stamping

950 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit

New Center Stamping is still open and operating today. No word on whether they still do rap battles during the lunch breaks, though.
8 of 21
In the film: Chin Tiki 2121 Cass Ave., Detroit Did you even watch 8 Mile if you never yelled out “Ten freaky girls inside the Chin Tiki?” The former tiki bar and Polynesian-themed restaurant opened in 1966 and closed its doors in 1980, remaining abandoned until the 8 Mile filming began. In the film, it’s a favorite hangout of Eminem’s character Rabbit, likely inspired by Detroit’s former Stanley’s Mannia Café Chinese restaurant, which hosted rap battles in the ’90s.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: Chin Tiki

2121 Cass Ave., Detroit

Did you even watch 8 Mile if you never yelled out “Ten freaky girls inside the Chin Tiki?” The former tiki bar and Polynesian-themed restaurant opened in 1966 and closed its doors in 1980, remaining abandoned until the 8 Mile filming began. In the film, it’s a favorite hangout of Eminem’s character Rabbit, likely inspired by Detroit’s former Stanley’s Mannia Café Chinese restaurant, which hosted rap battles in the ’90s.
9 of 21
In real life: Chin Tiki 2121 Cass Ave., Detroit Due to interest in the film, previous owner Marvin Chin considered reopening the spot, but Olympia Development bought the building and demolished it in 2009 to make space for Little Caesars Arena. (It is now a parking lot.) Meanwhile, there are plans to revive the former Stanley’s Mannia Café as a new music venue.
Google Maps

In real life: Chin Tiki

2121 Cass Ave., Detroit

Due to interest in the film, previous owner Marvin Chin considered reopening the spot, but Olympia Development bought the building and demolished it in 2009 to make space for Little Caesars Arena. (It is now a parking lot.) Meanwhile, there are plans to revive the former Stanley’s Mannia Café as a new music venue.
10 of 21
In the film: Vanessa, from the lunch truck No, she’s no longer rapping about working with steel and complaining about her short lunch break. In real life, Vanessa is played by the real rapper Miz Korona, one of Detroit’s most respected emcees.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: Vanessa, from the lunch truck

No, she’s no longer rapping about working with steel and complaining about her short lunch break. In real life, Vanessa is played by the real rapper Miz Korona, one of Detroit’s most respected emcees.
11 of 21
In real life: Miz Korona Since 8 Mile, Miz Korona continued to build her rap career. She released her latest EP, The Healer and the Heartbreaker, earlier this year.
Miz Korona / Instagram

In real life: Miz Korona

Since 8 Mile, Miz Korona continued to build her rap career. She released her latest EP, The Healer and the Heartbreaker, earlier this year.
12 of 21
In the movie: Parking Lot Rap Battle 220 Bagley St., Detroit Still embarrassed about choking during his battle at the Shelter, Rabbit and the Three One Third crew go to a more low-key battle in a parking lot. Rabbit redeems himself and performs a freestyle minutes before Free World shows up and a fight ensues.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the movie: Parking Lot Rap Battle

220 Bagley St., Detroit


Still embarrassed about choking during his battle at the Shelter, Rabbit and the Three One Third crew go to a more low-key battle in a parking lot. Rabbit redeems himself and performs a freestyle minutes before Free World shows up and a fight ensues.
13 of 21
In real life: Michigan Building 220 Bagley St., Detroit Recognized in 2019 as one of the most beautiful parking structures in America, the former Michigan Theatre continues to find new life. In 2021, The Detroit Opera (formerly The Michigan Opera Theatre) staged a 12-hour show inside the decrepit theater.
Google Maps

In real life: Michigan Building

220 Bagley St., Detroit

Recognized in 2019 as one of the most beautiful parking structures in America, the former Michigan Theatre continues to find new life. In 2021, The Detroit Opera (formerly The Michigan Opera Theatre) staged a 12-hour show inside the decrepit theater.
14 of 21
In the film: A paintball target 13037 Mack Ave., Detroit Early in the movie, we see Rabbit and his friends joyriding around the city of Detroit with a joint and paintball gun in tow. One of their targets was a large cow head on top of a restaurant.
Google Maps

In the film: A paintball target

13037 Mack Ave., Detroit

Early in the movie, we see Rabbit and his friends joyriding around the city of Detroit with a joint and paintball gun in tow. One of their targets was a large cow head on top of a restaurant.
15 of 21
In real life: Ira Wilson and Sons Dairy 13037 Mack Ave., Detroit Well, that cow head is still on Detroit’s Eastside — sans paintball marks. The property is the former Ira Wilson & Sons Dairy shop. The store, which used the giant cow head as a marketing gimmick, was only open for less than a decade and closed in 1960 before becoming Dairy Ann, C&P Ice Cream, and, its final incarnation, a barbecue joint.
Google Maps

In real life: Ira Wilson and Sons Dairy

13037 Mack Ave., Detroit
Well, that cow head is still on Detroit’s Eastside — sans paintball marks. The property is the former Ira Wilson & Sons Dairy shop. The store, which used the giant cow head as a marketing gimmick, was only open for less than a decade and closed in 1960 before becoming Dairy Ann, C&P Ice Cream, and, its final incarnation, a barbecue joint.
16 of 21
In the film: Battle Rapper in Parking Lot Obie Trice, real name, no gimmick, was one of the rappers featured in the parking lot scene at Michigan Theatre.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: Battle Rapper in Parking Lot

Obie Trice, real name, no gimmick, was one of the rappers featured in the parking lot scene at Michigan Theatre.
17 of 21
In real life: Obie Trice After 8 Mile, Obie Trice continued his rap career, even making two Nick Cannon diss records in 2019 after the Wild N’ Out host dissed Eminem. In 2022, Obie Trice was jailed in Oakland County for harassing someone via telephone.
Obie Trice / Instagram

In real life: Obie Trice

After 8 Mile, Obie Trice continued his rap career, even making two Nick Cannon diss records in 2019 after the Wild N’ Out host dissed Eminem. In 2022, Obie Trice was jailed in Oakland County for harassing someone via telephone.
18 of 21
In the film: WJLB Disc Jockey Rabbit heads to the Penobscot Building to meet Wink, who promised he’d connect him with a manager at the radio station WJLB. IN the scene, we see the rapper Big O (aka King Gordy in real life) being interviewed by WJLB DJ Bushman.
Screenshot via YouTube

In the film: WJLB Disc Jockey

Rabbit heads to the Penobscot Building to meet Wink, who promised he’d connect him with a manager at the radio station WJLB. IN the scene, we see the rapper Big O (aka King Gordy in real life) being interviewed by WJLB DJ Bushman.
19 of 21
In real life: Bushman Twenty years later you can still hear Bushman on air on Mix 92.3
Bushman / Instagram

In real life: Bushman



Twenty years later you can still hear Bushman on air on Mix 92.3
20 of 21
Page 1 of 2
Next Page

In Detroit Public Theatre’s ‘The Confederates,’ history repeats itself

By Randiah Camille Green

Rebecca Rose plays Sarah, an enslaved woman who is preparing to escape, in Dominique Morisseau’s The Confederates.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is the definition of mediocre

By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features

Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World.

‘Living Frequency’ follows the mycelial threads of Black Detroit art from past to present

By Randiah Camille Green

Image: ‘Living Frequency’ follows the mycelial threads of Black Detroit art from past to present

All material © 2025 Detroit Metro Times, Ferndale, MI. All rights reserved.

Powered By Foundation
Subscribe