More Music From 8 Mile

Chronique

Though it's yet another in the long line of soundtrack sequels, from More Dirty Dancing to Trainspotting 2, 8 Mile: More Music From is a distinctly different record than its predecessor, and in one sense, much better at placing the listener in the milieu of the movie. Unlike the original 8 Mile soundtrack, which was much more along the lines of a modern soundtrack (with several high-profile features for the star and new offerings from everyone included), this one has only tracks from the mid-'90s or earlier. It's hard to imagine how the compilers could've done a better job of collecting the absolute best in hardcore hip-hop then, just a few years just before Biggie and 2Pac were killed, and the rap game became the biggest in the music business. The tracks come mostly from the hardcore East Coast rap, with all-timers like Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones, Pt. II," Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy," and Method Man's "Bring da Pain" leading the way. 2Pac represents as well with "Gotta Get Mine," a feature on an MC Breed track. The burgeoning Wu-Tang axis gets the most shots, though, with four straight tracks featuring either the group itself -- or solo shots like Ol' Dirty Bastard's legend-making "Shimmy Shimmy Ya." Two party jams, "Feel My Flow" by Naughty by Nature and "Player's Ball" by Outkast, lighten the mood just when it's needed, and "Runnin" by the tremendously under-rated Pharcyde makes for a great left-field choice. No, there are no tracks here from Eminem, and that's just the way it should be to evoke the time when he was just an obscure Detroit rapper, struggling to make it to the big time.

© John Bush /TiVo