news archives

March 28, 2003 - Taryn Manning and her brother Kellin of Boomkat stopped by MTV's Total Request Live on Thursday where host Carson Daly immediately quizzed Taryn not on the pair's own mediocre music, but working with Eminem and Britney Spears. Taryn said Eminem was the more serious actor, and the one she'd most want to kiss. Read on for a transcript.

March 25, 2003 - Barbra Streisand stunned herself, and the audience, at last night's Academy Awards when she announced Eminem's name as the winner of best song for 'Lose Yourself' from the '8 Mile' soundtrack. Eminem was the only musical artist not present to perform a nominated work. Co-writer, co-winner Luis Resto accepted the trophy. "It's a great thing working with Marshall, day in, day out," Resto said. "He's creative, he has symphonies in his head that I'm privileged to put on the tape. He's a good man, a good heart."

March 25, 2003 - Reuters reports consumers spent more than $75 million on the Universal Studios Home Video release of Eminem's '8 Mile', the most ever for an R-rated movie in the first week and among the top 10 overall, according to the studio. Read more.

March 25, 2003 - '8 Mile' established Eminem as "the good guy, an actor to be taken seriously," Vibe music editor Eric Parker told Edna Gundersen of USA Today after 'Lose Yourself' won an Oscar on Sunday. "He was no longer thumbing his nose at authority but became acceptable. This is a title he doesn't want. He's put himself in a position where he's able to sell records to a giant cross section, but what he wants to represent is the cutting edge of urban music." Read more.

March 25, 2003 - The New York Daily News reports Luis Resto, co-writer of 'Lose Yourself' from '8 Mile,' called Eminem in Detroit to tell him he'd just picked up their trophy for best song at the Oscars on Sunday night. Unfortunately, Resto said, "he was asleep. It wasn't out of any disrespect. We just didn't expect to win."

March 25, 2003 - Marc S. Malkin of New York Magazine reports Eminem wants to star in the movie adaptation of 'Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream', from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist H. G. Bissinger’s 1990 best-seller about the overzealous world of high-school football in Odessa, Texas. The project would be produced by '8 Mile' producer Brian Grazer. Read more.

March 24, 2003 - The Sunday People reports Pop Idol Darius Danesh says he identifies with the poor upbringing of Eminem, despite going to a posh school in Glasgow. He said, "I didn't grow up in a trailer park, but I relate to the plot of '8 Mile'. It sums up my feelings too."

March 24, 2003 - The Sunday People reports Eminem has been blamed for sparking drive-by shootings with paintball guns after his use of the weapon on his debut film '8 Mile'. "Shooting someone with a paintball gun may seem like a harmless prank but it's extremely dangerous," a Durham Police spokesman said. Read more.

March 23, 2003 - The Spin Top 40 is running down the most important artists making music right now, and Eminem tops the list. Others include Outkast at #5, Missy Elliott at #8, N.E.R.D. at #10, the Roots at #13, Jay-Z at #19, The Streets at #21, Nas at #23, and 50 Cent at #38. Check out the entire list here.

March 22, 2003 - Eminem will be hitting the road this summer with 50 Cent, and so far 11 dates in 7 cities have been announced. Check them out here.

March 21, 2003 - Launch.com reports that Eminem, Kid Rock, the White Stripes, and the Funk Brothers are among the nationally known nominees for the 2003 Detroit Music Awards. The presentation is set for April 11 at the State Theater in Detroit. Read more.

March 20, 2003 - New York Post's Cindy Adams quotes Eminem on the woman he married: "I've known Kim all my life. She's the first girlfriend I ever had. Divorce is the hardest thing I ever worked through."

March 20, 2003 - HitsDailyDouble.com reports that Universal Studios Home Video’s release of Eminem’s '8 Mile' on Tuesday looks to be a success, with insiders saying first-week sales should approach, if not surpass, 2 million copies. That figure wouldn't be a record breaker though, as Sony’s 'Spider-Man', which sold 11 million in three days after its release last November, grossing $190 million, while Fox’s animated 'Ice Age', which came out Thanksgiving weekend, moved around 7 million, grossing $120 million.

March 18, 2003 - forever-madd writes "Uncensored videos by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Shaggy, Jadakiss, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and others are included on the new DVD compilation, Hardware: Hip-Hop. The DVD features raw and uncut videos filled with profanity, nudity, and sex scenes. It will be released by Interscope Records through Ventura Distribution on March 25th. Read more."

March 18, 2003 - forever-madd writes "Rolling Stone magazine has compiled their 2nd Annual Richest Rock Star List for the year 2002. Hip-hop artists are moving up and down within the top 50 artists. Eminem is the top rapper on the list at #5 ($28.9 million), while Jay-Z lands at #9 with $22.7 million. Read more."

March 18, 2003 - Eminem's rep confirmed reports that the rapper uses a stand-in, but not for the protective reasons cited. "He does use a body double for camera blocking in videos," the rep explained. "Not because he's worried about being shot or something. Who would want that job?"

March 17, 2003 - The Sun reports Eminem has hired a double named Particles to play his look-alike in a bid to protect himself from rival rappers. Porn star Gina Lynn, who is featured in his 'Superman' video said, "It’s funny, but everybody thinks Particles is actually Eminem." Read more.

March 15, 2003 - forever-madd writes "The real history on the beef between Eminem and Royce Da 5'9". Straight from the mouth of Royce himself. Check out his version of the story in this exclusive story from HipHopDX. Read more.

March 15, 2003 - Anonymous writes "According to Popbitch.com, Eminem is up for the Tommy Vercetti role in the mooted 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' movie."

March 15, 2003 - Detroit rock city was more like a rap city Thursday night. Eminem and Mekhi Phifer were on hand at the '8 Mile' DVD release party where aspiring rappers squared off in a lyrical battle. Watch a video clip on the party and DVD, with preview clips, at ExtraTV.

March 15, 2003 - Eminem joined D12 for a performance of the group's 'Rap Game' Thursday night during a party at a packed St. Andrews Hall commemorating the DVD release of his film '8 Mile.' Then, Eminem, clad in an oversized black T-shirt, bandanna and baseball cap, launched into the movie's single, 'Lose Yourself.' "Detroit! If you had one shot," he began, as the crowd repeated the words to the Academy Award-nominated song. Read more.

March 13, 2003 - Boomkat vocalist Taryn Manning tells Launch.com that she's now applying what she learned from Britney Spears while filming 'Crossroads' and Eminem while filming '8 Mile' to her own band. "I learned a lot from Britney, I mean, Britney's a pretty mature girl," Manning said. "You know, she doesn't really let the press bother her--the things that the press people say--and I really watched things roll off her back. I looked up to her. A lot of people wanna dis her and say mean things, but she doesn't let it get to her. And then Eminem was, surprisingly, really sweet and sensitive, and I was shocked by that." Read more.

March 13, 2003 - WENN reports '8 Mile' Oscar nominee Eminem is boycotting the Academy Awards ceremony on March 23rd. Interscope Records revealed the star is taking a break from showbiz and will stay away from the bash at Hollywood's Kodak Theater. Read more.

March 13, 2003 - Part of 50 Cent's success is his unique voice, with a slur that's the result of the hole in his jaw from a bullet to the face. But a bigger part is his credibility. When he talks about drugs and guns and death, you know he's speaking from experience. "If he says he's gonna pop you, you think he might," Eminem tells Rolling Stone. "Kids wanna see a guy that got shot that many times and lived. There's a whole mystique about him, but at the same time, the same kids that are goin' to the shows are a little bit intimidated by him. Maybe not all, but most. He's definitely out there. And that's me sayin' that." Read more.

March 13, 2003 - The Sun has a photo of Eminem's daughter Hailie shopping with ex-wife Kim in Detroit. The pair now live with Eminem in his new mansion in the city. Check out the photo here.

March 13, 2003 - Entertainment Weekly reports that last week, word leaked out that Eminem's too-hot-for MTV video 'Superman' was available at hsiproductions.com (the official site of HSI Productions, a music video production company affiliated with 'Superman' director Paul Hunter), but the video was pulled within a day and a half -- but you can download it on KaZaA (file size 13.77 MB). "I don't know anything about [the leak], but at one point there was a thought to have an Internet version of the video that would work as underground marketing," says Hunter, who notes that several versions of the video were cut together. "Some were cleaner than others." Read more.

March 13, 2003 - CosmoGirl quoting Eminem: "I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in this business if I wasn't a complete asshole."

March 12, 2003 - forever-madd writes "The situation may not be as heated as it was a month or so ago, but the beef continues. After some not so subliminal darts thrown at Benzino on 'Go To Sleep' (w/ DMX, Obie Trice), Em has gone after The Source again. The dis comes on 'Soul Assassins Mixtape Vol. 1,' from none other than DJ Muggs. The song is called “We All Die Someday” and also features 50 Cent, Obie Trice and Lloyd Banks. Read more."

March 12, 2003 - stylze4eva writes "Ja Rule and Benzino are rollin together at the concert over here in Australia, and Ja said fu** Slim and 50 Cent. Also, Benzino hollered out his beef with Eminem."

March 8, 2003 - The Sunday People reports Princes William and Harry have snapped up tickets to see their foul-mouthed rapper hero Eminem - and the Queen is definitely not amused. A Royal source said: "I don't think they are deliberately defying the Queen but she is most upset at them going." Unless she can convince them otherwise, the brothers will see Eminem at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes on June 21st. Read more.

March 7, 2003 - J.R. Watkins, author of the Eminem biography 'Cleaning Out My Closet' posted a message on her official message board on Thursday. Apparently others had been posting messages in her name. She writes, "I know a lot is being said right now about me and I don't care. That is not why I don't spend loads of time on the board. I am so INCREDIBLY BUSY. No, I'm not doing another chapter to make more money. I just feel that I didn't explain enough in the first edition of the book. I guess some people don't want more told. Let them talk. If they're picking on me, they're leaving someone else alone. And Yes, Marshall told me that his uncle thinks he and his aunt Betti were having an affair. She is his real aunt by the way. Debbie's sister. Nasty!" Read more.

March 7, 2003 - When porn star Gina Lynn arrived on the set Eminem's new video 'Superman', she tells Entertainment Tonight that she was a bit intimidated, "but I got there and everybody was nice. He was really, really polite and introduced himself. Nothing like you would expect. He was genuinely nice to me." Then there's a scene in the video where the rapper and the adult star reportedly made love for 17 hours straight. "There's supposedly a lovemaking scene in the video," she says. "He's singing to me and telling me how he feels, and then the covers go over us and you'll have to see from there." Watch a video clip here.

March 5, 2003 - HitsDailyDouble.com reports Universal Studios Home Video will mark the '8 Mile' DVD release with a launch party hosted by Eminem at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall on March 13th. The party will include a Rap Battle Competition, with winners from around the country flown in to face-off in a contest judged by the film's co-star Mekhi Phifer and D12's Proof. The grand prize winner gets to record their own demo at the Record Plant in Hollywood. The DVD extras include Eminem's 'Superman' video, the only place it's available.

March 5, 2003 - MTV News reports Eminem has been living in the studio for the past few months, making sure his Shady Records empire stays on top by helping out on Obie Trice's spring debut, and will later help with D12's sophomore effort, due this summer. Later in the year, he'll be prepping his next album for a 2004 release sometime in the first quarter. Read more.

March 5, 2003 - MTV News reports the "Eminem" bank robber show has come to an end. After 11 heists, the Marshall Mathers look-alike robber was nabbed following his latest job. "There were banks being held up all over the area and we hadn't been hit yet, so we had additional units out there paying attention," said Belleville Police Department Captain Frank Mano after he was captured outside Valley National Bank in Belleville on Thursday morning. Read more.

March 5, 2003 - Carrie Stetler of the Minneapolis Star-Ledger profiled Jessica Lorenzo of Middletown High School South, who baked cupcakes with the letter 'E' spelled out in M&Ms and brought them to cheerleading practice in honor of Eminem's birthday last October. Her fellow cheerleaders called her "obsessed," but they ate the cupcakes. They asked for a fan who thought Eminem was a good father and got a response from Jessica. "He is a hell of a father," wrote Jessica. "When Hailie was 1 year old ...he could not afford to even buy diapers. ...He started working hard and finally made it. It was all for his little girl. He would give the world to Hailie if he could. What more could a daughter ask for? A daddy who loves her with all his heart." Twelve-year-old Laura McCabe said otherwise. Read more.

March 4, 2003 - Launch.com reports Eminem was in suburban Detroit on Saturday (March 1) to check out Buddha Fulla Rymez, a group that is rumored to be the next signee for his Shady Records label. Eminem attended the show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre with his ex-wife Kim, a bodyguard, and other friends. He watched the performance from the venue's VIP mezzanine area and then visited with the group backstage after the show.

March 4, 2003 - The transcript to Debbie Nelson's interview with Bill O'Reilly on 'The Pulse' about her son Eminem has been posted. Asked when the last time she spoke with Slim, Debbie revealed, "I saw Marshall probably about two or three weeks ago and then late Christmas Eve or Christmas day or night when he came out to the car with things he'd bought for his little brother." Check out the entire transcript here.

March 3, 2003 - Asked how he feels about expressing true feelings on his albums only to be outsold by a guy like Eminem or 50 Cent, Talib Kweli refuses the bait and tells Ed Masley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "There's no accident to why they're there. They're there 'cause they're some of the best and they work very hard. 50's been through a lot of sh** and now is just his time. Eminem, I've seen the sh** he went through." Then, with a laugh, he added. "They're both older than me. You know, it's all good." Read more.

March 1, 2003 - Mya714 writes "Allhiphop.com reports that Eminem's mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, appeared on Fox's television news show, The Pulse(Feb. 27). Briggs spoke with Bill O'Reilly about Eminem, saying the world famous rapper was very unhappy. "From what I've heard, Marshall has been drinking alot. Drinking is an escape," Debbie Mathers said. "He's my son. It's very dangerous out there, the rap world I was told can be very deadly." Read more."

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