Eminem once wanted Mariah Carey to play his mom in *8 Mile*, according to producer Damizza, who says the singer “did not like that s**t at all.”
Eminem once pitched Mariah Carey for the role of his troubled mother in 8 Mile, according to longtime music executive Damion “Damizza” Young.
Damizza revealed the unexpected casting idea during a podcast appearance last week.
Speaking on the TFU Podcast, Damizza claimed the Detroit rapper reached out to him directly with a vision for Carey to portray Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith’s mother in the 2002 semi-autobiographical Hip-Hop drama.
At the time, Mariah Carey was only four years older than Eminem, but he reportedly believed she was the right fit for the emotionally complex role.
“So I go to Mariah, and I’m like, ‘Look, Eminem wants to meet you,’ and she’s like, ‘No,’” Damizza recalled, describing his first attempt to connect the two artists.
According to Damizza, the conversation happened while he was advising Carey against accepting a part in the critically panned film Glitter.
Once he clarified that Eminem was proposing a film role—not a duet—Carey reconsidered.
The producer said he initially tried to talk Eminem out of the idea.
“I pleaded with him not to offer Mariah the movie role,” Damizza said, but he eventually agreed to arrange a call between the two.
During that phone conversation, Damizza claimed Eminem told Carey directly, “I want you to play my mother.”
“She did not like that s**t at all,” Damizza said. “*Her insecurities kicked in big time.*”
The part of B-Rabbit’s alcoholic mother ultimately went to Kim Basinger, whose performance was praised for its raw portrayal of a broken parent in a struggling Detroit household.
Released in 2002, 8 Mile became a box office success, earning Eminem an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself.”
The film remains a defining moment in his career and a staple in Hip-Hop cinema.
Related
