When Eminem comes to the UK, he tends to cause headlines. With his new album soaring to No. 1, the Detroit rapper recently flew to Britain for a whirlwind promo run. Part of this included a surprise performance at Flippers, the cult Roller Disco in West London, where he appeared alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The show, curated by Gin & Juice, left fans buzzing with excitement.
This latest visit brought to mind some classic Eminem stories, including the infamous ‘hidden’ rap battle from his multi award-winning film, 8 Mile. The film, a semi-fictionalised account of Eminem’s own rise to fame, features him as B-Rabbit, a working-class kid with an unyielding passion for rap music.
The film’s climax is a rap battle between B-Rabbit and Papa Doc, played by Anthony Mackie. To add authenticity, dozens of Detroit rappers were hired as extras for the scene. To further energize the atmosphere, an actual rap battle was held among the extras, with the winner earning a spot in a montage sequence alongside Eminem.
Detroit rapper Marv Won emerged victorious in this battle, securing his place in the montage. However, he was supposed to remain silent during filming to protect his voice. But the competitive spirit in the room took over. Marv Won couldn’t resist throwing some bars in Eminem’s direction, and the superstar, unable to back down from a challenge, responded in kind. The result was an electrifying impromptu rap battle that left the crowd in awe.
Eminem recounted the moment to Entertainment Weekly: “I was told that the mics were going to be off when we were doing the montage scenes of Rabbit coming up through the ranks and we were supposed to pantomime. For some reason, some of the others’ mics were on and they started going at me in front of the crowd.”
Marv Won reflected on the moment with MTV: “After I spit my verse, the crowd was loving me. So, the competitor in him just couldn’t let that go. I wish he wasn’t as petty and I wish he was a bigger man and let me have my damn moment, but he didn’t.”
In the end, Eminem came out on top, earning the respect of everyone present. Though the scene was ultimately cut from the film, it was included as a bonus feature on the DVD. This inclusion turned out to be a significant career boost for Marv Won.
“It was really huge for me because that was one of the main scenes they sold the DVD on… That was the footage they sent to ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ ‘Extra’ and ‘Access Hollywood.’ It really helped my visibility,” Marv Won recalled.
This hidden rap battle is a testament to Eminem’s unyielding competitive spirit and his roots in the battle rap scene. It also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable, spontaneous moments that can propel emerging artists into the spotlight.
