Eminem’s final rap battle in ‘8 Mile’ with Anthony Mackie (Papa Doc) was more personal than anyone knew.
It turns out that Clarence’s parents did have a good marriage.
Actor Anthony Mackie, who played the role of Papa Doc, Eminem’s rival and final opponent during the last rap battle in 8 Mile, revealed some unique details about the film.
Mackie joined The Pivot Podcast on Tuesday, and explained that Eminem used the actor’s real life story during the final battle between the two. The Captain America actor said he and Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, “talked for two hours” about Mackie’s personal life, as the New York Post detailed.
“We’re on set one day, and he’s like, ‘Yo, it doesn’t make sense that we’re beefing,’” Mackie, 46, recalled. “I was like, ‘Right.’ He was like, ‘I need something on you.’”
Mackie quickly learned that giving the iconic rapper anything personal about his life meant that the information would take center stage in the film.
“I was like, ‘Alright man, I’ll see you later.’ I go to the casino,” Mackie said. “The next day, we’re shooting the battle scene, and that’s why I’m standing there like, ‘You’re talking about me. You’re not talking about Clarence. This has nothing to do with the character.”‘
Mackie recalled thinking at the time, “You’re an (expletive), Eminem. I wanna fight this mother (expletive). I’m like, yes, my parents are still married.”
8 Mile marked the film debuts of both Mackie and Eminem. The latter reportedly turned down numerous other movie roles to create the film, including Training Day, Southpaw and The Fast and the Furious.
