- Eminem wanted Mariah Carey to play his alcoholic mother in his 2002 film debut, 8 Mile, according to producer Damion Young.
- Young, who worked with Carey on her 1998 single “I Still Believe”, introduced Eminem to Carey, who had expressed interest in film roles.
- Carey allegedly asked for Eminem’s number after learning the meeting was about a film role, despite initially declining to meet.
- During the call, Eminem suggested Carey play his mother, which Young said she “did not like that s*** at all” due to her insecurities.
- 8 Mile, based on Eminem’s early career, saw him playing an aspiring rapper and featured the hit song “Lose Yourself,” which won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Music producer Damion “Damizza” Young recently revealed a surprising detail about the casting process for Eminem‘s breakthrough film “8 Mile” during an appearance on the TFU Podcast. According to Young, the 52-year-old rapper specifically wanted Mariah Carey, now 56, to portray his mother in the 2002 biographical drama, despite the Grammy-winning singer being only four years his senior.
Young, who produced Carey’s 1998 single “I Still Believe” featuring Krayzie Bone and Da Brat, claims responsibility for introducing the two musical powerhouses. The industry veteran found himself in an unusual position when both artists were exploring film opportunities around the same time period.
Referring to the opportunity as Carey’s “Achilles’ heel,” Young described his dilemma: “If I don’t say something and then it comes another route in the business or something, then I’m the bad guy,” he explained.
At the time, Carey had recently achieved success with “Heartbreaker,” featuring JAY-Z, and was actively seeking movie roles to expand her career beyond music. Young was simultaneously advising her against signing onto the independent film “Glitter” when Eminem’s team reached out with the “8 Mile” opportunity. Young initially hesitated to facilitate the meeting, particularly given Eminem’s previous conflicts with other female artists, such as Christina Aguilera.
The Awkward Casting Conversation
When Young finally approached Carey about the potential collaboration, her initial response was negative. “So I go to Mariah, and I’m like, ‘Look, Eminem wants to meet you,’ and she’s like, ‘No,'” Young recalled his first attempt. However, once she learned the meeting concerned a film role, Carey reportedly requested Eminem’s contact information.
Despite Young’s warnings about potential complications, Eminem insisted his intentions were purely professional regarding the movie role. Young claimed he pleaded with the rapper, saying, “Don’t do this. I know where you’re going with this,” referencing Eminem’s history with Aguilera. The producer warned, “I’m managing this girl, and it’s gonna cause me a problem.”