<P> The film , set in 1995 and based heavily on Eminem 's real life upbringing , is an account of a young , aspiring white rapper named Jimmy `` B - Rabbit '' Smith Jr . ( Eminem ) , who lives in a trailer park in Warren , Michigan , and his attempt to launch a career in hip - hop , a genre dominated by African - Americans . The film 's title is derived from 8 Mile Road , the highway that runs along the border between predominantly black city of Detroit and Wayne County , and its predominantly white Oakland County and Macomb County suburbs . </P>
<P> The film , set in 1995 and based heavily on Eminem 's real life upbringing , is an account of a young , aspiring white rapper named Jimmy `` B - Rabbit '' Smith Jr . ( Eminem ) , who lives in a trailer park in Warren , Michigan , and his attempt to launch a career in hip - hop , a genre dominated by African - Americans . The film 's title is derived from 8 Mile Road , the highway that runs along the border between predominantly black city of Detroit and Wayne County , and its predominantly white Oakland County and Macomb County suburbs . </P>
who are the characters in 8 mile based on
who are the characters in 8 mile based on
Eminem 's real life upbringing
Eminem 's real life upbringing