Kendrick Lamar Delivers Stellar Performance At Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Concert

Eminem has earned another platinum certification for the 8 Mile soundtrack, just as he wraps up his final celebration of the project’s 20th anniversary.

According to the official website of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), 8 Mile earned its 6x platinum certification on November 17, just weeks after the project’s official anniversary, which fell on October 29.

In honor of the 20-year milestone, Eminem delivered a deluxe version of the 2002 project on October 28. The 8 Mile Expanded Edition features all 12 of the songs originally featured on the soundtrack, along with instrumentals to each of the tracks.

https://twitter.com/HipHopDX/status/1594427898462580736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1594427898462580736%7Ctwgr%5Ef1f3784d404c6d704450c0bf6d578f4637b07bd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhiphopdx.com%2Fnews%2Fkendrick-lamar-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-concert

While this marks Kendrick Lamar’s first-ever appearance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hip Hop and R&B acts have seemingly become a main attraction at the popular F1 after-race concert series, with J. Cole performing at the event in 2019 and The Weeknd gracing the same stage the year following.

Kendrick Lamar’s recent appearance in Abu Dhabi adds another emphatic and electric layer to the globetrotting campaign he embarked on in July in support of his album, which he refers to as the “reward for humanity.”

“I’m still standing here screaming "f*** the Free World."" #8Mile 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the soundtrack drops on streaming Friday! pic.twitter.com/qAU897MKuV

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) October 26, 2022

Not included on the revamped album, however, is Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones” instrumental, which was deeply embedded within the 8 Mile film, appearing multiple times throughout. Havoc recently told HipHopDX that he was “taken aback” when he first saw the iconic scene of Em’s B-Rabbit character freestyling over the classic beat.

“I mean I was really taken aback because I didn’t even know if Eminem was a fan,” Havoc told DX on the BET Hip Hop Awards red carpet. “So to hear that, I found out he was a fan and then the cha-ching sound went off in my head. It bought this Fendi sweater.”

Eminem followed the re-release with a special pop-up event involving his Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant. The New York City pop-up wrapped up on Sunday (November 20) after 10 days at the Shopify space in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.

Eminem first announced plans for a Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant back in 2017, and it finally became a reality when Em opened the eatery’s first brick-and-mortar shop in Detroit in 2021. The menu includes $9 cartons of spaghetti (or $12 with meatballs), $11 “s’ghetti” sandwiches, and $14 cartons of spaghetti with vegan meatballs.

The name of the restaurant is pulled from Eminem’s seminal hit “Lose Yourself,” which was born from the classic battle rap movie, which hit theaters on November 8, 2002.

“Lose Yourself” would go on to be the first rap song to win Best Original Song at the Oscars in 2003. It would then win Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance at the 2004 Grammy Awards and earn Slim Shady his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Eminem fans have a chance to keep the celebration going as the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was made available to stream on HBO Max beginning Saturday (November 19).

During the event, which was held at the Microsoft Theater on November 5, Dr. Dre welcomed his former protégé to his place in the Rock Hall’s Class of 2022 with a speech that highlighted Em’s impact on the rap game.

The two then shared the stage to perform a medley of hits including “My Name Is” and “Rap God.” Eminem also brought out Steve Tyler to deliver a live rendition of the Aerosmith sample that appears on “Sing For The Moment.”

Additionally, he recruited Ed Sheeran and Elton John to support him in delivering “Stan,” “Forever” and “Not Afraid,” while also sharing the stage with The Alchemist and Denaun Porter.

Following the energetic performance, Slim Shady returned to the stage for his acceptance speech, during which he humbly told the audience that he was “not supposed to be here tonight.”

“One, I’m a rapper; two, I almost died from an overdose; and three, I really had to fight my way through,” he explained. “I’m a high school drop-out with a Hip Hop education.”

The Rock Hall’s Class of 2022 also included Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dolly Parton and Harry Belafonte.