More Music From 8 Mile

Good things really do come to those who wait. Unlike its spotty predecessor, More Music From 8 Mile is a veritable goldmine of hip-hop classics. The disc fittingly opens and closes with the ominous "Shook Ones Pt. II" and "Survival Of The Fittest," both by Mobb Deep. In between, Pharcyde, Outkast and Notorious B.I.G. recall a golden era that today seems so distant. The soundtrack’s true worth, however, lies in the four classic Wu-Tang joints, including two from Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and the Wu-anthem "C.R.E.A.M." Never mind what 8 Mile inspired; these artists capture its essence better than Eminem or any of his contemporaries ever could.