Eminem New Album 2013 Release Date & Song List: Hip Hop Shop, Venue of Rapper's '8 Mile' To Re-Open [VIDEO]
Hip Hop Shop, the legendary venue where Eminem and other underground Detroit rapper's made their mark, is reopening soon.
"You're on fire/You need to stop drop and roll/'Cause when you say the shit to get the whole Hip Hop Shop to blow /You're on fire," Eminem says in reference to the iconic venue in his song "Fire" from 2010's Recovery.
Hip Hop Shop opened on Detroit's 7th Mile on Dec. 3, 1993 thanks to Jerome Mongo and Maurice Malone. Every Saturday until 1998, rappers like Slim Shady and the group D12 participated in open mic freestyle battles.
"Everybody knew Em was good, but they didn't know he was going to blow up like he did," Marty Pendergast, 51, who owned a store next door to Hip Hop Shop told MLive. "He was consistent. He wasn't going to stop until he got to where he wanted to be, got his break."
When Hip Hop Shop re-opens, however, the venue will feature the new additions of visual art and extreme sports.
"It will be a whole different vibe," Mongo said. "It's going to be totally different clothing. The scene isn't going to be recreated. It's going to be totally different - totally different."
The stage shown in 8 Mile, where Eminem as Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith first choked and then earned respect as one of Detroit's finest, is based off of Hip Hop Shop. Proof, the late rapper who was a part of D12, was the actual master of ceremonies for Hip Hop Shop.
The new location for Hip Hop Shop has yet to be finalized. Cass Corridor and Eastern Market are under consideration.
Check out the video below where Proof hosts as Eminem battles Kuniva on Feb. 17, 1996: