American Rapper and actor Nashawn Breedlove who did an 8 mile rap battle face-off against Eminem has been confirmed dead at 46.
His mother took to her Facebook page to confirm the sad news.
“Nashawn was a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. No one could deny his talent. Nashawn’s departure from this world has left an immense void in my life, one that words cannot fully express.
“I can’t put into words the pain and hurt that I feel. He was not just my son; he was a remarkable man whose character and strength inspired all who crossed his path.”
In 8 Mile, Breedlove plays the character Lotto, a freestyle rapper immersed in Detroit’s hip-hop culture. Lotto is a member of the rap group The Free World, Jimmy’s rival in the film.
Eminem also played Jimmy, or B-Rabbit, a white rapper from Detroit trying to make it in the majority Black world of hip-hop.
The most memorable part of 8 Mile was when Jimmy and Lotto faced off in a rap battle at a venue known as The Shelter.
Lotto threw jabs at Jimmy’s whiteness, saying: “I’ll spit a racial slur, honky, sue me/This shit is a horror flick, but the Black guy doesn’t die in this movie.” He adds later, “You think these niggas gon’ feel the shit you say?/I got a better chance joinin’ the KKK.”
Jimmy ended up winning the battle, but Lotto’s bars were amazing and recognized.
Rapper Mickey Factz took to Instagram to pay tribute to Breedlove, posting the battle from “8 Mile” and writing, “RIP to one of the few emcee’s to beat Eminem… Lotto from 8 Mile. Who’s friends lovingly called him, OX. You will be missed for your tenacity and aggressiveness.”
