It turns out that Eminem‘s memorable “Stan” music video reportedly almost had a different lead actor.
Devon Sawa, who starred in it, did a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight where he revealed that directors Dr. Dre and Philip Atwell were aiming for another child star — but it didn’t work out.
“Full disclosure: they went out to Macaulay Culkin first, I believe,” Sawa said. “I think that they wanted him, and he wasn’t available, or didn’t want to do it or whatever.”
“Then Dre, who had just seen Final Destination and was a fan, suggested [me],” he added. “There happened to be somebody in the casting office that knew somebody who was friends with me, and they called me that way… and it ended up working out pretty good.”
Looking back on it, it seems wild to picture the Home Alone star playing a character that idolized and imitated Eminem in 2000. However, when Entertainment Tonight reached out to Culkin and Eminem’s representatives, they didn’t return a comment to confirm.
Although the part could’ve gone to someone else, Sawa did point out just how lucky he still feels to have been selected. “It’s also one of the proudest things I’ve been a part of,” he shared. “I’ll tell you one thing, I know it better now than I did that day. Because I’ve heard it millions of times since.”
The iconic music video for Eminem’s hit song ‘Stan’ is etched in the memories of hip-hop fans worldwide. But what if we told you that the obsessive superfan role almost went to none other than ‘Home Alone’ star Macaulay Culkin?
In a surprising reveal, ‘Chucky’ actor Devon Sawa recently disclosed that Culkin was initially the top choice for the role of Stan in Eminem’s iconic music video. However, due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons, Culkin couldn’t take on the role, opening the door for Sawa to step in.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Sawa explained, “They went out to Macaulay Culkin first. I think that they wanted him, and he wasn’t available, or didn’t want to do it or whatever.”
It was hip-hop legend Dr. Dre, who directed the video, that suggested Sawa for the role after being impressed by his performance in the film ‘Final Destination’. With Dre’s recommendation, Sawa landed the memorable role of Stan, the obsessive Eminem fan who meets a tragic end in the video.
Reflecting on the experience, Sawa shared, “There happened to be somebody in the casting office that knew somebody who was friends with me, and they called me that way… and it ended up working out pretty good.”
Even after almost 25 years since the video’s release, Sawa still remembers the lyrics of ‘Stan’ and admitted to jamming along whenever he hears it. The video’s impact on his career is profound, and Sawa considers it one of the proudest moments of his career.
Interestingly, Sawa wanted to recreate his iconic ‘Stan’ look for his role in the horror series ‘Chucky’, but the show’s creator, Don Mancini, vetoed the idea.
At the time of ‘Stan’s release, Culkin hadn’t appeared on screen in six years, marking a significant departure from his ‘Home Alone’ days.
With the whole rap world at each other’s necks, you know Benzino would continue to bait Eminem. Speaking with TMZ, Benzino revealed his “Rap Elvis” track but a battery in his back to take on Slim Shady.
“I’m willing to do so,” Benzino said. “I’m willing to challenge him right here on TMZ. Face-to-face battle, three rounds. I believe I can take him.
“Now, when we was battling, I probably wouldn’t have said that 20 years from now. But since then, I’ve mastered my craft, and I’m in the best lyrical shape of my life. I’m ready to battle Eminem. And I think that will be great for hip-hop.”
Last month, Benzino shared a compilation of Shady saying the “n-word” and claims the legendary rapper is racist.
“Thoughout history you always had some black people who will constantly make excuses for racist white people,” Benzino wrote. “There will always be someone of color who thinks this is ok and it’s sad.”
Just a day before, Benzino turned his attention toward Eminem. With the trailer for the “Doomsday Pt. 2” video out from Shady, Benzino criticized the legend’s face.
“Can someone tell me what in the plastic surgery happened to his face??” Benzino wrote. “He looks like a walking corpse. Nah…this ain’t it. RAP ELVIS DESTROYED @Eminem.”
Last month, appearing on The Art of Dialogue, Benzino claims he “destroyed” Eminem, referring to his “Rap Elvis” single.
“‘Rap Elvis’ already destroyed him,” Benzino said. “I already killed him with ‘Rap Elvis.’ Where’s he at? Where’s the response? I want to battle him face-to-face. I think he’s overrated and sucks as a rapper.”
A week before that, in the same Drink Champs episode where Benzino called out Eminem, he also cried and said he doesn’t hate Eminem.
In the opening part of Benzino’s episode, he is brazen in his opinion toward Slim Shady.
“F**k Eminem and fuck everybody down with Eminem,” Benzino opened. “My thing is, that n**a won’t face me. When we was in Puerto Rico I was with west with a gun on the dashboard and we caught Green Lantern outside the DJ convention. Don’t f**k around with me.
“We come from a whole different trenches. That n***a ain’t us.”
Benzino challenges Eminem to a three round rap battle and goes off on Eminem for dissing his daughter Coi Leray.
But once the liquor set in, Benzino had a softer response, even crying.
“I don’t hate Eminem. I don’t know him to hate him,” Benzino said. “I don’t hate white people tired of this shit, man. It’s just too much. I don’t want to be the bad guy.
“Eminem ain’t no bad person. He belongs in Hip Hop. It’s a big racist problem in America right now and Eminem could probably stop half of it.”
The Detroit native might be one of the most sought-after rappers on the planet, but now, he’s giving fans an unexpected, rare opportunity to be part of his next project.
Taking to his 42 million followers on Instagram and 22.1 million followers on Twitter, Eminem posted a photo that teased an exciting new announcement: “Stan, Untitled Documentary.” The two logos underneath are Eminem and Shady Films.
The caption reads: “Looking for Stans for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here: https://bio.site/stansfilm“
News of this documentary was revealed earlier this year that Eminem was slated to co-produce the Stans documentary, which is based on the world of superfans. The term “Stan” was coined by Em himself in 2000 thanks to his viral smash of the same name, found on the The Marshal Mathers LP.
Of course, “Stan” really embodied the idea of an over-obsessed fan, but these submissions target his fanbase on a positive note. The open call directs fans to click on the link that leads to a questionnaire, which we’d assume would filter out the applicants. Examples of questions include:
“When/how did you first hear Eminem?
What are some things in your life that you’ve accomplished thanks to Eminem/his music?
Do you remember when Eminem took a break from touring/releasing albums circa 2005? If so, how did that impact you?
Has Eminem or his music helped you through any difficult times? Please share.”
Last December, Lil Uzi Vert told TMZ that they wanted to at least pause their music career “to make women’s clothes.” Uzi might be using Coachella 2024 for a dry run of their designs. The Philadelphia rapper hasn’t abandoned music entirely, seeing as their main purpose for being at Coachella is to perform this Friday night, April 12, and next Friday night, April 19, but Uzi’s merch is dominating the headlines so far.
Several X accounts (formerly Twitter), including Complex, are circulating photos of Uzi’s merch table at Coachella. A $40 black graphic tee featuring a photo of Uzi above the word “THEMINEM” is for sale. Yes, Lil Uzi Vert turned Eminem’s name into a statement on identity. (Lil Uzi Vert publicly began identifying with they/them pronouns in July 2022.) We should expect nothing less from Uzi, a chronically clever mind.
Eminem should be honored, but at the very least, he can probably appreciate the humor in it. Just last month, Em appeared in a “Dre’s Anatomy” skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. He also pulled an April Fools’ Day joke. Not to mention, Eminem posted he’s “looking for Stans” this week as a casting call for his upcoming documentary. Pro tip: Put Uzi in the film.
Arguably Eminem’s biggest hater, Benzino, has been on his neck with full force in recent months. The two MCs have traded insults over diss tracks, even bringing the latter’s daughter, Coi Leray, into the beef. While the former head of The Source certainly has Em’s attention, at this time he’s more concerned with casting some of his biggest fans in a documentary he’s been working on at Shady Films. As Uproxx reports, on Wednesday (April 10), the Detroit native’s Twitter/X profile lit up with a casting call message urging fans to tell what Eminem means to them on a website for the film.
“ Looking for Stans for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here,” the tweet reads. The attached questionnaire asks interested people when and how they first heard about Slim Shady, whether they consider themselves to be a “stan,” any merchandise they might’ve collected over the years, fan fiction authors, or artists who’ve created works inspired by the “Mockingbird” hitmaker.
Though it’s common slang today, the word “stan” wasn’t used in popular culture until Em’s Marshall Mathers LP in 2000. On the song “Stan,” an overzealous fan writes letters to his favourite rapper, suggesting he’s forming a parasocial connection with the rising star. As Slim’s busy schedule keeps him from getting back to his supporters, Stan takes the distance as rejection and ultimately ends his own life, along with his girlfriend. By the time the 8 Mile actor does respond in the final verse, it’s too late.
Eminem is among the group of rappers who’ve been holding off on sharing new music for several years now, meaning his fans are more hungry than ever. His Stan documentary is sure to provide them with entertainment, but still, there’s a lot that listeners are expecting from his rumoured 2024 album. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Eminem is looking for real-life Stans to appear in his upccoming documentary about the phenomenon. The Detroit rap icon famously coined the term that has become the bane of online music discussion and now, he wants his biggest fans to share their stories. He tweeted out a link to a questionnaire that asks when and how respondents first heard about Eminem, whether they consider themselves Stans or not, whether they collect Eminem merch, write fan fiction about him, or make artwork inspired by him.
The term “Stan” was famously coined by Eminem in a song from the 2000 Marshall Mathers LP of the same name. The titular character was a fan who wrote increasingly unhinged letters to Eminem (expressed in first-person lyrics from Eminem in character and played by Devon Sawa in the music video) as he engaged in a one-sided, parasocial friendship with the rap star. The song ends with Stan interpreting a lack of response from Eminem as a rejection, snapping, and driving his car off a bridge with his girlfriend locked in the trunk. In the final verse, Eminem does get around to responding, only to realize that he’s too late.
While he likely meant the song as a tongue-in-cheek satire of fans’ obsessions with celebrities, in recent years, the term has been applied to online fan clubs who engage in targeted bullying campaigns against stars’ perceived rivals and critics. These attacks have been known to escalate into offline harassment, including “swatting” or “doxing” victims (calling in false police reports or sharing private information online) and even allegedly threatening to vandalize family members’ gravesites.
Eminem’s Stans have even harassed writers of this very site (y’all really did not like our reviews of his last few albums). Maybe you can include those stories on the questionnaire, which you can find here.
Benzino is synonymous with hip-hop beef. The former publisher of The Source magazine is best known for his long-standing battle with Eminem and Shady Records, and has continued to pick fights with artists ever since. It’s just what he does. Benzino recently hopped on Instagram Live and took aim at another (former) Shady Records signee, Joe Budden. The media mogul claims he was supposed to have a boxing match against Budden, but the latter backed out.
Benzino vs. Budden might sound like a throwback to the aughts, the boxing match was supposed to happen this year. The ex-publisher claimed that he threatened to break Budden’s jaw, and the former rapper told him he’d accept the challenge. “We got in touch with celebrity boxing,” he explained. “I was on the phone with Joe’s manager Ian and they backed out the fight.” The Source mastermind saw the decision as a sign of weakness, and proceeded to trash talk Budden further. “Joe ran his mouth and he backed out the fight,” he added. “He must have been thinking about that straw that he was going to be sipping out of.”
Budden, who’s best known as an internet personality these days, had plenty to say about Benzino on his self-titled podcast. He asserted that getting in the ring would be a very “bad idea” for Benzino, who is 15 years older. “Old n****s shouldn’t do that,” he noted. “He do too much s**t that old n****s shouldn’t do.” Furthermore, Budden clowned Benzino for getting dissed by Eminem on the recent song “Doomsday, Pt. 2.” Budden and Eminem have had a contentious relationship since the former left Shady Records, but he joked that Benzino’s antics actually has him on Eminem’s side yet again. “Now me and Em on the same side — look what you did,” he said.
All jokes aside, Budden dismissed the match as an attempt to get more attention. He told his podcast listeners that he’s never had an issue with Benzino before, so the notion of him being threatened and then being offered a boxing match was a “horrible” idea. “I ain’t never had a problem with Benzino, but Benzino do make being 50 look corny,” Budden concluded. It looks as though the ex-publisher is going to have to refocus his attention on Eminem, who he also challenged to a celebrity boxing match. Unsurprisingly, the Detroit rapper has not even acknowledged the challenge.
Hailie Mathers was born into a world of lyrical warfare, the doting subject of rap titan Eminem’s verses and the emotional cornerstone of his legendary narrative. The limelight was practically her birthright, but what’s interesting is her choice to sidestep the path of celebrity excess. In a world where the offspring of the rich and famous often find it difficult to carve out their own identity, Hailie has managed to find her own footing. According to Bio Overview, a glance into her financial status reveals an impressive net worth of $2 million.
From Daddy’s Rhymes To Graduation Caps
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Eminem and Hailie Jade Mathers attends the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Eclipsed by a father whose name reverberates from Detroit to Dubai, Hailie Jade Scott Mathers set out to chart a course that would grant her individuality and personal fulfillment. She could have chosen the glamour of the entertainment industry, but she took a different route, opting for education. She majored in psychology and graduated near the top of her class at Michigan State University, a commendable achievement that might not be rhymed about but deserves its own form of applause.
Spotlight On The Lesser Known
Despite being the muse of a rap god, Hailie Mathers has managed to remain almost enigmatic. With 2 million followers on Instagram, her social media profile serves as a curated collection of moments that reflect a life of subtlety, including posts about travel, love, and a meticulously crafted existence that diverges from the chaos that often surrounds her father. Whether sharing life hacks or the latest trip to an idyllic destination, Hailie maintains a digital footprint that is more about composure than chaos.
Quiet Philanthropy & Modest Investments
While her public ventures are understated, Hailie Mathers is no stranger to making strategic moves in the background. With an estimated net worth of $2 million, she’s not just stashing that cash in a vault. Investments in wellness and mental health initiatives indicate a young woman who understands the gravity of giving back and making meaningful contributions. Though details are scant, it’s clear that Hailie has more than a passing interest in using her financial resources for both personal growth and the betterment of others.
Recap
So, whether it’s navigating the complexities of being Eminem’s daughter or building her own sanctuary of peace and accomplishment, Hailie Mathers proves that fortune is not just what’s in one’s bank account but also the richness of one’s own journey. And speaking of fortune, Hailie’s thoughtful life choices and prudent investments have cumulatively contributed to a net worth of $2 million, an amount that speaks not just to her financial acumen, but to her character as well.
Dr. Dre recently announced via Jimmy Kimmel Livethat a new Eminem album is on the way. According to the acclaimed producer, the project is nearly finished, meaning it could be released very soon. For the last several years, Eminem has taken to surprise album drops with no advanced notice or promotional singles, meaning the latest still-untitled project could be released any day now. While fans are understandably excited, Eminem has hit a few stutter steps in his career that raise trepidation in hip hop heads awaiting his latest full-length release, with hardcore Stans hoping for a few specific outcomes. Let’s examine five things we desperately want from Eminem’s forthcoming eleventh solo studio album.
5. A Tight Tracklist
Eminem’s career on the mic has spanned over three decades at this point, meaning the veteran MC has persisted through a number of industry trends. One issue plaguing new releases right now is overly bloated tracklists designed to capitalize on streaming hours. While some artists, such as French Montana, have released albums clocking in at over 90 minutes, others have taken to tightening their projects down to only 7-9 tracks to provide a quality-over-quantity approach. While Eminem’s biggest fans would certainly be happy to take in as much new music as possible on the new album, it may be best for the 51-year-old to focus on a concise, thematically-focused LP with no filler.
Eminem’s last full-length efforts, Music To Be Murdered By Sides A and B, were criticized for containing 20 and 16 tracks, respectively, offering fans a sort of “throw it at the wall and see what sticks” approach. His next album should remove extraneous tracks and skits and offer a tight tracklist that leaves fans wanting more.
4. Dr. Dre Beats & Production
Some of Eminem’s best work, dating back to the origins of his career, has seen him locking in with his mentor and frequent collaborator Dr. Dre. Luckily, Dre has already confirmed his involvement with the new album during his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, stating, “I’ve got songs on it, and it’s fire.” While there’s no way of knowing just how involved Dr. Dre is with the full production, the legendary producer confirmed that he would listen to the full draft and provide some additional mixing shortly after his television interview. If the fans are truly lucky, Dr. Dre’s production and mixing credits will be all over this new album.
3. No More Pop-Inspired Radio Singles
Songs such as “Love The Way You Lie,” “Not Afraid,” and “Monster” have their place in Eminem’s discography, and that place is in the past. At this point, it seems obvious that there is simply no need for Eminem to continue flexing his pop-friendly radio appeal, especially when artists such as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and even Drake have proven that you don’t need to sacrifice style for substance to make hit records. Eminem’s next project would benefit from following the blueprint of recent Nas albums produced in collaboration with Hit-Boy. These projects, which include the King’s Diseaseand Magic trilogies, prove that middle-aged legacy artists can still reach career highs while remaining true to their roots and offering straight bars to their base of hardcore hip hop heads.
While Music To Be Murdered By and Side B offered fewer radio-type songs than some of Em’s previous work, they still had moments that dipped into pop territory, with features from the likes of Skylar Grey and Ed Sheeran. While we mean no disrespect to radio-friendly pop musicians, these tunes have always rubbed Eminem’s core listener base the wrong way. If there’s any hope for the celebrated artist to drop a late-career classic, he needs to do away with the notion that a female-sung chorus is a cheat code for album sales.
2. Features From Other Hip Hop Legends
To further build off the previous point, Eminem should enlist the rhyming efforts of other rap industry veterans, who can motivate the Detroit-born artist to lay some of his most competitive bars yet. Eminem has been in the studio with artists like Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Nas, Kid Cudi, and more in recent years, prompting some of his finest feature verses in a long time. With any luck, the new album could see Shady Records collaborators like 50 Cent, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Westside Boogie joining the tracklist.
Eminem’s most critically panned albums, such as 2018’s Revival, have leaned too heavily on pop singer guest vocalists in place of hardcore lyricists. There is no question that Eminem’s pen game is as elite as some of the leading names in the industry today, and there’s absolutely no reason why celebrated rhymers like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, or Freddie Gibbs would snub the opportunity to get on wax alongside the “Real Slim Shady” rapper.
1. Cool, Laid Back Flows
One of the biggest issues plaguing Eminem’s body of work in the last several years has been his aggressive, shouting, staccato flow. While the angsty vibes may have been a welcome crutch to deliver some mind-boggling bars on a track or two, Eminem has become the subject of memes and ridicule for his frequent overindulgence of this flow. Some of his newer feature verses on tracks such as “The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady” with Kid Cudi, “Lord Above” with Fat Joe, or even Lyrical Lemonade’s “Doomsday Pt. 2” have seen Eminem relaxing and delivering his bars with a slick, chilled-out vibe, allowing the rhymes to speak for themselves. If the fans are fortunate, the new Eminem album will feature new and inventive delivery without the tired staccato that the rapper has come to rely on.
Of course, Eminem’s core base will eat the new album up no matter what, though the project could be instrumental in shaping the opinion of a new generation of hip hop listeners. As Eminem transitions into a new phase in his career, the eyes of the hip hop community will no doubt be tracking his every move.
for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here: 
(@uziawge) 
for a documentary produced by Eminem & Shady Films. To share your story, please answer the questions here,” the tweet reads. The attached questionnaire asks interested people when and how they first heard about Slim Shady, whether they consider themselves to be a “stan,” any merchandise they might’ve collected over the years, fan fiction authors, or artists who’ve created works inspired by the “Mockingbird” hitmaker.
