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Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith is the main protagonist and a young underground rapper who frequently performed in rap battles, well known for beating the rapper Papa Doc and becoming the new champion, He is portrayed by the rapper Eminem
The film follows him being a young white rapper who lives in a trailer park on 8 Mile Road, just outside of Detroit. Jimmy learns to rap at The Shelter, a real-life hip-hop venue in Detroit with a long history. B-Rabbit has a rough relationship with his mother, a soft spot for his younger sibling, and a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship with a young blonde woman.
Nothing is known of his father. It is only slightly clear about what Rabbit was doing before the events of 8 Mile. According to Future he's a "lyrical genius" and would likely have been writing and performing songs for a few years . He was in a relationship with Jeneane, which ended just before the events of the film.
At the beginning of 8 Mile we see him preparing for a rap battle at The Shelter, an underground club. He is clearly nervous and vomits before the show. He takes the stage to face Lil' Tic (Proof), but much to his embarrassment he chokes and leaves the venue in disgrace.
The rest of the film focuses on his life and deciding about how he wants to make it in the rap game. After losing his job at a pizza parlour and splitting up with Jeneane, he's forced to move back in with his mother who lives in a trailer park with his young sister Lily. There is immediate heated conflict with his mother's boyfriend Greg Buehl who was at one time only a couple of years above Rabbit at school. Jimmy at some point started working at a pressing plant in New Detroit Stamping in order to earn some money, but it was not enough for him to sustain himself properly; he was also scolded constantly at work by his boss for being late and not taking responsibility for this.