Eminem and Battle Rap will forever be connected. The Rap superstar is producing a film on the art along with longtime manager Paul Rosenberg and Adi Shankar, which has been selected as the Midnight Madness Opening Night Film at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
According to the press release, Bodied is a satirical exploration of battle rapping. The film focuses on race relations as a graduate student becomes embroiled in the world of battle rap for his thesis. It premieres at TIFF on September 7. Famed music video director Joseph Kahn is directing the film while Anthony Michael Hall, Debra Wilson, Jackie Long, Charlamagne Tha God and Calum Worthy along with seasoned battle rappers Jonathan “Dumbfoundead” Park and Dizaster will star in it. Watch a trailer below.
Our #TIFF17 Midnight Madness Opening Night Film is @JosephKahn’s BODIED, with Anthony Michael Hall, Debra Wilson, @cthagod and @CalumWorthy. pic.twitter.com/MNZ6C2Vkiy
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 1, 2017
Said Adi Shankar on the film: “We meet certain people through the course of our lives who have a tectonic impact on us. These individuals guide us and then challenge us to become the best version of ourselves. That person for me has been Joseph Kahn. He’s believed in me as an artist, been generous with his knowledge, and forced me to push my creative boundaries.”