Zayn Malik just opened his first BBC Radio 1 show with a surprising confession: Eminem helped shape his story more than fans ever realised. The former One Direction star said he has always seen a piece of himself in 8 Mile, the film that turned Eminem’s rise into a global inspiration.
Zayn used his broadcast to shout out the artists who built his musical foundation. He played tracks he loves and spoke openly about the sounds that raised him. Notably, American rap music and Eminem.
The 32-year-old said rap music shaped his teenage years, especially while growing up in Bradford. His father blasted Biggie so loud that, as Zayn joked, “the whole street could hear it”. Rap was always in the house and in the background of his life.
Then came 8 Mile, and the movie hit him hard. “I saw Eminem’s 8 Mile movie and felt like he grew up in a similar environment to me. Everything he overcame was incredibly inspiring. Eminem will always be one of the top rappers. He’s a genius”, Zayn said on BBC Radio 1.
Why 8 Mile Changed Everything For Him
8 Mile follows a young rapper fighting through poverty, frustration, and family struggles while chasing a final shot at success. Zayn saw more than a movie; he saw a mirror.
He recognised the weight of expectation, the pressure of proving himself, and the fear of losing a dream before it even starts. Zayn felt the connection so strongly that it helped shape his early ambitions.
This connection grew even deeper after he auditioned as a solo singer on The X Factor in 2010. Zayn knew that moment was his own battle-rap moment, his own “one shot”. He also knew that Eminem’s grit and survival story made him believe in his own path.
Zayn said he still sees “strong similarities” between their journeys, even though their careers took different shapes. Yet the core remains the same: two artists trying to break out of tough beginnings and prove themselves to the world.
