<P> In the Fall of 1995 in Detroit, Jimmy "B - Rabbit" Smith Jr. is a blue - collar worker from a poor family . He has moved back north of 8 Mile Road to the run - down trailer home in Warren, Michigan of his alcoholic mother Stephanie, his little sister Lily, and Stephanie's abusive live - in boyfriend Greg . Although encouraged by his friends, Jimmy worries about his potential as a rapper . He falters during a rap battle one night at a local venue, the Shelter, and he leaves the stage humiliated . </P> <P> Jimmy works at a car factory . When he asks for extra shifts, his supervisor laughs and dismisses his request on account of his habitual lateness . Jimmy befriends a woman named Alex . Over time, Jimmy begins to take more responsibility for the direction of his life . When he exhibits an improved attitude and performance at work, his supervisor grants him the extra shifts he requested . </P> <P> Stephanie receives a notice evicting her and the family as she cannot pay rent . Despite Stephanie's best attempts to keep the eviction notice a secret, Greg finds out about it . A fight ensues between him and Jimmy, and Greg leaves Stephanie for good . Jimmy's friendship with Wink, a radio DJ with ties to a record label promoter, becomes strained after he discovers that Wink does promotional work for Jimmy's rivals, a rap group known as the "Leaders of the Free World ." At one point, Jimmy and his friends get into a violent brawl with the Leaders, which is disrupted when Jimmy's friend Cheddar Bob pulls out a gun and accidentally shoots himself in the leg; he survives but is confined to crutches . </P> <P> At work one day when on lunch break, Jimmy witnesses a rap battle in which an employee insults a gay co-worker, Paul . Jimmy joins the battle and defends Paul . Alex is impressed by Jimmy's actions; they have sex in the factory . Wink arranges for Jimmy to meet with producers at a recording studio, but Jimmy finds Wink and Alex engaging in intercourse . Enraged, Jimmy attacks Wink as Alex tries to break up their altercation . In retaliation, Wink and the Leaders of the Free World assault Jimmy outside his mother's trailer . The leader of the gang, Papa Doc, holds Jimmy at gunpoint, threatening to kill him before being dissuaded by Wink . </P>

Who pulls out a gun when the leadaz of the free world and rabbits friends fight