What is the meaning of "16 mile road" in this particular rap?

In the first rap battle between B-Rabbit (Eminem) and Lil' Tic (Proof), Lil' Tic makes a reference to a "16 mile road": What does he mean?

Here us the video of that scene from Youtube.

8-mile

Best Answer

To understand what it means one needs to take a look at the remaining lyrics. The last two lines of that rap are

So put ya hockey stick and baseball bat away

Cause this here Detroit, 16 Mile road thataway, thataway

Let' break it down.

So put ya hockey stick and baseball bat away

Lil’ Tic is using "hockey stick and baseball bat" as a metaphor (perhaps stereotyping) to represent white people and specifically B-Rabbit here.

Cause this here Detroit,

this is Detroit which is our (black people's) area. Because Detroit is a demographically black predominant city.

16 Mile road thataway, thataway

and your (white people's*) area, 16 Mile road, is thataway - in the other direction, not here - meaning you don't belong here.

*16 Mile Road goes through following majors junctions where white people are demographically predominant.

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