WATCH: Obama Channels Eminem For His Rapping Debut at a Detroit Kamala Rally, But Did He Nail It?

The former president rapped the opening lyrics to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at a rally in Detroit.

23 Oct 2024, 16:57 by Noah A. McGee · The Root

Photo: DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP (Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama has a well-documented history of catching folks off guard by breaking out into song at a podium. There was that time he sang “Amazing Grace” at the funeral for South Carolina Sen. Clementa Pinckney. Or when he sang Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” at the Apollo Theater in New York.

After being introduced by Eminem, the former president walked out to a raucous crowd in the Motor City. But before saying anything in support of Harris or Walz, he decided to rap some lyrics from the Detroit rap legend, saying, “I have gone to a lot of rallies so I don’t usually get nervous. But I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem.”

He continued, “I noticed, my palms are sweaty. Knees weak, arms are heavy. Vomit on my sweater already, mom’s spaghetti. I’m nervous but on the surface, I look calm and ready. To drop bombs but I keep on forgetting...”

Watch below:

It didn’t take long for the crown to notice that Obama was rapping the lyrics from one Em’s most popular records, “Lose Yourself,” in which he narrates the life of his character from the 2002 film “8 Mile,” which is loosely based on his life.

He didn’t so much rap the lyrics as he said them in his normal speaking cadence. But dropping the opening bars of what’s arguably the most famous and recognizable hip-hop cut in Detroit history while in Detroit was guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Many on social media reacted positively to Obama’s rapping skills. One person wrote on X, “Did I just see Obama rap Eminem’s Lose Yourself.”

Another shared, “Fun fact: In Obama’s memoir, he says that “Lose Yourself” by Eminem and “My First Song” by Jay-Z are the two songs he would play on repeat to get in the zone before every major event.”

That same user stated, “Call me crazy, but I don’t see how Trump competes with Eminem and Obama in Michigan.”

But Obama memorizing the lyrics of a rap song shouldn’t surprise anyone, since he’s been a public fan of the genre for a while now.

We all know about his annual summer playlist that he releases every summer (which he has defended in the past). But he’s also been one to give his opinions about artists in the genre, whether positive or negative.

Did we forget about the time Obama referred to Kanye West as a “jackass” when discussing his moment with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Awards?

Even years before the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, he said that the Compton MC would win in a rap battle.

WATCH: Obama Channels Eminem For His Rapping Debut at a Detroit Kamala Rally, But Did He Nail It?

The former president rapped the opening lyrics to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at a rally in Detroit.

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