“I'm nervous, but on the surface, I look calm and ready to drop bombs...”, former US President Barack Obama rapped at a Detroit rally, right after being introduced by the original composer and rapper of the song, Eminem. The event was part of an election campaign to rally support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Michigan, a crucial battleground state in the upcoming election.
Eminem, donning a Detroit Tigers hat, took to the stage to speak about the importance of voting and free speech.
“The city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me going into this election," he told the crowd. "The spotlight is on us more than ever, and I think it’s important to use your voice... I also think people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions.”
And the rapper, who created an anti-hero alter ego Slim Shady, said, “I don't think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution of what people will do if you make your opinion known. I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
After championing Kamala Harris, Eminem introduced former US president Barack Obama.
The former president, clearly enjoying the moment, joked about following the legendary rapper, before launching into a few lines from Eminem’s iconic 2002 hit, Lose Yourself. "I notice 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...," Obama rapped, drawing laughter and cheers from the audience.
Eminem's support for the Harris ticket is notable, given his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump.
This is not the first time Eminem has leaned on the side of Blue in the US elections. In the 2020 elections, Eminem allowed his song ‘Lose Yourself’ to be used for Biden campaign.
The song was edited to fit the 45-second ad, titled “One Opportunity”.
“Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment,” the song begins. “Would you capture it or just let it slip?”
The Detroit rapper has repeatedly slammed Trump through his music, freestyles, and interviews, often describing the former president as a dangerous leader.
In his 2016 track "Campaign Speech," released during the final presidential debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton, Eminem referred to Trump as a "loose cannon" and criticized his fitness for office. This was just the beginning of a string of attacks, which included a memorable freestyle at the 2017 BET Hip-Hop Awards where he described Trump as a threat to the nation, accusing him of promoting racism.
Notably, last year, former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy used Lose Yourself at campaign rallies and ended up getting a cease-and-desist letter from Eminem.
