In a light-hearted moment during a rally in Detroit, former President Barack Obama surprised the crowd by rapping to Eminem‘s hit song Lose Yourself. Taking the stage to support Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential campaign, Obama played off the iconic lyrics, saying, “I have done a lot of rallies, so I don’t usually get nervous. But I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem.”
The 63-year-old former president then went on to rap the famous opening lines of Lose Yourself, saying, “Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, vomit on my sweater already, mom’s spaghetti.” The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, as Obama joked about his nerves.“I thought Eminem was going to be performing, I was going to jump out,” he added with a laugh, before saying, “Love me some Eminem.”
The rally, held in Detroit just days before early voting kicks off in Michigan, featured several prominent figures alongside Obama. Eminem, who has long been outspoken against former President Donald Trump, spoke briefly at the event, encouraging Detroit voters to use their voices in the upcoming election. “The spotlight is on us more than ever,” Eminem told the crowd. “I think it’s important to use your voice, so I’m encouraging everybody to get out and vote.”
After Eminem’s speech, Obama took the stage to the beat of Lose Yourself, referencing the song’s opening line as he started his remarks. The star-studded event, which also featured NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, aimed to boost voter enthusiasm in Detroit, a crucial city in the upcoming election.
Obama also used the rally to criticise Donald Trump, referring to his behaviour at a recent town hall where Trump opted to entertain the crowd with music rather than engage with voters. “If your grandpa was acting like this, you’d be worried,” Obama said, warning that Trump seeks “unchecked power.” He added, “We do not need to see what an older, loonier Donald Trump looks like with no guardrails.”
How social media reacted
Many social media users expressing their excitement about the unique moment. One commenter remarked, “Eminem just introduced my president—insane energy down here! I didn’t have Obama rapping ‘Lose Yourself’ on my 2024 bingo card.” Another user shared their admiration, stating, “I couldn’t love Obama any more. He just did a little rap song following Eminem in Michigan.” A third user highlighted the significance of the occasion, noting, “Obama, rapping ‘Lose Yourself’ while standing next to Eminem in Detroit at a Harris rally, in an arena where Trump tried to steal the 2020 election, is next-level politicking!
