At a rally in Detroit, former US President Barack Obama surprised the crowd by rapping to Eminem’s iconic 2002 hit “Lose Yourself” after being introduced by the rapper. The event was part of the campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, with Eminem making a brief appearance to express his support for Harris and the importance of free speech.
Eminem, a proud Detroit native, walked onto the stage to his hit song “Not Afraid” and voiced his support for Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. He emphasized the importance of using one’s voice, especially as Detroit and Michigan were in the spotlight for the election. “I’m here tonight for a couple of important reasons,” the rapper said, urging the audience to vote.
The rapper went on to say, “I believe people should feel free to express their opinions without fear, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where there’s concern about backlash for speaking out. I’m confident that Vice President Harris envisions a future where these freedoms and many others will be safeguarded. Now, to share more on that, here’s President Barack Obama.”
.@Eminem: 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 pic.twitter.com/tVVHO00ANn
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 23, 2024
After Eminem’s introduction, Barack Obama took to the stage, where he jokingly admitted, “I don’t usually get nervous, but I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem.” He continued to joke, “I thought Eminem was going to perform, I was ready to jump out.”
Hello, Detroit! With only two weeks left until Election Day, we’ve got to do all we can to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Tune in to hear from me and Eminem: https://t.co/Rf38cABLwY
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 23, 2024
Then, to the crowd’s delight, the former president rapped the first verse of “Lose Yourself,” showing his admiration for the rapper with a quick hug.
Obama raps Eminem's "Lose Yourself," after being introduced by the rapper at a rally for Harris in Detroit, MI. pic.twitter.com/MqXJzplZPY
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 23, 2024
The crowd cheered as Obama shifted into his speech, but not before lightheartedly mentioning his love for Eminem, saying, “Love me some Eminem.” The rally was filled with energy, with both Eminem and Obama calling on the public to use their voices in the critical 2024 election.
