Obama raps Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ as the two rally for Kamala Harris in Detroit – National
HAS Kamala Harris” campaign rally in Detroit on Tuesday, the former US president Barack Obama told the crowd that “his palms are sweaty, his knees are weak, my arms are heavy” after having to speak on stage after the rapper Eminem.
Obama, 63, and Eminem, 52, attended the rally to promote Vice President Harris ahead of the November 5 US presidential election.
“I’ve been to a lot of rallies, so I’m not usually nervous,” Obama told the cheering crowd. “But I kind of felt like I was following Eminem.”
The former president – a known music lover – then recited several lines from Eminem’s song Get lostbut adapted the lyrics to be in the first person.
Harris supporters became noisy as they shouted their support and held campaign signs while Obama rapped.
“I notice my palms are sweaty, my knees are weak, my arms are heavy, I’m already throwing up on my sweater, mom’s spaghetti, I’m nervous but on the surface I look calm and ready to drop bombs but I keep forgetting,” Obama recited during his speech. bouncing up and down behind the podium.
He then sang with the Get lost melody and joked, “I thought Eminem was playing, I was going to jump.”
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“Love me some Eminem,” Obama said.
Following the rap, the former president condemned Donald Trump and declared that America was “ready to turn the page” on its antics.
Obama referenced Trump’s recent town hall in Pennsylvania this month, where the former president danced to music for about 40 minutes instead of talking to voters.
“If your grandfather did this, you would be worried,” Obama said. “He’s someone who wants unchecked power. We don’t need to see what an older, crazier Donald Trump looks like with no guardrails.”
Obama also spoke about Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and said it led his supporters to intimidate poll workers in Detroit“all because Donald Trump couldn’t accept losing.”
Before Obama took the stage, Eminem spoke briefly and told the crowd that his hometown of Detroit and “the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me.”
“As this election approaches, the spotlight is on us more than ever,” the rapper said. “And I think it’s important to use your voice. So I encourage everyone to please get out and vote.
“I also think people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people worry about retaliation, or what people will do if you voice your opinion .”
Eminem supported Harris for president because she “supports a future for this country where these and many other freedoms are protected and defended.”
Tuesday’s rally wasn’t the first time Eminem has spoken out about politics.
Critical of former US President Trump, Eminem denounced him in his 2016 song Campaign speech, which was released 19 days before the presidential election. The song warned Americans against voting for Trump and disparaged his supporters.
Eminem has also criticized other Republican politicians, including former President George W. Bush, whom he discussed on the 2004 track. Mosh, released before the presidential election that year.
Beyond Obama’s appreciation for Eminem, the former president said he was an avid music fan and his tastes spanned many genres.
Twice a year, the former president shares an official list of his current favorite songs on his social media accounts. Obama’s summer 2024 playlist included music from Sting, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Bob Dylan, GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion.
Michigan is a swing state with the option of voting primarily Democratic or Republican in the presidential election. In the 2016 race, the state went red and helped push Trump to victory. The next election cycle in 2020 saw Michigan vote blue for President Joe Biden.
Trump also held a rally in Detroit last week, where he brought out local rapper Trick Trick to support him.
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