Eminem and former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance together at a Kamala Harris rally in Detroit, Michigan, on October 22, just two weeks before the 2024 presidential election.
Eminem, the Grammy-winning rapper, welcomed Obama to the stage, and the former president couldn’t resist referencing one of Eminem’s most famous songs, “Lose Yourself,” during his speech.
After Eminem’s introduction, Obama began by quoting the lyrics from the 2002 hit: “I’ve done a lot of rallies, so I don’t usually get nervous. But following Eminem, I noticed, my palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy.”
The crowd erupted in applause and laughter as Obama continued with more lyrics from the iconic song, which won a Grammy for Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2004. The former president ended with the famous intro beat and told the enthusiastic audience, “I love me some Eminem.”
Eminem had taken the stage earlier to explain his reasons for supporting Harris and encouraging the audience to vote. “I’m here tonight for a couple of important reasons,” he said. “Detroit and Michigan mean a lot to me, and this election shines a spotlight on us. It’s crucial to use your voice, so I’m asking everyone to get out and vote.”
Eminem stressed the importance of free expression, adding, “People shouldn’t be afraid to share their opinions. No one wants to live in an America where you fear what might happen if you speak your mind.”
He praised Vice President Harris for advocating a future where personal freedoms, including freedom of expression, are protected.
Eminem’s support for Harris and the Democratic ticket goes back several years. In 2020, he endorsed the Biden-Harris campaign and released a campaign ad featuring his song “Lose Yourself” the day before the election. The rapper captioned it, “One opportunity… #Vote.”
Eminem has long been a vocal critic of Kamala Harris’ opponent, Donald Trump. In 2017, he delivered a nearly five-minute freestyle rap at the BET Awards, criticizing Trump for his remarks following the violent rally in Charlottesville and his stance on NFL player protests.
The song, titled “The Storm,” became widely discussed for its direct confrontation of the then-president.
That same year, Eminem released another track, “Framed,” which also referenced Trump, questioning how far his critique should go.
In 2018, in his song “The Ringer,” Eminem implied that the Secret Service had approached him after the release of “Framed,” asking if he intended harm toward the president.
The Detroit rally marked another public alignment between Eminem and the Democratic Party, with the rapper once again using his platform to support political change.
His collaboration with Obama on stage, even briefly, energized the crowd, showcasing the shared values of free expression, civil rights, and a push for voter participation. Both figures emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and the future of the country, calling on the audience to use their voices through their votes.
