Eminem made a surprise appearance at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday (February 9) and basically confused everyone.
Why is he here? Why is he performing “Lose Yourself,” a song that earned him an Oscar 17 years ago? Why is Martin Scorsese sleeping during the performance?
During a rare interview with Variety, Slim Shady explained why — after initially skipping the 2003 ceremony — he popped up all these years later to finally grace the Oscars with his presence.
“I kinda figured maybe since I didn’t get a chance to do it at the time, maybe it would be cool,” he said. “Back then, I never even thought that I had a chance to win, and we had just performed ‘Lose Yourself’ on the Grammys with the Roots a couple of weeks before the Oscars, so we didn’t think it was a good idea.
“And also, back at that time, the younger me didn’t really feel like a show like that would understand me. But then when I found out I won, ‘That’s crazy!’ That to me shows how authentic and real that award is — when you don’t show up and you still win. That makes it very real to me.”
“Lose Yourself,” which was included on the soundtrack for 8 Mile, was released in 2002 as the lead single. The song was written and produced by Em alongside Jeff Bass of the production duo Bass Brothers and Luis Resto.
On the night of the 2003 Oscars, Em wasn’t concerned about red carpets, gilded trophies or his nomination in the Best Original Song category — he was focused on taking care of his young daughter.
“I think I was just at home with my daughter — and I didn’t watch it, either,” he recalled. “At that point in time, Hailie had to be at school early in the morning, so [I was sleeping]. Luis Resto, my keyboard player who produces records with me, went up and accepted it — and I know people were probably like, ‘Who the fuck is this guy?’
“So he called me, and I remember the phone kept ringing, and I’m like “Motherfucker, I’m tryin’ to sleep!’ But [I answered] and he’s like ‘Hey man, you won!’ ‘I did? Shit! Cool!’ But that was a different time and I was in a different place in my life.”
Shortly after the performance aired on Sunday night, the multiplatinum-selling rap titan hopped on Twitter and relived the moment Barbara Streisand announced he’d won in GIF form while thanking The Academy in the process.
Speaking with Variety, Em also talked about how the performance came together, confirming 8 Mile was already in a montage that evening and the Oscars just happened to ask if he’d be open to performing. Surprisingly, he said yes.
“I think that’s pretty much how it went,” he said. “And it was cool because we just put out an album, so we said maybe that’ll make sense with the timing of the new album. We flew in [to Los Angeles] last week, so we probably have four or five rehearsals just to make sure we got everything right. Most of the rehearsals were offsite, not in [the Dolby Theater], just trying to keep it secret.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvSx_1WVWiM
In terms of keeping it under wraps, the typically elusive rap star was onboard for that.
“I think it was either [the Oscars’] idea or Paul and [longtime publicist Dennis Dennehy’s] idea before they brought it to me,” he explained. “It was presented to me that way and I said, ‘Oh that’s kinda dope, to not even announce it.'”
Elsewhere in the brief interview, Em said he’d be open to another acting role if the right script came along and revealed the new crop of MCs he’s been into, which includes one of his Music To Be Murdered By collaborators.
“Well, we had Young M.A on the album, and she’s definitely one of the new artists that I’m super excited about — every time she puts something out, I listen,” he said. “And the guys we have signed to our label, [Buffalo, N.Y. rap trio] Griselda, that’s exciting. YBN Cordae, he’s dope.”
Lord Jamar should be in the next Scorsese flick
Who are these arrogant, narcissistic “stars” and performers to turn their noses up at Eminem?
The part of the show was to highlight when a story, set to music become one entity. 8 mile expressed by Eminem in gritty musical form is still pure genius.
As to Menzel, (who sings overwrought songs of no personal meaning to her), and Scorsese, (who glorifies the mob and writes fictional stories about other people’s rough, real lives)…they ARE those Eminem sings about often: those who would boo him, and have him thrown off stage.
I pity the audience. His performance made total sense.
Made total sense to a grown ass man that thinks Eminem is his daddy. Look it’s 2020 you don’t see MC Hammer on stage screaming hammer time bc that song as good as it was in 1990 has came and gone. Eminem is an old man now and people don’t want to hear him anymore. That simple. Only reason he’s mentioned on this site is bc people like you react when people like me argue over how no one gives a Damn about Grandpa Slim anymore.We can discuss glory days if you want remember when you could buy a burger and fries for a dollar and Eminem was a huge rap star that people cared about. Yeah glory days.
And you….you saw a username starting with JULIE and decided it was a “grown ass man”. Is your daddy’s name Kristin and your brothers name Priscilla?
Eminem is still a more gifted emcee/performer than any of these cornballs with the latest trendy dance. Its ok if you think he’s past his prime. But isn’t there a broom you should be bewildered by?
With a name like Malmberg I think you know exactly who those people are. Your people.
#ExposeTheNose
Damn. You made all the sense. In the context of the Oscar show, it made sense. But these kids are so gullible they only skim headlines “Em performs song 18 years later” and watch “confused face” memes. Sad. But I wouldn’t pay it any mind. While this new album has HEAT on it, these kids are bewildered by brooms standing up.
Because it’s a legendary song, and his new music sucks balls sonically. So logically, perform your classics. Same reason if u see dmx live, u wanna hear his classics, not his last couple of albums.
That goes for basically every Hip-Hop veteran or generally any “legendary” musician.
Clearly you missed the context of the song within the Oscar show itself. It was a historical montage of how music adds to film. It wasnt a Grammy performance to showcase their latest song. If you watched the show, you might understand that. Stop skimming headlines to form your opinion.
Sorry that I’m not educated on how the garbage award shows go. Everyone who watches that shit should kill themselves.
This guy is trash… trash
Your a pile of cum.
I’m that pile of cum in ya mama’s wet ass white boy.. #splash
Lol..bro!!! I love how em is so important to niggas…yall is behind his ass waiting for him to do something to criticize him
Lol..bro!!! I love how em is so important to niggas…yall is behind his ass waiting for him to do something to criticize him
Because hes soft and went all “Hollywood” like the rest of the celebs there he fits right in next to Barbara Strisand and Brad Pitt
Lose Yourself was trash imo. Of all the joints dude has done, I’ve always felt like it was a generic beat with a generic hook. I love Em, and I ain’t no stan…he has way doper hits. I’ve just felt this was some Hollywood bs commercial hip pop.
Got banned for the last fn time from vladsleezetv this my new spot
I like how in the pic he is pointing at his junk with his finger while yelling into the mic “suck this”
This guy definitely wears a hat in the pool too. And the ocean. And the shower. Dude looks like he has sex with tube socks and a a drummer boy hat on
word on the streets is he rockin that infamous dr. phil hairline yo
Tell us the truth EMm, you just accepted it now as it’s a good way to promote the new album.