“Detroit, what up, though?” hollered rapper and singer songwriter Eminem from a dais in Rock City. The performer, whose name is Marshall Mathers, introduced former President Barack Obama at a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Tuesday.
Taking the stage wearing a Detroit Tigers hat and light brown jacket, Eminem endorsed Harris’ candidacy, explaining that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions or fear retribution if they make their views known.
“I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld,” said Eminem.
The rapper has been a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump. He mocked the Republican nominee’s former campaign slogan, “Drain the swamp” and bashed Trump’s controversial comments about the late Sen. John McCain’s military service and his years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In a freestyle rap, Eminem wrote that Trump’s aggressive global stance could have devastating consequences, comparing the Republican nominee to “a kamikaze that will probably cause a nuclear holocaust.”
Mathers is one of the best selling artists of all time, with 150 million records sold globally. His The Slim Shady LP album was awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Album, and he was responsible for enduring smash musical hits such as “Stan” and “The Real Slim Shady.”
As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me,” said Eminem, speaking about his homebase. “Going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever, and it’s important to use your voice, so I’m encouraging everybody to get out and vote. Please.”
“Here to tell you much more about that: President Barack Obama,” the record producer declared, as the audience cheered.
Obama followed Eminem while the hit song “8 Mile,” written about Mathers’ coming of age in Detroit, played in the background.