Eminem made a public appearance in Detroit, stepping up to introduce Barack Obama and encourage voters to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
In his Detroit Tigers hat and signature swagger, Marshall took the stage in his hometown to introduce former President Barack Obama at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris. Marshall Mathers, who rarely makes public appearances, delivered a powerful speech urging Detroiters to use their voice and get out to vote.
Detroit, whaddup, tho? Look, I wrote down a few things I wanted to say. I’m here tonight for a couple of important reasons. As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me. Going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever. I think it is important to use your voice, so I’m encouraging everybody to get out and vote. Please. I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions. I don’t think anyone wants to live in 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. And here to tell you much more about that: President Barack Obama.
Eminem emphasised the importance of voting and standing up for free speech. Marshall refers to Trump’s repeated calls for silencing political opposition and his most recent suggestion to use the military to handle what he called “the enemy from within” on Election Day.
Freedom of speech is a fundamental value for a citizen and an artist. Without it, Slim Shady would not even exist. Yes, Em has faced a lot of backlash for his provocative lyrics, and he has never complained about the consequences the controversial lyrics would bring him because an open public discussion was what he wanted to initiate.
This is not the first time Eminem has weighed in on the presidential election. In 2020, his last-minute endorsement of Joe Biden tipped the balance in Michigan, with Em lending his iconic track “Lose Yourself” to a Biden campaign ad that aired just before Election Day. His participation was widely credited with helping secure Michigan’s swing-state victory.
Yet, some Trump followers are still shocked by the fact that Eminem openly opposes extreme right politics, even though they have never sat right within Em’s narrative and, even more obviously, his very vocal rebuke of Trump’s political ambitions in the form of the “Storm” freestyle released in 2017.
Eminem’s message holds even more weight, considering his history of defending free speech, both as an artist and a citizen. His endorsement comes as Michigan remains a battleground state in the presidential race. Once again, Slim Shady is stepping in to make sure his home state is heard.
Watch the video below:
