Pitchfork’s lighthearted list of memorable music moments includes Barack Obama’s take on Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, but their verdict was not exactly glowing.
In a playful retrospective on 101 music culture moments of 2024, Pitchfork ranked Barack Obama’s rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at a Detroit rally for Kamala Harris. While the moment made headlines and sparked plenty of reactions, it only managed to score a 3.6 out of 10 on Pitchfork’s scale.
The publication’s rankings, which range from 0.0 (“Elon Musk offers to father Taylor Swift’s child”) to 10.0 (“Young Thug FREE”), reflects more of their opinion on the event than the cultural impact it had. While Eminem fans might not expect glowing reviews from Pitchfork, it seems even Obama’s charisma could not boost this score.
Whether you see it as a fun nod to Detroit or an awkward cultural moment, Obama rapping “Lose Yourself” remains a memorable crossover of politics and music — regardless of the rating.
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