Eminem Explains "Lose Yourself" Performance at the 2020 Oscars

Eminem surprised guests and viewers of the 2020 Oscars with a performance of “Lose Yourself,” a song that gave him an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003. While the appearance was enjoyable, to say the least, many began to wonder why the rapper even showed up to the ceremony — seeing as he opted to stay home when he won the award 17 years ago.

In an interview with Variety, the Music To Be Murdered By creator finally explained his reasoning for both his appearance and his no-show in 2003. Eminem revealed that he simply didn’t think that they would win, “I kinda figured maybe since I didn’t get a chance to do it at the time, maybe it would be cool. 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.” He adds, “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.”

Em continues, “…I was blown back by the fact that I won. I don’t even think I understood back then that you could get an Oscar for a song, and I remember being kinda confused about why I was even up for one, because as a kid with the Oscars, it was like a vacuum.”

Watch Eminem’s performance of “Lose Yourself” at the 2020 Oscars above.

In case you missed it, take a look at the full list of winners from the 2020 Oscars.

Look, if you had another shot, another opportunity… Thanks for having me @TheAcademy. Sorry it took me 18 years to get here. pic.twitter.com/CmSw2hmcZo

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) February 10, 2020