Eminem - Lose Yourself 2020 Oscars Live Surprise HD

They said he was too low brow with his style of campy humour, vulgar language, controversial lyrics and themes; and ofcourse being a rapper. A white trailer trash rapper at that. The critics however differed and he'd won dozens of awards in spite of mainstream opposition. But still not genuine unbiased appreciation from the elite.

So when The Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences nominated him for an Oscar for the soundtrack song from the movie about him, he was understandably hesitant about going. This was the Oscars and he was still a controversial rapper. Until ofcourse he became the first and only rap musician ever to win an Oscar for "Lose Yourself". The award was accepted by the film's co-producer because #Eminem opted not to attend the high brow ceremony as he was clearly an outsider.

18 years later, the Academy made a special request to him to perform that very same song as a surprise no less - and those "elite" weren't acting above him anymore, or even as his peers. They were looking up to him now. Jeering. Singing along. And having carefully followed his life through his words for 23 years, that standing ovation he received brought me to tears.