Eminem performed ‘Lose Yourself’ at the Academy Awards on February 9. While some people were bemused by the surprise appearance, it’s done incredible things for Eminem’s bottom line.
Billboard reports the song has seen a 1894% sales boost in the hours following his performance compared to the previous day. They cite initial sales reports from Nielsen Music/MRC Data. And it’s not just ‘Lose Yourself’ that’s going like hotcakes. Sales of Em’s entire catalogue were up 307% compared to the previous day.
Watch: Eminem – Lose Yourself (live at the Oscars)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8AGD_p8F6I
That’s got to justify the exploit, even if some commentators struggled to pinpoint its relevance. It wasn’t entirely irrelevant, anyway. Say what you will about Eminem, but he did win an Academy Award for ‘Lose Yourself’ in 2003. Em (aka Marshall Mathers), Jeff Bass and Luis Resto wrote the song specifically for 8 Mile, which also starred Mathers.
Eminem didn’t show up to the ceremony to collect the award on that occasion, however. After this year’s performance he tweeted his appreciation to the Academy for welcoming him back.
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
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The tweet features of clip of Luis Resto collecting the award back in 2003. “It’s a great thing working with Marshall, day in day out,” says Resto. “He’s creative. He has symphonies in his head that I’m privileged to put onto tape. He’s a good man, good heart.”
It’s a perspective many would struggle to support. Despite being a 47 year old man – who’s incredibly wealthy and successful – Eminem is still prone to some pretty juvenile trolling. He’s lately rekindled his feud with Mariah Carey’s ex-husband Nick Cannon.
Listen: Eminem – Bagpipes From Baghdad
It dates back to the turn of the 2010s when Eminem claimed he’d had a relationship with the pop singer, which she completely denied. ‘Bagpipes from Baghdad’ from 2009’s Relapse included lines like “Nick Cannon better back the fuck up/I’m not playin’, I want her back, you punk.”
Mariah responded, which brought about more disses from Em. Last year he reignited the feud with a guest verse on Fat Joe & Dre’s ‘Lord Above’: “I know me and Mariah didn’t end on a high note/But that other dude’s whipped, that pussy got him neutered.”
Cannon’s most recent retort is to call Eminem racist.
