WATCH: Barack Obama reads Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” lyrics from his new book

In an effort to reach younger audiences with his new book, A Promised Land, the former president of the United States, Barack Obama is bringing portions of the book to Instagram with a new series.

On Friday, Production company ATTN and Barack Obama announced that they are teaming up to launch a 5-part video series that highlights some of the biggest themes from the 44th president’s new memoir, a book that became the bestseller in 2020.

In my new book, A Promised Land, I share the story of what inspired me to pursue public service and the ups and downs in my first few years of my presidency, but I wanted to share some of the most important moments with you,” Obama said in one of the video.

That is why I am teaming up with ATTN: for a new series talking about some of the biggest moments that defined those years for me,” Obama added.

In one of his recent videos, Barack Obama recites lyrics from Eminem’s 2002 hit single “Lose Yourself” — a song which helped the president to pump him up on the 2008 campaign trail, as he writes in the book.

When I needed inspiration on the presidential campaign, I often turned to music. Ultimately it was rap that got my head in the right place, two songs especially: Jay Z’s “My 1st Song” and Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself.” Both were about defying odds and putting it all on the line (“Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, would capture it? Or just let it slip…”)” – Obama said, reading a passage from his book.

You can watch the video below. Also, you can read the full paragraph about Eminem here.

 

In his new book, Barack Obama explains how he relates to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”

Couple of days ago, Barack Obama released a new book, titled “A Promised Land,” where the former president of the United States explains how he relates to Eminem’s Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” and Jay Z’s “My First Song.” You can read the chapter below:

“Ultimately it was rap that got my head in the right place, two songs especially: Jay Z’s “My 1st Song” and Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself.” Both were about defying odds and putting it all on the line (“Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, would capture it? Or just let it slip…”); how it felt to spin something out of nothing; getting by on wit, hustle, and fear disguised as bravado. The lyrics felt tailored to my early underdog status. And as I set alone in the back of the Secret Service van on the way to a debate site, in my crisp uniform and dimpled tie, I’d nod my head to the beat of those songs, feeling a whiff of private rebellion, a connection to something gritter and more real than all the fuss and deference that now surrounded me. It was a way to cut through the artifice and remember who I was.”

Thanks to @flowstoowet twitter for the info.

https://twitter.com/flowstoowet/status/1329804396167835650

One day before the release of the book, Barack Obama shared the playlist of the songs that he was listening during his presidency. You can check out the playlist here.

 

 

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