Barack Obama reveals Eminem & JAY-Z music Helped Him Prepare For Debates.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama recently revealed that rap music played a big role in helping him mentally prepare during his presidential campaign days.
In a new interview shared by Rolling Stone, Obama explained that songs by JAY-Z and Eminem helped put him in the right mindset before debates and public appearances. Obama specifically mentioned JAY-Z’s “My 1st Song” and Eminem’s iconic track “Lose Yourself.”
“A couple of songs about defying the odds and putting it all on the line — Jay-Z’s “My 1st Song” and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” — were always in the rotation, maybe because they felt suited to my early underdog status,” Obama said while speaking about the music he listened to during the campaign trail.
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Obama also described sitting alone in the back of a Secret Service SUV on the way to events while listening to the music through headphones. According to him, the songs helped him block out distractions and focus on what truly mattered to him.
“Sitting alone in the back of the Secret Service SUV on my way to the venue, nodding to the beat, I would feel the pomp and circumstance and artifice of my immediate surroundings melt away. I’d find my mind returning to those things that were most essential to me… the friends and family that had shaped me; the values and ideals that drove me; and all the forgotten voices of people across the country that I hoped to someday represent.”
President Obama pens a piece for Rolling Stone, “The Music That Made Us”. He says he used to listen to a lot of Jazz, but discovered rappers like JAY-Z & Eminem got him in the needed zone. pic.twitter.com/Sxs3r8EUrG
— 💎🍾 (@TheRocSupremacy) May 19, 2026
In the longer excerpt, Obama explained that he first listened to jazz music from artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. However, over time, he realized that rap music connected with him more deeply and helped him focus before important moments. “Initially, I listened to a handful of jazz classics — Miles Davis’s “Freddie Freeloader,” John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things.” But over time, I discovered that rap was the thing that got my head in the right place.,” he said.
Fans online quickly reacted to the quote, especially because Shady’s “Lose Yourself” is widely considered one of the most motivational rap songs ever made. The track originally appeared on Eminem’s movie soundtrack for 8 Mile and went on to win an Academy Award.
Meanwhile, Hov’s “My 1st Song” has also become a fan favorite over the years because of its reflective lyrics about struggle, ambition, and success.
This is not the first time Barack Obama has publicly shared his love for hip-hop music. Over the years, Obama has often spoken about artists he enjoys listening to and has released several public playlists featuring rap, R&B, pop, and classic songs.
The latest comments once again show how deeply hip-hop and rap culture have influenced people far beyond music, including even former presidents.
