SZA’s Soulful Twist on Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ Earns the Rap Legend’s Praise

SZA is taking a bold leap into new territory with a heartfelt rendition of Eminem’s iconic hit. On May 30, the talented SOS singer, at 34, shared a stripped-down cover of the rap legend’s 2002 classic “Lose Yourself” on Instagram. With her soulful voice layered over an intimate piano arrangement, SZA delivered a mesmerizing performance of the song’s first verse, effortlessly transitioning into its famous chorus. Her sweet and stirring vocals brought new life to the iconic lines, “You better lose yourself in the music / The moment, you own it, you better never let it go / You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow / This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”

In the caption accompanying the audio clip, SZA wrote, “U ever just cover Eminem on some tender s — — for feels?” She clarified that this beautiful rendition wasn’t part of any upcoming project but something she did purely for mental health. The “Kill Bill” singer’s take on “Lose Yourself” quickly garnered praise from fans and even caught the attention of Eminem himself, who responded with a wide-eyed emoji, signaling his approval.

Eminem originally released “Lose Yourself” over two decades ago as part of the soundtrack for his semi-autobiographical film, 8 Mile, marking his debut on the big screen. The track became his first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper and won two Grammys in 2004 for Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance. It also snagged an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003.

SZA’s cover arrives just in time for the hip-hop star’s latest release, “Houdini,” which dropped on May 31. The single is part of his forthcoming album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), and features a music video with comic book-style callbacks reminiscent of his 2002 hit “Without Me.”

Before the release of “Houdini,” Eminem teased fans with a playful Instagram clip featuring magician David Blaine. In the video, Eminem FaceTimes Blaine, asking, “How far can we go with this magic? Like, can we do like a stunt or something?” Blaine, ever the showman, responds by downing a glass of wine and chomping on it. Eminem, in his typical humorous style, then quips, “Well, for my last trick, I’m gonna make my career disappear,” before abruptly hanging up.

This latest stunt is part of Eminem’s theatrical album campaign, which has included a fake obituary for his alter ego, Slim Shady. The obit, published in the Detroit Free Press earlier this month, intriguingly stated, “Ultimately, the very things that seemed to be the tools he used became calling cards that defined an existence that could only come to a sudden and horrific end. His complex and tortured existence has come to a close, and the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which this character departed this world.”

With SZA’s tender cover and Eminem’s thrilling new releases, fans of both artists have plenty to be excited about.