Eminem put on a rare live performance over the weekend when he performed a medley of hits before Terence Crawford’s victory over Israil Madrimov.
Taking place at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium on Saturday (August 3), the Detroit native performed for a solid 15 minutes, kicking things off with his most recent hit “Houdini” before he went into the lyrically dexterous “Rap God.”
After saying to the crowd in attendance: “Yo California, make some motherfuckin’ noise for Terence Crawford!” Slim Shady performed a trilogy of fight night classics.
Sans the late Nate Dogg, Em delivered an energetic rendition of “Till I Collapse,” which included a more prominent use of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” than exists on the record.
He then rapped the Recovery cut “Cinderella Man” — named after the 1930s world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock — before closing with “Lose Yourself.”
That wasn’t the last fans heard of Eminem, though, as Crawford walked out to “Higher” before winning a tight decision over Madrimov to secure the WBA super welterweight title and become a four-division champion.
Terence Crawford walks to the ring with Eminem's "Higher"🔥🔥🔥#CrawfordVsMadrimovpic.twitter.com/CN4280gxaR
— The Eminem Bible (@Shadyind) August 4, 2024
Eminem is a noted boxing fan and previously walked out Crawford to the ring before his knockout victory over Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas last year.
The rap icon introduced the undefeated fighter to the boisterous sold-out crowd at the T-Mobile Arena, saying: “Las Vegas, make some noise for the next undisputed welterweight champion of the world, Terence ‘Bud’ fucking Crawford!”
Crawford then walked out to “Lose Yourself,” though Em did not perform the song live.
Em was also ringside for Tyson Fury’s heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in May where he was seated next to Mike Tyson.
Eminem’s performance at Crawford’s fight was his third short gig of the year after making a surprise appearance at the launch of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Gin & Juice beverage in London last month.
Em’s cameo was brief but memorable as he performed “Houdini,” as well as his and Dre’s classic 2001 collaboration “Forgot About Dre.”
Shortly before that, Slim Shady ran through a number of his classics at Michigan Central Station to celebrate the reopening of the Detroit landmark, where he was joined by Jelly Roll, D12’s Denaun Porter and Trick Trick.
All three concerts have also doubled up as promo for Em’s latest album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).
