Chrissy Teigen is always one for a hilarious antic or two. The model wife of singer John Legend has essentially made a second career out of her social media presence.

One thing we’ve learned over the course of Chrissy Teigen’s social media antics is that she loves to troll her husband, John Legend. We’ve seen it happen before, and now, we’re seeing it happen again albeit in a blast-from-the-past type of way.

Teigen uploaded an old video clip of herself and Legend that was filmed right before the singer’s 2018 Jesus Christ Superstar performance. In the clip, Teigen can be seen encouraging Legend before quickly spiraling into an off-the-cuff performance of Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself” where she’s really just yelling the lyrics at Legend’s face. It’s hilarious enough by itself, but it’s Chrissy caption that really brings thing up a level, and once more prove Teigen’s social media trolling savviness. She writes:

“a lot of people don’t know this but before this all started I was well on my way to discovering my talent for quickly-spoken words aka “rap” music. what was merely a source of entertainment for me growing up became more than just something I could listen to others do. I needed to spit for myself. The first time I got in the studio, my fingers and voice shook like a dog straight out of the bath, a sputtering car engine in a cold winter’s night. But I knew once I passed that moment of fear, the anxiety would turn into lyrics so poignant and beautiful that the world needed to hear. I used my new gift in every which way I could, sharing the sweet sounds and effortlessness even with a baby growing inside me. It was almost like the baby was lending me it’s small talent for rap as well – I was even better than before. Here is me (song written by me) performing for john before his role as Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar – a role that eventually lead to him getting the EGOT. there were no limits to what I was capable of. Maybe one day when this is all over we will meet again”

Watch the viral clip below.

When Eminem jumped on stage in the middle of the 2020 Academy Awards, everybody in the crowd and at home was equally surprised. For starters, the rapper barely ever leaves the house. If he does, something big is going on. On top of that, his single “Lose Yourself,” which he was asked to sing, was released over a decade prior, making his appearance all the more confusing. To the naked eye, it would appear as though his performance went off without a hitch. During his recent spot on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin‘ podcast, however, he explained what went seriously wrong.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

After getting through the first verse, Eminem tells Mike Tyson that he felt something hanging between his legs before realizing that the mic pack he clipped onto his belt had come loose. None of this was shown on camera, but he apparently tried frantically to get it back in its position and, when he finally succeeded, the song was already over.

“We rehearsed for that shit… I know the words to ‘Lose Yourself,’ but we rehearsed that shit extra extra extra just so we didn’t fuck that up. And that was the one thing we didn’t plan for. And of course it went wrong. I was like ‘motherfuck…'”

The full episode with Mike Tyson and Eminem is available below. What was your favorite part of the interview?

Barbara Streisand revealed that not only did she present Eminem‘s award for “Best Original Song” at the 2003 Oscars for “Lose Yourself,” she actually voted for the 8 Mile anthem in that category. Eminem’s surprise performance of “Lose Yourself” at the Oscars on Sunday night caught plenty of people off guard and sparked major confusion. While it was certainly unexpected, his performance was framed as a celebration of how songs have defined the films for which they were written over time, since Em notably won the Oscar for “Best Original Song” 17 years prior to this year’s Academy Awards.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

On Monday, Em shared a clip of the moment he was announced as the winner of “Best Original Song” back in 2003, an award he wasn’t able to accept in person since he was so convinced he wouldn’t win that he didn’t even attend the ceremony. In the caption of the video, in which Barbara Streisand presented the award to one of Em’s co-writers for “Lose Yourself,” Luis Resto, Em wrote, “Look, if you had another shot, another opportunity… Thanks for having me @theacademy. Sorry it took me 18 years to get here.”

Barbara reposted the video on her own Instagram account, and revealed in the caption that she actually played a larger role in getting Eminem that Oscar that he ever knew.

“@eminem I had voted for your song too!” Barbara wrote. “Was really looking forward to handing you the award. Next time!” While he wasn’t able to bask in his victory back then, Em has shared that this year’s performance was his opportunity do just that. “I kinda figured maybe since I didn’t get a chance to do it at the time, maybe it would be cool,” he noted.

For some reason, the Oscars allowed Eminem to touch the stage to perform his hit single, “Lose Yourself” seventeen years after its release. It stirred up social media with both confusion and excitement but unfortunately, not even that was able to help the Oscars’ record-low ratings. The song won Best Original Song at the Oscars in 2003, even though he didn’t even decide to show up.

“I kinda figured maybe since I didn’t get a chance to do it at the time, maybe it would be cool,” he explained to Variety. “Back then, I never even thought that I had a chance to win, and we had just performed “Lose Yourself” on the Grammys with the Roots a couple of weeks before the Oscars, so we didn’t think it was a good idea. And also, back at that time, the younger me didn’t really feel like a show like that would understand me.”

The rapper later dispelled rumors that the reason he turned it down was that they asked him to perform a censored version of the song. He did, however, find the timing for last night’s performance since recently released a new album. 

Em also dished out some rare insight into his listening habits. After being asked about the new generation, he revealed that Young M.A., who appeared on Music To Be Murdered By, was one person he’s into right now. Along with Griselda, he revealed one more artist that he’s feeling. “YBN Cordae, he’s dope,” he said. 

With eleven albums to his name, many of which spawned multi-platinum and diamond singles, Eminem’s legacy has been soundly etched in music history. A history lined with apparent contradictions. How can a rapper as obscenely vulgar and gruesome as Slim Shady, the self-proclaimed Evil half of “Bad Meets Evil,” have so much crossover appeal? The same man who made “Kill You,” “Kim,” “Stay Wide Awake,” and “Same Song And Dance” secured radio dominance with “Not Afraid,” “Love The Way You Lie,” “The Monster,” and “River.” As much as Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, and Eminem appear to exist as separate entities, so too do they gravitate toward certain themes and sonic aesthetics. Such versatility has allowed Em to explore a gamut of topics, going so far as to dabble in pop-rap he once decried all those years ago. Such universality served to expand his fanbase well beyond the hip-hop crowd, and many would likely cite “Lose Yourself” as the moment of conversion. 

But is it fair to call the diamond-selling, Academy Award-winning single the defining song of Eminem’s career? 

It’s certainly his most universally beloved. Fans of all ilks can likely recite at least some of the lyrics, if only the oft-memed “Mom’s Spaghetti.” Parents who once clutched pearls at the madman steering The Marshall Mathers LP and D12’s delightfully rude Devil’s Night found themselves drawn in by Em’s contagious motivation. Were it a fictional story, the release of “Lose Yourself” might have been the inciting incident to a full-fledged redemption arc. He even eschewed many of his favored sonic choices, switching moody minor-key synthesizers and cartoonish Dr. Dre dark bangers with chugging palm-muted guitars, steering close to “rock-rap” in both theory and practice. Given the genre-bending production, it’s no wonder “Lose Yourself” opened the door for new audiences; at the time, even rock stations kept the single in heavy rotation without raising too many eyebrows. Looking back, his eventual partnership with Rick Rubin was hardly surprising, nor was the creative direction they found themselves taking.
 

Rich Polk/Getty Images

As is often the case, universal acclaim tends to arise when hip-hop traditionalism is placed in the backseat. Look no further than the 8 Mile Soundtrack. Eminem offered “8 Mile Road,” a dense, layered, and beautifully rendered exploration of themes presented on “Lose Yourself.” Only it came delivered in a six-minute rap-centric package, the likes of which could never captivate the attention of mainstream America. In many ways, “8 Mile Road” is the superior song, boasting some of the most well-written lyricism of Eminem’s expansive career. It’s even more powerful than its counterpart, exploring both sides of the inspiration/depression dichotomy. And yet it still feels like a cult classic, merely gold in comparison to the Diamond and universally recognized “Lose Yourself.” 

That’s not to say “Lose Yourself” lacks in lyricism. Embodying the character of B. Rabbit on wax, Eminem manages to make his own unique story into something widely relatable. At the end of the day, the tale is tried and true. Despite being the biggest artist in the world, Eminem has always painted himself as an underdog. He’s done so in his music, even to this day casting reminders of his arduous come-up. It’s well documented that he was a victim of bullying, seeking refuge in hip-hop and inspiring confidence through his craft. Even when dominating his foes on wax, all but laying waste to the memory of Raymond Benzino, Em actively labeled his opponent a “Bully.” A familiar narrative for himself and millions. Whether in art or life itself, the underdog archetype is an easy one to root for. It’s open to many different interpretations spawning many different antagonistic forces — the tyranny of authority, of abusive partners, of simple circumstance. Not only does “Lose Yourself” do an excellent job of telling a self-contained tale of courage amidst adversity, it does so over an adrenaline-fueled anthem-esque instrumental thick with crossover potential. Having withstood the test of time for nearly two decades, “Lose Yourself” has earned the right to be declared a classic record. 

But is it the classic record? On the basis of popularity alone, it’s easy to understand why publications and fans alike have come to respect “Lose Yourself” as Em’s definitive piece of work. And it’s a fair statement to make, despite the inherent implication behind such a conclusion, that bigger is better. Throughout his career, Eminem has given us artistic brilliance that all-too-often goes unrecognized. The aforementioned “8 Mile Road.” The tragedy of “Stan.” The haunting confession that is “Deja Vu.” The painfully self-aware lamentations like “Say Goodbye Hollywood” or its strung out counterpart “Evil Deeds.” None of them stand even remotely close to the legacy of “Lose Yourself,” despite representing some of Eminem’s most compelling authorial moments. But at the end of the day, the Academy Award-winning single will stand sentinel as Eminem’s crowning achievement. Even if the grass is truly greener on the other side of the 8 Mile Road. 

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

It’s not uncommon to see unexpected friendships blossom in hip-hop. Killer Mike and Bernie Sanders. Lil Wayne and Skip Bayless. Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart. Eminem and Elton John, the latter of which made history with a groundbreaking performance of “Stan” at the 2001 Grammy Awards. The pair have since developed a genuine relationship beyond music, despite having yet to officially collaborate on an original song — though there’s still time for that. In any case, Em and Sir Elton recently crossed paths once more, this time at the 2020 Academy Awards.

 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Following a surprise performance of Em’s Oscar-winning hit “Lose Yourself,” which he never had a chance to perform during his victory in 2003, the rapper linked up with John backstage. He took to Instagram to share a picture of their encounter, honoring his longtime friend with a heartfelt congratulations. “I got to see my Uncle Elton tonight at the Oscars,” writes Slim. “Congrats on your win too, Sir.”

He is, of course, referencing Elton’s Rocketman cut “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” taking home the Best Original Song Oscar. Check out the picture below — given this longstanding friendship, one has to wonder if the pair will ever find time to pen a duet for the ages.