SZA has given Eminem’s iconic “Lose Yourself” a surprising makeover, transforming the high-energy anthem into a tender R&B ballad.
On Instagram, the TDE songstress shared a snippet of her rendition, keeping the original lyrics but infusing them with her signature wistful style. In her caption, SZA made it clear that this cover won’t feature in any upcoming project. Instead, it was created for her mental well-being. “U ever just cover Eminem on some tender shit for feels? (Not on a project. Just for mental health [yoga emoji]),” she explained.
Eminem himself noticed the cover and reacted with a simple shocked face emoji in the comments section. Denaun Porter from D12 expressed his admiration with a “loved it” comment, while fellow R&B artist DRAM called the rendition “beautiful.”
While fans might be disappointed that SZA won’t be officially releasing the cover, the snippet coincided with the release of Eminem’s new single, “Houdini,” from his upcoming 12th album, ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).’ The track sees Eminem revisit his 2002 hit “Without Me” and includes references to Megan Thee Stallion and R. Kelly.
In “Houdini,” Slim Shady comments on the 2020 incident where Megan Thee Stallion was shot by Tory Lanez, resulting in her sustaining bullet fragment injuries. Rapping over a playful beat sampling the Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra,” Eminem jokes, “If I was to ask for Megan Thee/ Stallion if she would collab with me/ Would I really have a shot at a feat?” He continues with a jab at R. Kelly and the infamous sex tape scandal, saying, “In the coupe, leaning back my seat/ Bumpin’ R. Kelly’s favorite group, the black guy pees.”
Though SZA’s touching cover of ‘Lose Yourself’ won’t see an official release, it has clearly resonated with both fans and the original artist himself, adding yet another layer to the enduring legacy of Eminem’s work.
