El-Sayed Ad Uses Eminem's 'Not Afraid'

The Michigan Democratic Senate candidate released a 1-minute, 18-second election day ad set to the 2010 single.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed debuted a political ad on November 3, 2026, using Eminem's 2010 single "Not Afraid" as its soundtrack. The ad runs 1 minute, 18 seconds and cuts between campaign footage and footage of Donald Trump to match the song's lyrics.

Why it matters

The ad places a well-known hip-hop track at the center of a Michigan Senate race, a use that carries legal and reputational questions for political campaigns. Eminem's publishers previously sued a New Zealand political party over a campaign track resembling "Lose Yourself," winning $415,000 in 2014.

The ad runs 1 minute, 18 seconds and uses Eminem's 2010 single "Not Afraid" from the album "Recovery." The source does not report licensing terms for the track's use in the campaign.

The players

Abdul El-Sayed

Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan who released the campaign ad.

Eminem

Eminem is a Detroit-born rapper whose 2010 single "Not Afraid" is featured in the ad.

Kid Rock

Kid Rock is a Michigan-based musician who has publicly criticized El-Sayed and recently collaborated with Eminem.

The details

The video pairs clips of El-Sayed's campaign with Eminem's lyrics and includes footage of Donald Trump. El-Sayed posted a social media message tied to the video stating "Michigan. It's time."

2010: Eminem released "Not Afraid."
2014: Eminem's publishers sued a New Zealand political party over a campaign track.
October 2026: Kid Rock's album "Halfway 2 Jesus" was released with an Eminem collaboration.
November 3, 2026: El-Sayed debuted the election day ad.

Legal Context

In 2014, Eminem's publishers sued a New Zealand political party over a track resembling "Lose Yourself" used in a campaign ad and were awarded $415,000. Campaigns using popular recordings in political advertising have drawn similar licensing disputes.

Viewers encountered the ad on election day through the candidate's campaign channels. The source does not report whether the ad will air on broadcast television or streaming platforms.

The takeaway

Campaigns that pair political messaging with popular music should confirm licensing rights before release, as past disputes have resulted in substantial payouts. Voters evaluating candidate ads can weigh the messaging on its own terms while noting the music's origin.