Precious’ Moment Baby Discovers Granddad Composed Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’

The moment a baby first hears an iconic Eminem song written by her grandfather has gone viral, and the composer has told Newsweek how proud he is of the composition.

Racking up 2.8 million views on TikTok, Jake Bass (@mrjakebass) can be seen playing the rapper’s 2002 hit Lose Yourself to his five-month-old daughter Bella on the piano.

Unbeknownst to her, the diamond-selling song was produced by her grandfather, Jeff Bass, who is referred to as “papa” in the video. Newsweek spoke with the 63-year-old and his son about the song’s enduring impact, and the clip that has sent shivers down spines.

Jeff Bass said: “We all felt it was a great song, but never would have predicted the success it’s had,” referring to the fact that it was the first hip-hop song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

It also won two Grammys—Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song—at the 46th Grammy Awards, held in 2004. It was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media that year, according to the Grammy Awards’ official website.

The 8 Mile film soundtrack “was an amazing accomplishment,” Jeff Bass said, adding that he is still “very proud” of it.

Today, it still holds a special place in many people’s hearts—and it looks like it gets a thumbs-up from Bella, too.

“This was the very first time I played this song for her, which made it all the more special, hence having my wife record the precious moment!” her 34-year-old dad, Jake Bass, told Newsweek.

“I was shocked to see how captivated she was immediately by my piano playing. She definitely has music in her DNA—I could tell right away when she started bobbing her head along to the rhythm!”

Indeed, studies have found families that prioritize music from an early age often foster a love for it and encourage playing instruments, creating an environment that supports musical talent development. Genetics also play a role in musical ability. A study by Ancestry® identified over 6,500 DNA markers linked to playing instruments, with genetic differences explaining about 6 percent of this trait. The genes related to brain organization, music perception, memory, and listening are significant.

The dad of two from Detroit, Michigan, explained that music is part of his parenting style, and both of his daughters are “always surrounded by music and musicians.”

So far, the November 28 clip has amassed over 292,000 likes and 4,405 comments.

“This made my palms sweaty, knees weak, and arms heavy,” said one user, humorously referring to ‘Lose Yourself’ lyrics.

Another user praised, “Tummy time on the piano is legendary,” while a third commenter said, “This song made history for sure.”

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