Eminem waited 17 years to perform at the Oscars because the "younger him" didn't feel a show like that would "understand" him.

The 47-year-old rapper finally performed as a surprise act at the ceremony on Monday, after turning down the Academy's offer to perform and receive the Best Song Oscar from Barbra Streisand in 2003 for 'Lose Yourself' from '8 Mile'.

And the Stan hitmaker has admitted the reason why he didn't attend back then was, because he never imagined he would end up winning the prize and he had already performed at the Grammys that year.

However, after he found out he won, Eminem realised that the Oscars are "authentic".

[Source: TVNZ]