Celebrities

Who Knew? Daniel Radcliffe's Epic Rap Skills Left Fallon Stunned

Who Knew? Daniel Radcliffe's Epic Rap Skills Left Fallon Stunned
Image credit: Legion-Media

You have to see this performance!

When Daniel Radcliffe told Jimmy Fallon that he liked Eminem as a kid, it was a bit of a surprise.

When he explained that he was the first kid in his class to learn all the words to Real Slim Shady, a few eyebrows were raised.

When he said he knew all the words to Alphabet Aerobics by Blackalicious, there must have been a lot of people watching who thought, "Yeah, but you can't actually rap, can you?"

Then Fallon handed him a microphone.

What followed was something no Harry Potter fan would have expected. Not only did the English actor agree to go on stage and rap the whole song, but he was really good at it. He knew all the lyrics, he could deliver them at a rapid pace and he clearly loved every second of having the mic in his hand.

The first thing you notice when The Boy Who Lived starts rapping is that he adopts an American accent. But not in a creepy way. In fact, it works so well that you might think he was American if you didn't already know who he was.

He never looks uncomfortable, but by the time he gets to the 'D's, you can see him really getting into it. By the time the 'F's' come around, we're treated to full rap gestures and he starts to look like a natural. And he's in his element when he gets to the 'U's' and beyond.

In fact, the only thing that looks slightly out of place in the video is Jimmy Fallon's dad dancing behind him.

Fallon was stunned by what he saw. So was everyone else. But one person who may have been watching with particular interest is Lin-Manuel Miranda. Without knowing it, Radcliffe may one day find out that this performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was the catalyst for a role in Hamilton.

We know he has the acting chops and loves to perform on stage. But until now, we had no idea he'd be able to handle the fast-paced rapping required for so many roles in the hit musical.

For now, though, we can just enjoy the fact that the squeaky voiced youngster who burst onto the big screen in 2001 and first defeated Voldemort, rapped along to Eminem while he was off-set.