Eminem has defended his guest verse on Kid Rock’s new religious album, saying their long friendship overshadows their political divide.
Rock releases his new album Halfway 2 Jesus Friday, with Slim Shady — a fellow Detroit native and longtime friend of the rocker — appearing on the track “Heal My Faith.”
The collaboration drew criticism from some Eminem fans who were surprised that the rapper — who publicly supported Kamala Harris at a 2024 rally in Detroit and criticized Trump on tracks like “Campaign Speech” — could collaborate with Kid Rock, perhaps the biggest (and most relevant) Trump supporter in the music industry.
As Eminem explained on social networks a few hours later Halfway 2 Jesus was released: “It’s not about choosing a side, it’s just about choosing to make music with my old friend. I’m praying for all of us.”
Kid Rock explained the collaboration in an interview with Billboardrevealing that although Eminem was first announced as a guest on the song “7 Sins”, the rapper instead appeared on “Heal My Faith”, the song Rock originally recruited him for. “We agreed that we don’t need two songs together…people are going to think we’re dating,” Rock said.
“We’ve been friends for about 40 years. I really didn’t want to drag him into my political world…. We talk (about politics) a little, not a lot. There’s a lot we agree on, and we can laugh about what (we don’t). That’s why I asked him to write a verse for me.”
“From shock rap to rock rap / Me and my friend / He’s my brother, not my political enemy,” Eminem raps on his verse. “BO to B. / We wrote this for those who believe in GO to D / No matter how you voted or lean / Liberals and evangelicals can agree / It’s God first, the home of the free.”
“This (album) is about forgiveness and second chances,” Rock said. Billboard. “I’m trying to heal some of the division in our country. I’m just putting a positive message out into the world… showing a little more grace, trying to kill some of the division.”
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