Eminem Defends Guest Verse on Kid Rock's New Album

Friendship Over Politics

The collaboration appears on “Heal My Faith,” a track from Kid Rock’s new faith-based album Halfway 2 Jesus, which was released on Friday, Oct. 17. Following the arrival of the project, Eminem took to social media to address the criticism coming from fans who were surprised by the pairing of the two Detroit artists. The backlash stems from their well-documented political differences: Eminem publicly endorsed Kamala Harris at a 2024 Detroit rally and has criticized Donald Trump on tracks such as “Campaign Speech,” while his collaborator remains one of Trump’s most prominent supporters in the music industry.

In his social media response, Eminem emphasized that the decision to work together was based on a personal connection rather than political alignment. He wrote to his followers:

"Not about choosing sides, just choosing to make music with my old friend. Praying for all of us."

— Eminem

The rapper further explored this theme of unity within the lyrics of his guest verse. Addressing their differing perspectives directly, he rapped about moving past ideological divides in favor of brotherhood and shared faith. The verse includes the lines:

"From shock rap to the rock rap, my homie and me/ He is my brother, not my political enemy."

— Eminem

The track continues with a call for common ground across religious and political lines:

"B.O. to the B. / We wrote this for those who believe in G.O. to the D / However you voted or lean / Liberal and evangelical can agree / It’s God first, home of the free."

— Eminem

Behind the Collaboration

In an interview with Billboard, the Rock musician elaborated on the process of bringing the song together, noting that he and Eminem have been friends for roughly four decades. He explained that he was cautious about how the collaboration might be perceived given the current political climate.

"I really didn’t want to drag him into my political world…. We talk about [politics] a little bit, not a ton. There’s a lot of stuff we agree on, and we can have a laugh about what [we don’t]. That’s why I asked him to write a verse for me."

— Kid Rock

He further clarified that while Eminem was initially announced as a guest for a different track titled “7 Sins,” they eventually decided to limit their work on the album to a single appearance. The guest slot on “7 Sins” was ultimately filled by Lil Wayne. Regarding the decision to stick to one song, he joked:

"We agreed we didn’t need two songs together…people are going to think we’re dating."

— Kid Rock

The album Halfway 2 Jesus is described by its creator as an effort to promote a positive message and bridge social gaps. He told Billboard that the project centers on themes of "forgiveness and second chances" and serves as an attempt to "heal some of the division in our country."

"I’m just putting a positive message out there in the world… showing a little more grace, trying to kill some of the division."

— Kid Rock

A Long History and Commercial Success

The two artists share a professional history that dates back to the late 1990s. Eminem previously featured on the 1998 song “F–k Off” from the album Devil Without a Cause. More recently, his longtime friend made an appearance in the music video for Eminem’s 2013 single “Berzerk.”

Both artists have achieved significant commercial milestones throughout their careers. Eminem has earned 10 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. His collaborator, who formed his career in 1971 and works across the Country and Country Rock genres, saw his 1998 album Devil Without a Cause reach Diamond-certified status. He also achieved a No. 4 hit on the Hot 100 with the Sheryl Crow duet “Picture.”