Entertainment

/

ArcaMax

Kid Rock on Eminem: 'We differ politically, but we've stayed friends'

Adam Graham, The Detroit News on

Published in Entertainment News

DETROIT — Kid Rock is shining some light on his collaboration with Eminem on his new Christian album, "Halfway 2 Jesus."

The pair joins forces on the track "7 Sins" from the new set, details about which were made public Thursday.

In an excerpt from the album's foreword which was obtained by Complex magazine, Rock elaborates on the pair's link-up.

"I'm proud of the guests who joined me, especially my old friend Eminem," Rock writes, according to Complex. "His verse speaks to something we've talked about and that really needs to be heard: we differ politically and on other things, but we've stayed friends through it all.

"We hope that sets an example for people who've lost friends or stopped talking to family because they think differently," Rock writes.

Rock and Eminem's musical partnerships date back to 1998, when Eminem appeared on "F— Off," a track from Rock's breakthrough "Devil Without a Cause" album. The album was released in August 1998, six months before Eminem's major label debut, "The Slim Shady LP," was released.

Eminem and Rock would later appear together in the music video for Eminem's 2013 single "Berzerk," the lead single from Em's "The Marshall Mathers LP 2."

Both Eminem and Kid Rock are featured on the remix of Detroit rapper Trick Trick's "From tha D," a track compiled from their separate verses on Trick Trick's "2getha 4 Eva!!!" and "Who Want It."

Rock and Eminem represent different sides of the political aisle — Rock on the right, Eminem on the left — but they've stayed in each other's orbit through the years.

"I love Eminem," Rock said in a 2024 social media post, a few weeks ahead of that year's election. "We've been friends for many years. I don't agree with his politics, but I do give credit to him and people like Taylor Swift for standing up and not being afraid to be vocal for that which they believe."

 

Eminem responded to Rock on X.

"Here's one thing @KidRock and I do agree on... GO @Lions!!!!," Eminem wrote at the time. "Appreiciate you, Bob."

Rock later replied, "Thanks @Eminem - Who would of thought it would be 2 white rappers from Detroit / Michigan to show our divided Country what class is and how it should be done! Appreciate ya too Marshall!" he said, signing the post "DETROIT LOVE #GOLIONS."

Kid Rock's "Halfway 2 Jesus" — the album is alternately listed as "Halfway To Jesus" on Rock's website — marks his first foray into Christian music. In addition to Eminem, it features Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox and country singer Jimmie Allen, who both team up with Rock on the title track.

Earlier this year, Rock charted a No. 1 single on the Christian charts when his cover of Cody Johnson's 2021 hit "'Til You Can't," which he debuted while performing on Turning Point USA's "All American Halftime Show" on Super Bowl Sunday," hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.

Rock debuted the new album's first single, "James 1:17 (Jesus is King)," on Oct. 1. He dedicated the music video in part to Jimmie Bones, his longtime keyboard player, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2024.

"Halfway 2 Jesus" is advertised on Rock's website next to an Oct. 17 date, and is featured next to a countdown clock ticking down to that date.

New releases are commonly released on Fridays, and Oct. 17 is a Saturday. But Oct. 17 is significant for other reasons: it's Eminem's birthday.


©2026 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus