Eminem’s first feature in over a yearwill appear on the album that opens the Christian rock era for Kid Rock.
Kid Rock unveiled the cover and tracklist of his upcoming album shortly after releasing its lead single. The album is titled Halfway 2 Jesus, and 17 tracks on the set include “Freedom”, “Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus”, “Halfway 2 Jesus”, Me and Jesus”, “I Don’t Drink the Whiskey Anymore”, and “God Bless the USA”.
Marshall is featured on the song “7 Sins”.
In the album’s foreword, quoted by Complex, Kid Rock explains why he wanted Eminem on the record.
I’m proud of the guests who joined me, especially my old friend Eminem. 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.
The difference between Kid Rock and Eminem reflects the political divide that has split friendships and families in recent years. One is a MAGA supporter, while the other dissed Trump on tape; one refused to play in venues with COVID-19 vaccine or mask requirements and recorded an anti-mandate anthem, while the other struggled through quarantine like the rest of us and followed the precautions. These are not merely abstract political differences: during the pandemic, such disagreements became part of everyday life and personal relationships.
However, when right-wing celebrities and commentators went after Eminem after he appeared at a Kamala Harris rally in Detroit to speak on democratic values and freedom of speech, Kid Rock stood up for him. He said:
I don’t agree with his politics, but I do credit him and people like Taylor Swift for standing up and not being afraid to be vocal about what they believe.
Another thing that has always united them is their love for Detroit, more specifically, the Detroit Lions.
So, there is a lot to build a collaboration upon. And there is even more if we look at their catalogue. There, we find Kid’s cameo in Eminem’s “Berzerk” video and even a track recorded with Eminem only on his way to success.
Their first collaboration, “Fuck Off”, was released in 1998 on Kid Rock’s album Devil Without a Cause. There is something almost poetic about it. While Kid Rock has made a pivot from Devil Without a Cause to Halfway 2 Jesus, Eminem has been there at both ends of the journey.