Eminem and Kid Rock reunite on new track 'Heal My Faith'

Eminem appears on the track 'Heal My Faith' from Kid Rock's new album Halfway 2 Jesus, released on Friday, October 17. The collaboration between the two Detroit natives, who hold opposing public political stances, sparked immediate conversation and some fan criticism.

Artists address the meaning behind the reunion

Both artists framed the reunion as a matter of long-standing personal loyalty, not political alignment. Hours after the album's release, Eminem addressed the collaboration on social media. "Not about choosing sides, just choosing to make music with my old friend. Praying for all of us," he wrote. In his verse on the song, he raps, "From shock rap to the rock rap, my homie and me / He is my brother, not my political enemy."

Kid Rock discussed the track in an interview with Billboard. We’ve been friends for 40 years, he said. I really didn’t want to drag him into my political world. He described their private discussions, noting they talk about politics a little bit, not a ton, and can laugh about their disagreements. Kid Rock stated the album is an attempt to heal division and put a positive message forward. Eminem's verse echoes this, calling for unity across party and religious lines with lines like, However you voted or lean / Liberal and evangelical can agree.

History and context of their relationship

Their professional history stretches back decades. Eminem first featured on Kid Rock's 1998 song 'F- Off' from the diamond-certified album Devil Without a Cause. Later, Kid Rock appeared in the video for Eminem's 2013 single 'Berzerk'. Both have also appeared on other Detroit-centric tracks, like the remix of Trick Trick’s 'From the D'. Their bond, forged over roughly four decades, provided the foundation for this latest collaboration.

Kid Rock revealed the collaboration was originally planned to be larger. Eminem was initially announced as a guest on a different track called '7 Sins'. They ultimately decided to keep their reunion to a single song. That slot for '7 Sins' went to Lil Wayne instead.

Political contrasts and fan reaction

The collaboration is notable given the artists' starkly different political profiles. Kid Rock is perhaps Donald Trump’s biggest and most relevant supporter in the music industry, regularly visiting the White House and performing at political rallies. Eminem, meanwhile, has a history of criticizing Trump. He lambasted the former president as racist in a 2017 BET Hip-Hop Awards freestyle and publicly endorsed Kamala Harris at a Detroit rally in 2024.

This contrast led to criticism from some of Eminem's fans following the song's announcement. Kid Rock said he was conscious of this dynamic, which is why he asked Eminem to write a verse for him rather than involve him more directly in political messaging. He described the album Halfway 2 Jesus as being about forgiveness and second chances.

The album Halfway 2 Jesus was released on Friday, October 17, featuring Eminem on 'Heal My Faith'.