Eminem is explaining why he joined Kid Rock's new faith-based album, and his answer is about friendship, not sides.
Hours after Halfway 2 Jesus was released on Oct. 17, Eminem posted that the collaboration was "not about choosing sides." He said he simply chose to make music with an old friend, and he ended his message with a prayer for everyone.
The song is "Heal My Faith," the fifth track on the album. In his verse, Eminem looks back on the friendship, including how Kid Rock showed up for him before he was famous, and calls him a brother. Kid Rock closes the track with a spoken message about friendship and the freedom to see things differently.
Eminem was first announced for "7 Sins." Kid Rock later said the pair moved to "Heal My Faith," the song he originally asked Eminem to join, and Lil Wayne took the earlier track. Kid Rock joked that two songs together would be too much.
Kid Rock told Billboard it is about forgiveness and second chances, and about showing a little more grace. The two have been friends for nearly 40 years and first worked together on a track from Kid Rock's 1998 album Devil Without A Cause. Their political views differ, and the announcement drew mixed reactions online, with some fans doubting the pairing and others welcoming the reunion.
The album's lead single, "James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)," takes its name from the Bible verse about every good gift coming from above.
Whether listeners hear the song as a statement or simply as music between friends, forgiveness, grace and prayer are what both artists keep returning to.
Related article: Eminem On Kid Rock's Christian Album? Surprise Collaboration Sparks Backlash
