Exploring the Friendship Between Eminem and Kid Rock: A Look at Their History Amidst Divergent Political Views

On Friday, October 25, Kid Rock shared a video on his X account to express his support for Eminem and Taylor Swift, praising them for being outspoken about their political views. He began the video by strumming a guitar to capture his audience’s attention and elaborated:

“I love Eminem. We have maintained our friendship over many years. While I don’t align with his political views, I genuinely admire him and artists like Taylor Swift for having the courage to speak out about what they believe.”

Rock went on to share that his political alignment is “unequivocally MAGA,”expressing a deep-seated belief – “mind, body, and soul”- that President Trump would restore greatness to America.

As Kid Rock referred to Eminem as his friend, it’s worth exploring the history both artists share.

Trailblazers in Detroit’s Rap Scene

Both Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, and Kid Rock, born Robert Ritchie, hail from Michigan. Kid Rock, a year older than the “Guilty Conscience”rapper, grew up in Romeo, a small town north of Detroit, while Eminem spent his formative years on the east side of Detroit with his mother.

Eminem faced a challenging childhood marked by his father’s absence and his mother’s struggles with addiction. In their teenage years, both Rock and Eminem discovered a passion for hip-hop—Eminem dropping out of high school and Kid Rock enduring familial tensions to pursue music.

During this period, they stood out as the only white artists in the hip-hop scene in Detroit, which led them to acknowledge one another. Reports from the early ’90s indicate that a record store owner noted Eminem challenging Kid Rock to a rap duel, as shared by HuffPost.

Their careers surged around the same timeline, with significant hits emerging in 1999—Eminem’s “My Name Is”and Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba.”Both tracks vied for attention on MTV’s Total Request Live.

Anthony Bozza, the author of “Whatever You Say I Am,”commented to HuffPost:

“They both rose to fame during a time when popular music was experiencing a resurgence of hyper-masculinity. It blended testosterone-driven rock with white rappers dominating the charts.”

By this time, their friendship had already formed. Eminem featured on Kid Rock’s 1998 track “F*** Off,”part of Rock’s fourth studio album. In 2009, Eminem discussed their friendship with Metro Times, stating:

“He comes over to my place, we play basketball together, you know? Bob and I are on good terms.”

Kid Rock made a cameo in the music video for Eminem’s “Berzerk”years later, in 2013.

Kid Rock Reflects on Time Spent with Eminem and Bob Seger in 2015

In February 2015, Kid Rock graced the cover of Rolling Stone, sharing insights on his friendships with fellow celebrities, including Eminem.

Recounting a time when Eminem was visiting his home in Detroit alongside Bob Seger, Rock noted:

“Em’s just chilling in the corner — me, Em, and Bob — trying to connect, although they’re both a bit quirky… Eminem’s hilarious, a fantastic father, incredibly funny, and undeniably talented, but you know, my social skills are a bit more polished.”

Although both musicians are busy with their careers, it’s clear they find moments to reconnect. Recently, just three days after Kid Rock hailed Eminem in his video, the latter tagged him in a tweet.

Kid Rock promptly responded to Eminem’s tweet, mentioning how they showcased “class in a divided country.”Their exchange drew numerous comments of admiration from fans.

As the presidential election in the United States approaches, the political tensions are palpable, with many citizens prepared to make informed choices. A significant number of celebrities have taken the initiative to publicly state their positions regarding the upcoming election.

Source

Images Credit: We.com