Use This Gospel

The Famously Profane Eminem Achieves ‘Billboard’ Christian Chart Glory With His First No. 1 Song

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Eminem is a notably explicit rapper with some of the most controversial lyrics in mainstream music history. In fact, his words (and the marketing practices of the entertainment industry more broadly) were once the topic of a congressional hearing in 2001, with one representative saying, “When you hear the words about raping your mother or killing your mother, I think that the industry should be embarrassed that that’s award-winning entertainment.”

Back then, it may have seemed unlikely that Em would ever top any Christian music charts, but here in 2022, that’s just what he’s done. On Billboard‘s latest Hot Christian Songs chart, DJ Khaled’s “Use This Gospel (Remix)” featuring Kanye West and Eminem debuts at No. 1. This gives Em and Khaled their first leaders on that chart and Ye his fifth.

The “Use This Gospel” remix has multiple lines in which Em expresses his love for God, including, “Bible at my side like a rifle with a God-given gift / Every single day I thank God for / That’s why I pay so much homage / Praises to Jesus,” and, “So my Savior, I call on / To rescue me from these depths of despair / So these demons better step like a stair / Because He is my shepherd / I’m armed with Jesus, my weapon is prayer.”

So, while a lot of Eminem’s past material may not have been gospel-chart-worthy, his latest is, despite how odd that may read as a headline.

Is Eminem A Christian?

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Eminem has long been open about his past with substance abuse and his road to recovery. Though the traditional twelve-step program requires the person in recovery to put their vices in the hands of a higher power, said higher power doesn’t necessarily have to be the God worshipped and followed by Christians. But a verse on the remix of Kanye West’s 2019 Jesus Is King cut, “Use This Gospel,” which appears on DJ Khaled’s new album, God Did has fans wondering if Eminem follows some form of organized religion.

Is Eminem A Christian?

On the “Use This Gospel” remix, Eminem raps, “My savior, I call on / To rescue me from these depths of despair So these demons better step like a stair / Because He is my shepherd / I’m armed with Jesus / My weapon is prayer.” Toward the end of his verse, which would imply that he might be a Christian. Toward the end of the verse, he says, Bible at my side like a rifle with a God-given gift / Every single day I thank God for / That’s why I pay so much homage / Praises to Jesus, I’ll always.”

Though Eminem does consider himself the “Rap God,” it’s clear that he seeks guidance from a different God. However, it doesn’t seem that Em considers himself to be religious, but rather, spiritual.

Some Christians may find Eminem’s lyrics vulgar and offensive, but he has long been open about his beliefs in God. In a 1996 track called “It’s Ok,” from his first album, Infinite, Em raps “In the midst of this insanity / I’ve found my Christianity / through God and there’s a wish he granted me / He showed me how to cope with this stress and hope for the best / instead of moping depressed.”

While it’s unclear if he still practices Christianity today, he is very open about his relationship with God, and consistently credits God for his recovery.

Check out “Use This Gospel (Remix)” above.

Kanye West Thanked Eminem For Their DJ Khaled Collaboration Back In 2020

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Kanye West has never shied away from this faith throughout his career, turning a plea to God to guide him into a hit back in 2004 with “Jesus Walks.” His walk with his deity reached its peak in 2019 when he released his first gospel album Jesus Is King, with songs like “Follow God,” “Everything We Need,” and “Use This Gospel.” Three years later, “Use This Gospel,” which originally featured Kenny G and Clipse, received a remixed version featuring Eminem and production by Dr. Dre on DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album God Did. For those in the know, it had actually been in the works since 2020.

In a September 2020 tweet, the Donda artist thanked Slim Shady for his contributions. “@Eminem THANK YOU FOR RAPPING ON THE DR DRE REMIX OF USE THIS GOSPEL I HAVW ALWAYS LOVED AND RESPECTED YOU AND IM HONORED TO HAVE YOU BLESS THIS SONG … ITS ALSO NORTH WEST’S FAVORITE KANYE WEST SONG OF ALL TIME.”

Eminem has never been known to profess his faith as loudly as Ye, but the “Use This Gospel” remix finds the “Rap God” artist doing just that. “Today’s the day that I put all of my trust and faith in You, Father / Please let this hate make me stronger,” the Detroit rapper proclaims.

Listen to the “Use This Gospel” remix above.

God Did is out now via Epic. Listen to it here.

Eminem Claims His Faith In God On DJ Khaled And Kanye West’s ‘Use This Gospel’ Remix On ‘God Did’

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It is not every day that one hears Eminem rap on a gospel song, but, as one can imagine DJ Khaled would say, “Khaled did!” On the producer’s 13th studio album God Did, he includes a remix to Kanye West’s 2019 record “Use This Gospel” from Jesus Is King.

The track is remixed, carrying an air of early 2000s Eminem nostalgia with harder-hitting drums and slight rock influence, which makes sense as Dr. Dre produced it. Slim Shady raps about not knowing if he can hold on and putting his faith in “the Father.” It’s his usual speed raps and flow switches, but definitely, a surprising effort as he makes several religious references.

The original “Use This Gospel” featured Kenny G and Clipse, made up of Pusha T and No Malice. In September 2020, Ye tweeted his gratitude to Eminem for rapping on the record. “@Eminem THANK YOU FOR RAPPING ON THE DR DRE REMIX OF USE THIS GOSPEL I HAVW ALWAYS LOVED AND RESPECTED YOU AND IM HONORED TO HAVE YOU BLESS THIS SONG … ITS ALSO NORTH WEST’S FAVORITE KANYE WEST SONG OF ALL TIME.”

God Did released on Friday (August 26) and boasts a star-studded tracklist made up of Jay-Z, Drake, Future, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Sza, Latto, and many more. Notably, the title track features a four-minute Hov verse plus the usual impressive performances from Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.

Check out the “Use This Gospel” remix above.

God Did is out now via Epic. Listen to it here.