Eminem, the legendary rapper known for his gritty lyrics and relentless rhymes, has once again captured the attention of fans worldwide—this time not for his characteristic hard-hitting verses but for something completely unexpected: a song about faith. Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, has made a career out of raw, foul-mouthed freestyles that catapulted him from Detroit’s underground rap scene to global superstardom. However, in a surprising turn, the Grammy-winning rapper has taken his music in a spiritual direction, drawing attention to his beliefs and the power of faith.
In the song, Eminem delivers heartfelt lines like, “I’m holding on but I don’t know if I can take it much longer; today’s the day that I put all of my trust and faith in You, Father,” signaling a stark contrast to his earlier works. Known for his aggressive style and explicit language, Eminem’s rap in Use This Gospel is remarkably clean, containing no curse words—a rarity for the rapper, who built his career on pushing boundaries. Instead, he focuses on themes of redemption, struggle, and the protective power of faith, declaring: “So my Savior, I call on; to rescue me from these depths of despair.”
The song’s lyrics paint a picture of a man seeking solace and strength in his spirituality. “Bible at my side like a rifle with a God-given gift,” Eminem raps, illustrating how deeply personal this journey appears to be for him. “Every single day I thank God for; that’s why I pay so much homage; praises to Jesus, I’ll always.” These words are a far cry from the Eminem who once courted controversy with his sharp, often controversial takes on life, fame, and society.
While this spiritual turn might seem surprising to many, it isn’t entirely out of character for Eminem. As far back as his 1996 debut album Infinite, he referenced his faith. In It’s Ok, a track from that album, Eminem shared a glimpse of his relationship with Christianity: “In the midst of this insanity / I’ve found my Christianity / through God and there’s a wish he granted me.” It was a softer, more reflective side of the rapper, though it often got lost amid the more sensational tracks that dominated his later work.
Still, Use This Gospel feels different. There’s a maturity and openness in Eminem’s words as he grapples with his personal demons, calling upon prayer and faith as weapons in his fight. His transformation, from the angry underdog whose raps were laced with expletives to an artist openly discussing his relationship with God, is nothing short of remarkable.
Eminem’s willingness to embrace and express his faith in his music reflects a broader trend in hip-hop, where more artists are using their platforms to discuss spirituality and religion. Whether this marks a lasting shift in his artistic direction or is a one-time expression of personal faith, Eminem has proven, once again, that he is an artist capable of surprising the world—whether with a raw, unfiltered rhyme or a heartfelt prayer.
