Following the release of Eminem‘s 12th studio album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), Jelly Roll, whose hit song “Save Me” is sampled on the LP’s closing track, took to social media to reflect on the full circle moment.
On Friday, Jelly Roll posted a photo on Instagram of himself with the rapper in Detroit, where they performed at the all-star Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central. “I always say my childhood hero’s lived somewhere between Willie Nelson and Eminem. As a teenager (and still today) I could recite every song on the Slim Shady album, the Marshal Mathers album and the Eminem show,” captioned Jelly Roll. “When I bonded out of jail at 17 years old and was sneaking into cyphers and battles in Nashville they would also play the ‘lose yourself’ beat when I came out on stage at the freestyle battles. I related to every word Eminem wrote.”
He continued, “I understand him and felt like he understood me, which was rare cause I spent most of my life feeling misunderstood. So you can imagine how I felt when I got that the call that Eminem would be sampling my song ‘Save Me’ on his new album. And for him to use the song to discuss the other side of what could’ve happened if he would’ve allowed his demons to win brought me to tears.”
Jelly Roll also thanked Eminem’s manager and Def Jam CEO Paul Rosenberg, writing, “You’ve been nothing but kind to me and treated me like family and gave me opportunities I didn’t deserve, forever grateful.”
In The Death Of Slim Shady‘s emotional track, “Somebody Save Me,” Eminem samples Jelly Roll’s powerful “Save Me” single, and includes a candid apology from the Detroit rapper to his children as he expresses regret over his past choices.
“Sorry that I chose drugs and put ’em above you/Sorry that I didn’t love you enough to/Give ’em up, how the fuck do I not love you more than a pill?” raps Eminem, as Jelly Roll’s chorus follows: “I’ve spent so long livin’ in hell/They say my lifestyle Is bad for my health/It’s the only thing that seems to help.”
The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) spans 19 tracks and along with Jelly Roll includes features with White Gold, Sly Pyper, JID, Dem Jointz, Ez Mil, Skylar Grey, Big Sean, and BabyTron.