Award-winning artist Eminem has praised Jesus in his new song, sparking a social-media discussion about his personal faith.

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The new song ‘Use this gospel’ hears him praising Jesus, touting scripture and denouncing Satan. The single, made in collaboration with Christian rapper Ye (Kanye West), is a new track on DJ Khaled’s new album God Did.

The original song was included on Ye’s 2019 album Jesus is King.

Eminem raps about his relationship with God, saying: “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.”

He also says: “So my saviour, 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.”

Many were surprised to hear Eminem talking about having a Christian faith.

Hip-hop artist Derek Minor tweeted: “Kanye and Eminem making Christian raps on a DJ Khaled album is not something I would have ever seen coming but I’m here for it. It’s a blessing to see positivity. Especially in these times.”

The song also caught the attention of faith-based writer DeWayne Hamby, who noted at Patheos that Eminem, a gritty artist “might seem like an unlikely person to sing the praises of Jesus Christ” but that the rapper previously referenced faith in a 1996 song. The headline asked: “Is Eminem a Christian?”