Jelly Roll, the multifaceted singer, rapper, and songwriter, is experiencing a profound moment of gratitude after learning that his song “Save Me” has been sampled by none other than his childhood hero, Eminem.
On Friday, Eminem unveiled his latest album, The Death of Slim Shady, featuring the track “Somebody Save Me,” which prominently samples Jelly Roll’s poignant “Save Me.”
In an emotional Instagram post, Jelly Roll shared his awe and gratitude. He posted a photo of himself alongside Eminem and expressed how this moment felt like the culmination of a lifelong admiration. “I always say my childhood hero’s lived somewhere between Willie Nelson and Eminem,” he wrote. “As a teenager (and still today) I could recite every song on the Slim Shady album, the Marshall Mathers album, and The Eminem Show.”
Reflecting on his turbulent youth, Jelly Roll recounted his connection to Eminem’s music. “When I bonded out of jail at 17 years old and was sneaking into cyphers and battles in Nashville, they would play the ‘Lose Yourself’ beat when I came out on stage at the freestyle battles,” he shared. “I related to every word Eminem wrote. I understood him and felt like he understood me, which was rare because I spent most of my life feeling misunderstood.”
The news that Eminem would be sampling his song brought Jelly Roll to tears. “So you can imagine how I felt when I got that call that Eminem would be sampling my song ‘Save Me’ on his new album,” he continued. “And for him to use the song to discuss the other side of what could’ve happened if he had allowed his demons to win brought me to tears.”
The track “Somebody Save Me” opens with the melody and lyrics from Jelly Roll’s original song. In the collaboration, Jelly Roll sings the powerful chorus while Eminem delivers the verses.
The chorus, a heart-wrenching plea for salvation, goes: “Somebody save me, me from myself/ I’ve spent so long living in hell/ They say my lifestyle is bad for my health/ It’s the only thing that seems to help.”
Jelly Roll concluded his heartfelt post by encouraging fans to listen to the new track. “If you haven’t heard it yet, check out ‘Somebody Save Me’ on Eminem’s new album The Death of Slim Shady,” he urged.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Jelly Roll, merging his profound personal journey with the influence of one of hip-hop’s legends.