Sunday nights in Detroit will go down in history after Jelly Roll gave the city its great Eminem collaboration on the Fest. Earlier that night, the rapper was paying his respects to the legendary rocker Bob Seger. When "Lose Yourself" spilled into the stadium beyond the drones' roars of "Lose Yourself," the energy started to shift. At the peak of the crowd's roar, Eminem thunderingly appeared halfway through the song, while Jelly Roll continued belting it out to the crowd. Eminem, clad in a military-style jacket and a baseball cap, walked down the ramp to the center stage, exchanged a couple of gestures with Jelly Roll, and then engaged with the more than 46,000 thrilled fans. Yet, there I was, also a moment of musical genius, for Jelly Roll, it was a personal win.
A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled in Front of Hometown Fans
In a way, this electrifying moment meant way more than that uber-hyped collaboration. Getting up on that stage alongside Eminem in Detroit, his hometown, was just one of those things Jelly Roll dreamt about as a kid. With the last beats of "Lose Yourself" ringing out in the Arena, Eminem thanked the crowd and kissed his man Jelly Roll, "Make some noise for Jelly Roll," at which point, canceling himself, he concluded: "I love y'all. Peace!" While thanking his audience, the fragile voice of Jelly Roll trembled, "This is the greatest show I've ever had in my f**king life." He further said that it was Eminem's music that helped Jelly Roll through the bleakest moments of his life, and recognized Paul Rosenberg because he was one of the few who saw Jelly Roll's talent. Moreover, the show visuals played several callbacks to Eminem's iconic "E" logo and also to his Mom's Spaghetti restaurant, which is but a few blocks away from the venue.
Eminem’s Rare Return to the Stage Highlights a Deepening Bond
Despite Eminem's rare public appearances in recent times, every one of them has created a massive impact. In June 2023, he joined Jelly Roll to open Michigan Central at a concert performing “Sing For the Moment” backed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. That was their first shared moment onstage, hinting at a unique relationship. Eminem’s Sunday comeback was the first stage performance since a brief appearance at the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh. And yet, his presence still resonates with that much power. Last July, he shared the platform with Ed Sheeran at Ford Field, again emphasizing his deep ties with Detroit fans.
Post Malone’s Tour Continues as Jelly Roll Shines Bright
Regardless of Eminem’s appearance, Jelly Roll continued to impress by performing “Losers” alongside Post Malone—a track from Malone’s latest album F-1 Trillion. In addition, Houston rapper BigXthaPlug made a guest appearance to perform his 2022 hit “Texas,” adding another highlight to the jam-packed evening. Sunday’s concert was the eighth stop on the Big Ass Stadium Tour, which heads next to Minneapolis and continues across North America and Europe until its finale in Lisbon, Portugal, on September 14. Nonetheless, the Detroit show may be the most memorable, thanks to an unexpected hometown hero’s powerful return.
