The rapper said Eminem regularly contacted him before and during his one-year sentence for a federal weapons charge.

The pair struck up a relationship after the Detroit rap star recorded a verse on T.I.’s ‘Touchdown’.

"My management reached out to his management, just in hopes of getting him on a record,” T.I. told MTV.

“Em personally reached out to me, and we been speaking ever since, especially since I went through my situation [with having to go to prison].

"[He would] just kinda remind me that 'I've been through dark period in my life too. You're gonna make it. You're one of the ones we need, so you're gonna make it. Stand tall and walk the walk.'"

T.I. added that Eminem had been “incredibly helpful”, and that it was “incredibly noble” of him to stay in touch.

The rapper also said he was hopeful Eminem would appear on his next studio album, 'King Uncaged', which is released in August.

(by Jason Gregory)