Jay-Z and Eminem will reunite on a new Rakim album, marking their first collaboration in 25 years. The track appears on a collaborative album featuring Rakim, Kurupt, and Masta Killa.
The collaboration represents a significant moment in hip-hop, bringing together three generations of rap artists. Jay-Z and Eminem last worked together a quarter-century ago, and their reunion on this project pays tribute to Rakim, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in rap history.
Rakim, who rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of the duo Eric B. & Rakim, revolutionized hip-hop with his complex rhyme schemes and introspective lyricism. His influence shaped the careers of countless artists who followed, including both Jay-Z and Eminem. The collaborative album also features Kurupt, known for his work with Tha Dogg Pound and Death Row Records, and Masta Killa of the Wu-Tang Clan.
The project brings together artists from different eras and coasts of hip-hop. Jay-Z, who built his career in New York before becoming a business mogul, and Eminem, who emerged from Detroit to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, have both cited Rakim as a foundational influence on their approaches to rapping. Their decision to collaborate on this album reflects the respect Rakim commands within the hip-hop community.
No release date for the album has been announced. The collaboration arrives at a time when legacy hip-hop artists have increasingly worked together on projects that celebrate the genre's history and evolution. Both Jay-Z and Eminem remain active in music, though both have reduced their recording output in recent years to focus on other ventures.