Jay-Z and Eminem will appear together on a song for the first time in 25 years. The track will be an interlude on a forthcoming collaborative album by Rakim, Kurupt, and Masta Killa, targeted for release on August 28.
According to Rolling Stone, the last time the two rap icons shared a track was on "Renegade," from Jay-Z's 2001 album The Blueprint. News of the reunion surfaced on June 7, when Matthew "M80" Markoff, A&R and executive producer of the album, posted a sneak peek at the track list on Instagram. Among the songs listed was a sixth track with Eminem and Jay-Z's names handwritten beside it.
"AOTY 2026," Markoff, President of Holy Toledo Productions, declared in the caption. "PUT SOME COT DAMN RESPEK ON MY NAME."
Markoff confirmed exclusively to Rolling Stone that the track is an official release. He said the interlude will find Jay-Z and Eminem paying homage to Rakim's legacy and influence, and that it will precede the first solo track by Rakim featuring his own production in over 15 years.
"Em and Jay do not have verses on the interlude," Markoff said, but he added that the interlude and other songs on the album comprise relatively new material. "The entire album with all its parts were recorded in the past two years."
When "Renegade" was released in 2001, both artists were considered among the most respected lyricists in hip-hop. The song sparked debate about which of the two delivered the stronger performance, even though both said their approach was focused on the theme and production rather than competition. Those conversations have continued for decades.
Beyond Jay-Z and Eminem, the album includes features from Snoop Dogg, KRS-One, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Buckshot, Daz Dillinger, and others. The album will also carry a posthumous executive production credit by Oliver "Power" Grant of Wu-Tang Clan. Rakim, Kurupt, and Masta Killa previously worked together on "BE ILL," the lead single from Rakim's 2024 album G.O.D.'s NETWORK – REB7RTH.
The album is set to arrive August 28.
