The rumored Eminem and Jay-Z collaboration might not happen after all.
While the rap icons were recently listed as collaborators on Rakim’s upcoming album, Eminem’s team claims they haven’t even been contacted about the project, according to The United States today.
Speculation began after executive producer Matthew “M80” Markoff shared a handwritten tracklist for Rakim’s upcoming album on Instagram on June 7. The listing appeared to show Jay-Z and Eminem together on the sixth track, fueling excitement over what would be their first musical collaboration since 2001. Renegade from Jay-Z’s sixth studio album The plan.
But in a surprising turn of events, a rep for Eminem said The United States today that no one had contacted the rapper’s team about Rakim, Kurupt and Masta Killa’s album.
Even if the appearance eventually comes to fruition, fans shouldn’t expect a full-fledged Renegade sequel. Markoff said rolling stone that neither Jay-Z nor Eminem contribute a verse to the song. Instead, their involvement is through an interlude that pays “tribute to Rakim’s legacy and influence.”
The tribute will reportedly lead to Rakim’s first self-produced solo track in 15 years. Markoff added that “the entire album with all its parts was recorded over the last two years.”
