Eminem ignited debate with a pointed Kanye West reference on JID’s new track “Animals (Pt. I)” from the rapper’s just-dropped EP Preluxe, released Friday (July 4) as a prelude to his upcoming album God Does Like Ugly.
The JID and Eminem collaboration features two marathon-length verses packed with lyrical acrobatics, but one line from Eminem’s nearly three-minute appearance drew immediate backlash. About a third of the way through his verse, Eminem raps, “With these magazines, I act out like Ye and his cousin,” a direct nod to Kanye’s 2025 track “COUSINS,” where West referenced an inappropriate relationship with a family member. Others praised the Detroit rapper’s technical skill, saying he “left Earth” and “snapped” on the track. The song marks a return favor from Eminem after JID appeared on “Fuel,” a standout cut from Em’s latest project, The Death of Slim Shady.
Eminem’s relationship with Kanye West has long been complicated. The two have collaborated in the past, most notably on “Forever” alongside Drake and Lil Wayne, and have publicly expressed mutual respect. But Eminem has also taken lyrical jabs at Kanye over the years, often using him as a symbol of celebrity excess or erratic behavior. This latest line continues that pattern, though it’s one of the more direct and controversial references to date.