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.
The reaction online was swift and polarized. “Em is foul for that,” one user posted. Another asked, “What goes through your mind to say this?” while a third wrote, “This is NOT a bar.”
Still, 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.
The four-track Preluxe EP also features appearances from 6LACK and Lil Yachty, and serves as a teaser for JID’s fourth studio album, which is set to drop August 8. While the full tracklist remains under wraps, expectations are high following the critical success of his 2022 release, The Forever Story.
Eminem’s verse on “Animals (Pt. I)” may have stirred debate, but it’s consistent with the provocative style that’s defined his career for more than two decades.
As for “COUSINS,” the song was released on April 21 and is one of his most controversial and confessional works to date. The track is built on a sample of Double Virgo’s “Were There Originals” and interpolates Dave Blunts’ “10 Percs,” with Blunts also credited as the lyricist for the song.
West recounts an incestuous relationship with his younger male cousin during their childhood, which began after they discovered explicit magazines and escalated to sexual acts, a narrative he describes with unflinching directness in both the lyrics and his social media posts.
The song’s lyrics and West’s public statements detail feelings of guilt, secrecy, and confusion, as well as the long-term emotional impact of these early experiences; West links this personal trauma to his cousin, who is now serving a life sentence for murder.
The accompanying music video, initially released in low quality on Twitter, features provocative and disturbing imagery, further amplifying the song’s raw and unsettling themes. “COUSINS” has ignited widespread debate about trauma, confession, and the boundaries of artistic expression, with many questioning whether West’s revelations serve as genuine catharsis or are intended for shock value.
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