J.I.D calls working with Eminem a “full circle” moment in a new XXL interview, reflecting on their collaborations “Fuel” and “Animals”.
Across mixtapes, collabs, EPs and four acclaimed albums, J.I.D has carved out a clear lane of his own. For him, rhymes aren’t just words, they’re the foundation of his artistry, a puzzle he takes joy in piecing together with precision and intent.
The Atlanta rapper’s journey has been defined by resilience. The youngest of seven, J.I.D grew up playing competitive football before leaving the sport behind in 2012 to chase music. Five years later, he signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records and began building a career on his own terms.
Now, he has become a critical favourite and a frequent collaborator with some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Eminem. Their first link-up came on “Fuel” from Em’s “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”, followed by Em returning the favour on J.I.D’s “Animals”, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Rap Digital Song Sales chart.
In a new XXL interview, J.I.D said working with Eminem still feels surreal:
“That’s that nostalgia… That’s a blessing. It kind of lets me know that I’ve been going in the right direction because my whole career has been full circle moments like that. Everyone that I really grew up to or admired, most of those artists have circled back around and tapped in… There’s a few names that blow my mind, but I mean, Em”.
For J.I.D, the recognition from one of his idols is both a validation and a reminder that his path, built on patience and lyricism, is paying off.
