Stanisland Magazine

The Detroit and New York rappers have teased a highly anticipated collaboration, sending hip-hop fans into a frenzy

Last updated: 27th August 2025

Rappers Eminem and 50 Cent have announced that they are set to begin work on a new album. On his radio station, Shade 45, the Stan lyricist said, “We just gotta stop bullsh***ing and just do it.”

Both artists are bound to stir excitement, having sold millions of records worldwide, making history in the process. While it might take some time for them to get started, that could be a good thing. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

Background

The two have been close friends for more than twenty-years following Fifty’s (Curtis Jackson) record deal with Aftermath and Shady Records.

READ MORE: Eminem Drops New Single For ‘Stans’ Soundtrack

His debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, is a multi-platinum-selling record, having shifted a whopping 13 million copies worldwide. It features the smash hit In Da Club, now synonymous with the rapper.

Slim Shady is amongst the best selling artists of all time, with more than 220 million units sold. Lauded for songs such as Without Me and Stan, he is famous for his confrontational style and a flow notable for its infectious delivery, double entendres, and multisyllabic execution.

Collaborations and Camaraderie

The two have a long history of collaboration and share a penchant for diss records. Most notably, 50’s mixtape Guess Who’s Back, caught the attention of Mathers and Dr. Dre, prompting them to sign the Queensbridge rapper. They have since featured on several tracks together, including Don’t Push Me, Crack a Bottle, and You Don’t Know.

In 2002, Eminem found himself in the middle of a feud between 50 Cent and Ja Rule, setting off an intense rivalry. A back-and-forth series of diss records was released, which eventually became personal. Ultimately, Rule lost the beef. The entire saga is chronicled on DJ Green Lantern’s mixtape Conspiracy Theories 1 & 2.

What We Know So Far

Conflicting schedules and solo careers have been the main obstacles, with the Detroit rapper attributing it to “their own timing and organization.”

After completing a Las Vegas residency, Jackson said he’ll be ready to commit to a project, stating on Instagram, “Looks like I’ll be back in the booth after all!”

Dr Dre’s Involvement

Fif revealed that there is potential for Dr. Dre to produce the entire album, describing a vault of beats at his disposal. Last year, he relayed a conversation with Eminem on Big Boy TV regarding the project and the prospect of the heavyweight trio reuniting: “As soon as I said that, I got a text from (Eminem) that he had already spoke to Dre, and that Dre is in there and he got some crazy stuff for me to go hear.”

Noticeably upbeat about new music, he then described his creative approach, stressing that there is no rush until things feel right: “This is my process: I’ll go make something, what I can find, the best music that I can put my hands on. And when I feel real good about it, I bring it to put pressure on Dre to offer me something. ‘Cause he’ll have something… He’s always had something.” 

Potential Features

Both artists are prolific collaborators and their preferences for guest features often surprising fans. Eminem has teamed up with Beyoncé and Rhianna, which is contrast to the rapper’s stylistic dispatches.

However, their styles, history and cadence, are suggestive of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre making an obvious inclusion. Royce Da 5’9 could also be another guest added to the roster considering his friendship with Eminem.

The Detroit-born rapper has somewhat altered his style over the years, having moved away from a gritty motif, to a more commercialised tone. Something 50 Cent is no stranger to, either.

Fan and Celebrity Reactions

It’s safe to say fans are thrilled about a joint Eminem and 50 Cent album. Avidly waiting for the collaboration to drop, excitement is brewing online. One user, quakegw, said, “don’t play with me Fif” while another exclaimed, “Please!! A collab would be so epic.”

Redditors suggested potential themes and topical content, including humorous lyrics inherent to the two. Others weren’t so forgiving, proposing disses might take centre stage, with fans suggesting, “Everyone is going to get dissed, including the corpse of Ja Rule.” Some were reserved about a future record saying 50 is too “childish” for a mature project.

Elsewhere, fellow musicians made their reactions known; Rihanna said, “you know everybody seated,” whereas Busta Rhymes chimed in with crown emojis. Ez Mil, Slim’s protege and recent signing, said, “guess I’ll see you here,” followed by a 100 icon.

Expectations

A flurry of releases from Eminem with lacklustre results doesn’t bode well. It can be argued that a shift away from his signature style, in search of a more commercial sound, may be the cause of a dramatic decline in musical quality.

While his talent for rhyming persists, his curatorial ear has fallen from what it once was. Mathers’ first three albums (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, and The Eminem Show) were not only critically well received, but commercial successes. His raw, often over-promising approach was what first attracted early listeners, often through hauntingly vivid stories and shocking lyrics.

The same can be said for 50 Cent, though his last album was over a decade ago. Recent verses on Snoop Dogg’s latest long play Missionary, particularly on the track Gunz N Smoke, yielded less than desirable outcomes.

Some hip-hop aficionados see these as pertinent criticisms, with many questioning 50’s relevance in an age where the political and social landscape has changed. Eminem’s abilities have also been called into question, particularly his assonance in respect to his subject matter.

We have seen artists bounce back from low-points in their careers, and despite these censures, their systems for creating music remain, and hopefully their resilience to return to form.

Release Date

The manner of the announcement suggests studio sessions have not yet begun. Taking into account Curtis’ post on Instagram, they could start recording after January 2025. That means either a mid-to-late year release or early 2026 at most, but don’t rule out a surprise drop. Potentially, a hoard of music could be ready to go, though fresh material sounds like it’s on the cards.