MIA recently shared her thoughts on the dynamic between Kanye West and Jay-Z, asserting that Kanye played a crucial role in Jay-Z’s rise by contributing the creativity that defined their partnership.

During an appearance on The PBD Podcast, the artist reflected on her interactions with both rappers and their evolving careers. MIA pointed out that while Jay-Z was known for his business acumen, Kanye brought an artistic vision that set their collaborations apart.

“I’d like to talk about Kanye more because I think he was very important to Jay-Z’s success,” MIA stated. “He added the creativity to their whole dynamic. I don’t think Kanye gets enough credit for that. Jay-Z was the businessman, but Kanye was the artistic force. They represented two different energies.”

She also referenced the Watch the Throne era, noting the inevitable competition that arose between the two. “Only one person was going to get the throne,” MIA remarked. Additionally, she highlighted their differing political stances, with Jay-Z supporting Barack Obama and Kanye West aligning with Donald Trump.

MIA’s History with Jay-Z

M.I.A says Kanye was very important to the rise of Jay Z, she says he doesn’t get enough respect for his creative contribution pic.twitter.com/uqY7JdK6KJ

— Yeezyrih (@Yeeezyrih) March 24, 2025

MIA’s own experience with Jay-Z and Roc Nation began in 2012 when she signed with the label. However, she parted ways just over a year later. In a controversial revelation, MIA alleged that Jay-Z had pressured her to undergo plastic surgery.

“The first thing he told me to do after I signed was to get plastic surgery,” she claimed during an Instagram Live session last November. “I’m not insecure. If I were, I would have gone through with it. But I didn’t. And that argument about me being insecure fails because I stood my ground.”

As for the fallout between Jay-Z and Kanye, their once-close friendship has visibly deteriorated in recent years. Kanye has publicly voiced his feelings about their fractured relationship, often expressing a sense of exclusion.

During a recent social media outburst, Kanye shared, “I LOVE JAY Z AND I DO FEEL BAD. I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE BLACK SHEEP. LIKE I WANTED FAMILY IN THIS MUSIC SH*T. I’D RUN ON STAGES THINKING I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING AND WOULD ALWAYS BE A SLIGHT.”

Despite the tension, MIA’s perspective underscores the lasting impact of Kanye’s artistic contributions to Jay-Z’s legacy.