In typical Kanye West fashion, the bizarre has once again become news. On Friday (June 27), Kanye linked with Christian "King" Combs to release the bomb that is Never Stop for the pop-up seven-record EP that has the internet buzzing, and not for the apparent reason.
Executive produced by Ye himself, "Never Stop" is a brash, emotionally charged statement from both artists, one that weaves loyalty, controversy, and family legacies all beneath the shadow of legal drama.
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At its core is "LONELY ROADS," a track that has already made headlines many months before its official release. A previous version, "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine," had been teased early this year, provoking a swift rebuke from Kim Kardashian. Her concern? She and Kanye's daughter, North West (who has some sung dialogue in the finished version). That decision led Kim to file a lawsuit seeking to halt the release over the involvement of North. It didn't stop Ye.
The last edition of "LONELY ROADS" starts with a haunting recorded prison phone call from Diddy himself: "I mean, look, I just want to say thank you for taking care of my kids, man. No one has contacted them; no one has even phoned them."
Kanye responds with heavy emotion: "Hell yes, I love you so much, man. You brought me up, even when I didn't know you, you know what I mean?"
It's no secret North West is a minor player in the story. Still, there is a massive weight behind her appearance here, especially when you consider the very public custody battle between Kanye and Kim. It's just another of countless examples of Ye muddling the personal and the public.
Another standout from the EP is "FREE DIDDY," which doesn't mince words. King Combs vents his frustrations with tabloid culture and ongoing court battles, rapping:
"Jeez, why the f### I'm in this tabloid? If it ain't me, it's my pops or my b####…"N##### will not sleep until we see Diddy free."
It's a brash, unapologetic loyalty anthem and one that arrives in the very hours after Diddy was slapped with three new lawsuits, the most troubling of which involves both himself and his son Justin Combs in a 2021 gang rape allegation.
Christian himself is not free of controversy, either. He also has his lawsuit with a woman who claims he assaulted her on a yacht trip to St. Martin in December 2022, which Diddy organized.
On "Never Stop," Kanye and King Combs are doing what they've always done: employing music as a battleground, a therapy session, and a megaphone simultaneously. "We need to work on spreading love!" Kanye shouts before the track concludes. However, in this instance, the score is clouded by layers of kinship, gray moral questions, and a legal tempest. Whether it's defiance or delusion, it's clear that they never stop.
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