Def Jam Recordings has appeared to confirm that a new Kanye West album is on the way.
Speculation built over the weekend that West will drop a new album in the near future, following rumours of an exclusive listening event for the record being held in Las Vegas.
Claims of West’s new album being close to release first came from internet personality Justin Laboy, who said that the rapper played the album for both him and professional basketball player Kevin Durant over the weekend.
“Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas,” Laboy wrote.
Today (July 19) a Twitter post by West’s label Def Jam read: “YZY SZN”. The “YZY” part presumably refers to one of West’s nicknames, Yeezy.
YZY SZN
— Def Jam Recordings (@defjam) July 19, 2021
There has been no official confirmation, however, nor any details of a release date.
Laboy added in his tweets yesterday (July 18): “The production is light years ahead of itâs [sic] time, and the bars sound like heâs broke & hungry trying to get signed again. Any artist who plan on dropping soon should just push it back”
He also shared a photo of what is allegedly West playing music for him and Durant.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR. DONT @ ME pic.twitter.com/baaL9fHKOv
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 19, 2021
In two further individual tweets, Laboy claimed that West’s new album will be arriving at some point this week.
“Kanye West album is really done,” he wrote, “When it drops this week, we probably not going to listen to anything else for a while..”
Kanye West album is really done. When it drops this week, we probably not going to listen to anything else for a while.. Let me go enjoy all the current artist Iâm listening to until then. God bless #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
LETS ARGUE His name is @kanyewest & this new album heâs dropping this week is a classic.. DONT @ ME #Respectfully pic.twitter.com/ZTcsYyPB6d
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 19, 2021
As Laboy’s tweets began to circulate, rumours of an exclusive album listening event in Las Vegas began to appear online.
Pictures have been shared online of people allegedly queuing outside the venue where the supposed listening event took place on Sunday evening.
Doors are almost open for @KanyeWestâs album listening party in Vegas tonight!
(: @_ovoeric & @dondasplace) pic.twitter.com/bnqjF3aOLM
— Photos Of Kanye West (@PhotosOfKanye) July 19, 2021
Listening Party pic.twitter.com/u15aFpM6u3
— The Yeezy Zone (@TheYzyZone) July 19, 2021
Producer Teddy Walton â who has worked with Travis Scott and Bryson Tiller, as well as Kendrick Lamar‘s Grammy-nominated song ‘LOVE.’ â has also tweeted about a new Kanye West album, which he appears to have contributed to.
“Honestly can’t wait till [Kanye West] drop,” he wrote. “& I’m glad to be apart [sic] of history… See y’all soon.”
Honestly canât wait till @kanyewest drop. & im glad to be apart of history see yâall soon.
— TEDDY WALTON (@teddywalton) July 19, 2021
Some artists have responded to the rumours, with Chicago rapper Lil Durk saying he “missed the jet” to appear on the album.
Brockhampton‘s Kevin Abstract shared his excitement at the prospect of new music from West, tweeting, “kanye please give us the album”.
kanye please give us the album
— kevin abstract (@kevinabstract) July 19, 2021
The hip-hop music festival Rolling Loud also responded to the speculation by flat-out asking West if he could confirm news of the album â and by inviting him to launch the record at its Miami event next weekend.
You busy next weekend? @kanyewest
— Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) July 19, 2021
you miss 100% of the shots you don't take SO WHAT'S GOOD @KANYEWEST, ARE YOU DROPPING AN ALBUM OR NA
— Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) July 19, 2021
We know the perfect place for you to come promote your next album @kanyewest
— Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) July 19, 2021
Whatever time (before midnight) he wants, if he hits us back https://t.co/U9ShNH2NtB
— Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) July 19, 2021
While no collaborators on West’s new album have been confirmed just yet, footage emerged over the weekend of Tyler, The Creator in the studio with West.
The footage sees both Tyler and Kanye in the studio in front of a whiteboard with what appears to be a tracklist written on it.
Kanye & Tyler In The Studio #KanyeWest #TylerTheCreator pic.twitter.com/OtTcJHBqxB
— HiddenPostersÂź (@hiddenposters) July 17, 2021
The Kanye album ‘Donda’, the follow up to 2019’s ‘Jesus Is King’, was initially set for release last year but never materialised. He had previously shared the album’s artwork, as well as a collaboration with Travis Scott, âWash Us In the Bloodâ.
In March, CyHi The Prynce, West’s collaborator, revealed that West had resumed work on ‘Donda’ “late last year”.
West recently lent his vocals to âFaithâ, the second posthumous album by late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke, alongside Pusha T on the track âTell Me The Visionâ.
The post Def Jam appears to confirm rumours of new Kanye West album after Las Vegas listening event appeared first on NME.