Ye vs. the People

"Ye vs. the People" is a song by Kanye West featuring T.I., who is credited with "starring as the People".[2][3] It premiered on April 27, 2018, on Power 106 FM, hours after West had shared "Lift Yourself" on his website.[4] The following day, the track was released to the iTunes Store as a single.[5] It sees West defending his support of Donald Trump, which T.I. debates against.

"Ye vs. the People"
Single by Kanye West featuring T.I.
ReleasedApril 28, 2018
RecordedApril 2018
GenrePolitical hip hop[1]
Length3:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)West
Kanye West singles chronology
"Lift Yourself"
(2018)		 "Ye vs. the People"
(2018)		 "Watch"
(2018)
T.I. singles chronology
"Friends"
(2017)		 "Ye vs. the People"
(2018)

Background

Even though "Ye vs. the People" marked West's first solo release to iTunes in 2018, it was not part of his album Ye.[6] On May 1, 2018, a video was shared by West of him and T.I. in the studio working on the track.[7] On 6 July, the information was revealed that T.I. was unaware that West was going to release the track.[8]

Composition

The song is solely produced by West, centering around a sample of "7-Rooms of Gloom" by Four Tops.[9] It is his first track without any co-producers since the 2011 release of the Jay-Z collaboration "Otis".[10] Lyrically, the track is centered around West and T.I.'s contrasting views on Donald Trump, with West rapping praise for Trump and T.I. disputing his views towards the US president.[11] Pitchfork described the track as a song that "plays out like a political debate between Kanye and T.I."[12] Similarly, Candy 95 viewed it as where West engages in a rap battle with T.I. about sociopolitical issues, mostly West's support of Trump.[13]

Chart performance

"Ye vs. the People" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 85 on May 8, 2018, with 12,000 copies sold and 7.4 million streams in its first week.[14] The single marked West's first song to enter the Hot 100 since he featured on Drake's song "Glow" back in April 2017.[15]

Reception

Sam Moore of NME described the song as being "far superior" to "Lift Yourself" and said of the instrumental that it was "excellently-crafted".[16]

Track listing
  • Digital download[17]
  1. "Ye vs. the People (starring T.I. as the People)" – 3:22

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]

  • Kanye West – lead artist, production
  • T.I. – additional vocals
  • Noah Goldstein – recording
  • Mike Snell – recording assistance
  • Andrés Osorio – recording assistance
  • Sean Solymar – recording assistance
  • Mike Dean – mixing, mastering

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[18] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 85

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various April 28, 2018 Digital download
[17][20]

See also

References
  1. Wong, Raymond (April 29, 2018). "Kanye's new political rap wants to 'let the people talk.' Here's what they're saying". Mashable. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. "Kanye West & T.I. Trade Lyrics on Fiery 'Ye Vs. The People'". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  3. "Kanye West Drops Song Explaining His Behavior: 'Ever Since Trump Won It Proved I Could Be President'". People. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  4. "Kanye West Drops New Song "Ye vs. the People" With T.I.: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. "Ye vs. the People (starring T.I. as the People) – Single by Kanye West". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  6. "Kanye West Debuts Politically Charged Song "Ye vs. the People" Feat. T.I." Noisey. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. "Watch Kanye West & T.I. Work On "Ye Vs The People" In The Studio / Kanye West". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  8. "T.I. didn't know Kanye West would drop Trump-themed 'Ye vs the People'". Page Six. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  9. Welsh, April Clare (April 29, 2018). "Kanye West discusses Trump on new T.I.-featuring track 'Ye vs. the People'". Fact. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  10. "Ye vs. the People (starring TI as the People) / Kanye West". Tidal. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  11. "Kanye West, T.I. release song debating West's Trump support". The Hill. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. "Kanye West Drops New Song "Ye vs. the People" With T.I.: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  13. "Kanye West Debated Trump Politics with T.I. on New Track "Ye vs. the People"". Candy 95. April 30, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  14. Zellner, Xandler (May 8, 2018). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Kanye West's 'Ye vs. The People' Debuts". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  15. "Kanye West's 'Ye vs. The People' Debuts On Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  16. "Kanye West's return on 'Ye. vs the People' and 'Lift Yourself' wasn't the comeback we were expecting". NME. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  17. "Ye vs. the People (starring T.I. as the People) - Single by Kanye West". iTunes Store.
  18. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  19. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  20. "Ye vs. the People (starring T.I. as the People) - Single by Kanye West". iTunes Store.
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