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NME

Footage has emerged of Kanye West previewing songs in London that he created in collaboration with producer James Blake.

• READ MORE: James Blake live in London: hometown hero celebrates longevity with a career-spanning set

“It’s my birthday and [West] is playing tracks we made I’m good for presents thanks,” Blake tweeted earlier this morning (September 27). He also shared footage of West playing a song behind DJ decks, clarifying that the track does not sample ‘The Colour In Anything’ cut ‘Always’ but is a new song entirely.

In later tweets, Blake added that he produced the song, as well as two others. See his tweets and watch footage of West playing a snippet of new music below:

Though they’ve never released music together, Blake has been vocal about wanting to work with West for some time. In 2015, the producer said that West would feature on ‘The Colour In Anything’ (then titled ‘Radio Silence.)

“Something was supposed to happen; I don’t really know how to describe how that didn’t work out,” Blake explained when the album arrived the following year, sans Ye. “I wanted Kanye to be on the song ‘Timeless’, but the verse didn’t materialize,” Blake told Pitchfork at the time.

“I think a huge swath of things happened in his life, and I just stayed out of it. Eventually, the mood of the album changed, and in the end I don’t think it would have fit.”

Blake has an extensive history of producing tracks for hip-hop artists. In recent years, he’s received production credits on songs with the likes of Vince Staples, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Electronica and JPEGMAFIA. Just last week, Freddie Gibbs released his latest ‘Soul Sold Separately’ preview, ‘Dark Hearted’, produced by Blake.

Last year, Blake released most recent studio album (aside from ambient record ‘Wind Down’ in March) ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’. In a five-star review, NME called the record “James Blake in his richest, rawest form, still and always shapeshifting to find fascinating new ways to heal”.

West, meanwhile, recently announced plans to end the fashion partnership between Gap and his own Yeezy brand, terminating a 10-year agreement first established in 2020, accusing the company of “substantial noncompliance”.

The post Kanye West previews new songs made with James Blake in London appeared first on NME.

NME

Footage has emerged of Kanye West previewing songs in London that he created in collaboration with producer James Blake.

• READ MORE: James Blake live in London: hometown hero celebrates longevity with a career-spanning set

“It’s my birthday and [West] is playing tracks we made I’m good for presents thanks,” Blake tweeted earlier this morning (September 27). He also shared footage of West playing a song behind DJ decks, clarifying that the track does not sample ‘The Colour In Anything’ cut ‘Always’ but is a new song entirely.

In later tweets, Blake added that he produced the song, as well as two others. See his tweets and watch footage of West playing a snippet of new music below:

Though they’ve never released music together, Blake has been vocal about wanting to work with West for some time. In 2015, the producer said that West would feature on ‘The Colour In Anything’ (then titled ‘Radio Silence.)

“Something was supposed to happen; I don’t really know how to describe how that didn’t work out,” Blake explained when the album arrived the following year, sans Ye. “I wanted Kanye to be on the song ‘Timeless’, but the verse didn’t materialize,” Blake told Pitchfork at the time.

“I think a huge swath of things happened in his life, and I just stayed out of it. Eventually, the mood of the album changed, and in the end I don’t think it would have fit.”

Blake has an extensive history of producing tracks for hip-hop artists. In recent years, he’s received production credits on songs with the likes of Vince Staples, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Electronica and JPEGMAFIA. Just last week, Freddie Gibbs released his latest ‘Soul Sold Separately’ preview, ‘Dark Hearted’, produced by Blake.

Last year, Blake released most recent studio album (aside from ambient record ‘Wind Down’ in March) ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’. In a five-star review, NME called the record “James Blake in his richest, rawest form, still and always shapeshifting to find fascinating new ways to heal”.

West, meanwhile, recently announced plans to end the fashion partnership between Gap and his own Yeezy brand, terminating a 10-year agreement first established in 2020, accusing the company of “substantial noncompliance”.

The post Kanye West previews new songs made with James Blake in London appeared first on NME.

NME

Denzel Curry has announced a deluxe reissue of his recent fifth album, ‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future’, for which he’s re-recorded eight of its songs with his 10-piece ensemble, The Cold Blooded Soul Band.

• READ MORE: Denzel Curry: “The greatest rapper alive? Who’s going to tell me I’m not?”
  

According to a press release, Curry and the band – which features guitar, bass, keys, drums, percussion, a four-piece horn ensemble and a backing vocalist – recorded the ten songs that comprise the second disc in a single take. Curry first unveiled the Cold Blooded Soul Band during his appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert back in June.

In addition to eight of the tracks from the original album, the band also recorded two previously-unreleased songs: ‘Chrome Hearts’ and ‘Larger Than Life’. You can see the cover art and tracklisting for ‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future: The Extended Edition’ below, while pre-orders for the new edition can be found here.

Alongside the news, Curry has shared a music video for ‘X-Wing’, directed by Adrian Villagomez. It stars the rapper as a samurai sword-wielding vigilante in a futuristic city, inspired by the cyberpunk aesthetic. The samurai theme continues on from a previous music video in the album cycle, for the Slowthai-featuring ‘Zatoichi’. The ‘X-Wing’ video was based on a concept developed by Curry himself, alongside producer David Wept.

Have a look at the video below:

DISC ONE
1. ‘Melt Session #1’ (feat. Robert Glasper)
2. ‘Walkin’
3. ‘Worst Comes To Worst’
4. ‘John Wayne’ (feat. Buzzy Lee)
5. ‘The Last’
6. ‘Mental’ (feat. Saul Williams and Bridget Perez)
7. ‘Troubles’ (feat. T-Pain)
8. ‘Ain’t No Way’ (feat. 6LACK, Rico Nasty and JID)
9. ‘X-Wing’
10. ‘Angelz’
11. ‘The Smell Of Death’
12. ‘Sanjuro’ (feat. 454)
13. ‘Zatoichi’ (feat. Slowthai)
14. ‘The Ills’

DISC TWO (featuring The Cold Blooded Soul Band)
1. ‘Melt Session #1’
2. ‘Walkin’
3. ‘Worst Comes To Worst’
4. ‘Mental’
5. ‘Troubles’
6. ‘Chrome Hearts’
7. ‘X-Wing’
8. ‘Angelz’
9. ‘Larger Than Life’
10. ‘The Illz’

‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future’ was originally released back in March, following on from 2019’s ‘Zuu’ and 2020’s ‘Unlocked’ (the latter being a joint EP with Kenny Beats). The album – which NME declared as one of the best from the first half of 2022 – was supported by three singles: ‘Walkin’, ‘Zatoichi’ and the T-Pain collaboration ‘Troubles’.

In a five-star review of the album, NME‘s Kyann-Sian Williams wrote: “It’s hard to revamp your sound with every project, but Denzel Curry is fast becoming the Renaissance man of Southern hip-hop, always 10 steps ahead of the game.”

The post Denzel Curry reveals new edition of ‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future’ with The Cold Blooded Soul Band appeared first on NME.