Kanye rings in the New Year with a new track called “Only One.” Paul McCartney (of legendary English rock band The Beatles—look it up, kids!) backs up ‘Ye’s autotuned vocals with keyboard improvisation. The quiet ballad is pretty much the opposite of what Kanye last put out in the world; “Black Skinhead” this is not. In fact, “Only One,” which is what “Kanye” translates into from its Swahili roots, is a very personal song for the rapper. Upon first listen it’s immediately apparent that ‘Ye is channeling his late mother Donda West; she’s speaking to him and his daughter North (Nori is her nickname) in the simple yet powerful lyrics. A press release tells the enlightening tale of how Kanye’s “stream-of-consciousness riff” came to him:
When they played back the recording afterward, something remarkable happened. Kanye sat there with his family, holding his daughter North on his lap, and listened to his vocals, singing, “Hello, my only one . . . ” And in that moment, not only could he not recall having sung those words, but he realized that perhaps the words had never really come from him. The process of artistic creation is one that does not involve thinking, but often channeling. And he understood in that moment that his late mother, Dr. Donda West, who was also his mentor, confidante, and best friend, had spoken through him that day. “My mom was singing to me, and through me to my daughter,” he said, astonished.
If you’re one to buy into the rumor mills, this is the first of many collaborations between the rap icon and the rock legend. West and McCartney recorded “Only One” in a small bungalow in Los Angeles, and some say this is just a sampling of their collaboration. Perhaps McCartney will pop up more than one on West’s upcoming seventh studio album when it purportedly releases sometime this year.
For now, click over to kanyewest.com; there you can hear the new track, croon along thanks to provided lyrics (likely) hand-written by West, and view the single artwork featuring Kanye and his daughter. “Only One” can be purchased at iTunes today.
