Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine
| "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single by Diddy and Kanye West featuring North West, King Combs and Jasmine Williams | |
| from the EP Never Stop | |
| Released | March 15, 2025 |
| Length | 3:44 |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | West |
"Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" is a song by American rappers Sean "Diddy" Combs and Kanye West featuring their children, King Combs and North West respectively, as well as singer Jasmine Williams.[a] It was exclusively released to West's X account on March 15, 2025, who claimed the song was for an upcoming Diddy album executively produced by him. On June 27, the song would be released as the opening track to West and King Combs' collaborative extended play (EP) Never Stop under the shortened title "Lonely Roads", with the vocals from Diddy and West being removed.
Background
[edit]Despite having previously called out Diddy in 2021 and 2022, West would show support for his freedom in February 2025, tweeting at president Donald Trump to pardon him.[1] Later in May, when asked if he would consider pardoning Diddy, Trump said he wouldn't "rule it out";[2] it's unclear if the reporters question was related to West's tweets.
Prior to the songs release, West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian would text him, informing him that she had trademarked North's name to prevent her from featuring on the song. She claimed that they had previously agreed to let her trademark their children's names during their marriage.[3]
"I asked you at the time if I can trademark her name. You said yes. When she's 18, it goes to her. So stop, I sent paperwork over so she wouldn't be in the Diddy song to protect her. One person has to trademark! We agreed when they were both i would get all of our kids names and trademarks So no one else would take them."[4]
West would strongly stand by his decision to release the song, telling Kardashian to "amend" the trademark or he'd "[go] to war. And neither of us will recover from the public fallout. You're going to have to kill me."[5]
Release
[edit]
ye @kanyewestLONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE new song by PUFF DADDY feat. His son KING COMBS my daughter NORTH WEST and new Yeezy artist from Chicago Jasmine Williams
March 15, 2025[6]
"Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" was released to West's X account on March 15, 2025. In a tweet made along with the release, he would reveal that Jasmine Williams, a previously obscure artist, had been signed to his YZY record label prior to the song's release.[3] The song would later be featured on Never Stop, a collaborative EP between West and King Combs released on June 27, 2025.[7] This version of the song removes the intro phone call between West and Diddy, as well as crediting King Combs and West as the main artists.[8][9]
Reception
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2025) |
Caitlin Moran of The Times called North's guest verse "in no way a useful career step for her", seeing it as only "[allowing] West to continue his demented psychological warfare against his ex-wife — at the expense of their child."[5]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Credited on streaming as "JAAS"
References
[edit]- ^ Garner, Glenn (February 7, 2025). "Kanye West Defends Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Pleads With Trump To "Free My Brother Puff"". Deadline. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ "President Trump doesn't rule out pardoning Diddy". NBC News. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (March 16, 2025). "Kanye West Drops Diddy Song With Daughter North After Dispute With Kim Kardashian Over Release". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ Peters, Mitchell (March 16, 2025). "Ye Releases New Song Apparently Featuring Diddy & Daughter North West". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Moran, Caitlin (March 19, 2025). "Kanye West's latest mad move — a duet for his daughter with P Diddy". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ ye [@kanyewest] (March 15, 2025). "LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE new song by PUFF DADDY feat. His son KING COMBS my daughter NORTH WEST and new Yeezy artist from Chicago Jasmine Williams" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (June 27, 2025). "Kanye West & King Combs Team Up On Seven-Track EP "NEVER STOP"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ Jennn, London (June 27, 2025). "Kanye West & King Combs Drop New EP Featuring Diddy & Controversial North West Cameo". AllHipHop. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ King Combs - NEVER STOP, June 27, 2025, retrieved June 27, 2025
