"New Again"
Song by Kanye West
from the album Donda
ReleasedAugust 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)
RecordedMay – August 2021
Genre
Length3:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"New Again" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album Donda (2021). The song's original version featured vocals from American singer Chris Brown.

Background

"New Again"
A sample of the chorus, expressing gratitude to God.
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Brown and West previously collaborated on "Down", off Brown's second studio album Exclusive (2007), "Deuces (Remix)" in 2010 and on "Waves", off Kanye seventh studio album The Life of Pablo (2016). Brown’s involvement on "New Again" was first announced by him on July 20, 2021 on his Instagram account, posting a story where he wrote “Dat Yeezy and Breezy”.[1] The song was first officially previewed at the listening party at Mercedes Benz Stadium on July 22, with West doing the hook instead of Brown and the choir.

Chris Brown does vocals on the hook along with Sunday Service Choir, but originally had a longer verse on the song that didn't make the album. Just a few hours after Donda became available on streaming platforms, Brown posted an Instagram story where he wrote "Kanye a whole hoe", then later following it up with "Nah he tweakin'".[2] According to TMZ, a source close to Brown revealed that he wasn't happy about his verse being removed from the song. On September 5, Brown leaked his full verse on Instagram with the caption: "The verse / chorus I mysteriously didn’t do!".[3][4] The removed verse consisted of Brown asking God for forgiveness due to his reluctance to change his sinful lifestyle, including references to the abuse of percocets and sexual orgies.[5] Several critics expressed negative responses to West's choice to remove the verse, including the co-host of The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne tha God, that defined the verse discard as a "poor choice musically".[6]

On September 28, the song was reuploaded to streaming services with Brown's vocals removed and replaced with West singing his parts.[7] It is unknown if the removal of Brown's vocals were a result of the controversy regarding the cut verse.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

Charts

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Credited as co-producer
  2. ^ Credited as additional producer

References

  1. ^ "Chris Brown Teases Kanye West Collaboration". The Rap Up. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. ^ Moorwood, Victoria (30 August 2021). "Chris Brown and Soulja Boy respond after being removed from Kanye West's 'Donda'". Revolt. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (5 September 2021). "Chris Brown Shares Unreleased "New Again" Verse for Kanye West's 'Donda'". Complex. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Chris Brown Leaks His Kanye West Collaboration "New Again"". The Rap Up. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  5. ^ Chan, Anna (5 September 2021). "Chris Brown Shares His Unreleased Verse for Kanye West's 'Donda'". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. ^ Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (7 September 2021). "Chris Brown Leaks Verse Taken Off 'Donda', Diddy Praises Kanye And Drake". YouTube. Retrieved 8 September 2021.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Caraan, Sophie (September 28, 2021). "Kanye West Seemingly Updates 'DONDA' Mixes and Featured Artists". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Kanye West - Donda - Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Kanye West – New Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  12. ^ "2021 35-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kanye West – New Again". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 27/08/2021 to 02/09/2021". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  17. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  18. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  21. ^ "Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
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