Alive (Kanye West and YoungBoy Never Broke Again song)

"Alive"
Pitch black cover art.
Single by Ye and YoungBoy Never Broke Again
ReleasedMay 21, 2025
GenreIndustrial hip-hop
Length
  • 1:57 (original and "Alive 2.0")
  • 2:11 ("Alive 3.0")
LabelYZY
Songwriters
Producers
Kanye West singles chronology
"Heil Hitler"
(2025) 		"Alive"
(2025) 		"Preacher Man"
(2025)
YoungBoy Never Broke Again singles chronology
"Luv Lik Me"
(2024) 		"Alive"
(2025) 		"Finest"
(2025)
Audio sample
Part of the first verse and chorus to "Alive"
  • file
  • help

"Alive" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rappers Kanye West and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was surprise released on May 21, 2025. The song prominently samples ad-libs by DJ Swamp Izzo from the Playboi Carti song "Crank"; as a result, both are credited as songwriters. Musically, "Alive" is minimalist and high-energy, with its production solely consisting of a distorted 808 bass. In the song's verses, both artists take turns rapping about their detractors.

Before its release, "Alive" was previewed in full on West's Instagram page, being sent to music streaming platforms later in the day. After its release, Playboi Carti claimed that West had stolen the song from him, uploading his own version that contained an additional verse and a music video. Both versions of the song received positive reception from music critics, who often praised each artist's performance alongside the production. West later updated the track after its release, and planned to film a music video in Utah.

Background

YoungBoy Never Broke Again has shown support for West in the past. In his song "This Not a Song, This For My Supporters", released a day after West's infamous appearance on Alex Jones's Infowars, he suggests that West is deeply hurt; "It hurt my heart that Kanye let them people break his soul / How the fuck that go? Nigga, stay in yo' home! / Nigga, hold your ground! You strong."[1][2] YoungBoy also featured on an unreleased track from West and Ty Dolla Sign's collaborative album Vultures 2 (2024), being the song "Let Me Chill Out",[a] which also features Rich the Kid and posthumous vocals from Takeoff.[3]

After its release, Playboi Carti alleged that "Alive" was originally his, having been "stolen" by West. He took to Instagram after the songs release, posting a version with no vocals from West and his own verse at the end.[4][5][6] The visualizer used for Carti's upload also contains multiple visual references to YoungBoy, such as ones regarding his recent prison sentence.[5]

Composition

"Alive" is a high-energy track that prominently samples "Crank" by Playboi Carti, reusing the "Alive!" ad-libs done by DJ Swamp Izzo.[7][8] Aside from this sample, the song's only instrument is a blaring, distorted 808 bass.[2][7] The track seems to be aimed at detractors and those who fake influence, with West rapping "This that nigga been stealin' the swag, they know damn well they ain't invent / This that niggas ain't rich, they broke, want a blessing and they ain't even repent."[2]

Release

West first released "Alive" to Instagram, captioning it "ALIVE YE X NBA YoungBoy YZY SZN 10".[2][9] Later in the day, West uploaded the track to music streaming services such as Tidal.[10] The song is likely meant to be part of West's upcoming Yeezy Season 10 fashion collection.[4]

West has since announced plans to film a music video for "Alive" in Utah, and has posted snippets of updated versions of the song.[11]

Reception

Alexander Cole of HotNewHipHop complimented the song, noting that West and YoungBoy's back and forth exchange is "nicely done", also noting its the last time West has sounded "serious" on a track since Vultures 2 in August 2024. He concludes with "If you are someone who cares a lot about clean mixes, this will probably make your ears bleed. But if you just want to have fun, then maybe this song will do something for you."[7]

Regarding Playboi Carti's version of the song, Pitchfork's Jude Noel described both of their performances as "amped", with the song itself "[fusing] his recent taste for industrial trap cut-ups with the bass-led minimalism of 'New Slaves'". She ends her review by stating that if West was always the intended main artist for the song, "then that just makes Carti’s remix even more diabolical."[8]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[12][b]

Charts

Chart performance for "Alive"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 25

Notes

  1. ^ Later known as "Ye About Mine".
  2. ^ Writing credits have since been removed for unknown reasons.

References

  1. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (December 6, 2022). "NBA YoungBoy Supports Kanye West, Tells Him to 'Hold Your Ground' on New 8-Minute Song". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Saponara, Michael (May 21, 2025). "Ye & YoungBoy Never Broke Again Flex on Their Detractors With Blaring Collaboration 'Alive': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Garcia, Thania (April 24, 2024). "Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign's 'Vultures 2' to Include Posthumous Feature From Takeoff". Variety. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Cole, Alexander (May 21, 2025). "Playboi Carti Disses Kanye West And Accuses Ye Of Stealing His Song With NBA YoungBoy". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Gee, Maddie (May 21, 2025). "Playboi Carti Disses Ye, Says Alive Ft. NBA YoungBoy Is His Song". RapTV. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Darville, Jordan (May 22, 2025). "Playboi Carti shares two new songs via Instagram". The Fader. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Cole, Alexander (May 21, 2025). "Kanye West & NBA YoungBoy Drop Surprise Song Sampling Playboi Carti". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Noel, Jude. "YoungBoy Never Broke Again / Playboi Carti: "Alive"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  9. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  10. ^ "Ye & YoungBoy Never Broke Again - ALIVE". May 21, 2025. Archived from the original on May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  11. ^ Blake, Cole (May 25, 2025). "Kanye West Teases "Alive" Music Video As Feud With Playboi Carti Heats Up". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "ALIVE - Single by Ye & YoungBoy Never Broke Again on Apple Music". May 21, 2025. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  13. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 30, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
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