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
GenreHip-hop
Length1:57
LabelYZY
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
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"
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"Alive" (stylized in all uppercase) is a song by the American rappers Kanye West and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on May 21, 2025. It samples ad-libs from DJ Swamp Izzo, originally recorded for the Playboi Carti song "Crank". It was first previewed in full on Instagram before being sent to streaming platforms.

Background

YoungBoy 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, being the song "Let Me Chill Out",[a] which also features Rich the Kid and posthumous vocals from Takeoff.[3]

Playboi Carti would allege that the song was originally his, having been "stolen" by West. He would take 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[7] 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 would first release the song on Instagram, captioning it "ALIVE YE X NBA YoungBoy YZY SZN 10".[2][9] Later in the day, West would upload the track to 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]

Charts

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

Notes

  1. ^ Later known as "Ye About Mine".

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 d 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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