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Nicki Minaj has caused a delay in the release of Kanye West’s new album

Nicki Minaj has caused a delay in the release of Kanye West’s new album, Vultures, by blocking the release of their collaborative song, New Body. The track, originally dating back to 2018 and intended for West’s scrapped album Yandhi, was expected to be part of Vultures, set to drop on Friday. However, shortly after the anticipated release, West reached out to Minaj on social media, requesting clearance for New Body on the new album.

Minaj responded during an Instagram livestream, expressing her reluctance to release a song that has been around for three years, especially considering her recent album release. New Body, originally an ode to plastic surgery, has a complicated history, having been re-recorded for the 2019 gospel album Jesus Is King with a more spiritual tone and a new Minaj verse. Despite efforts to include it in previous albums, the song never saw the light of day, leaving Minaj to label it as “the hit that got away.”

In light of the postponed Vultures release, West has introduced Yzy Pod, his first product post-liberation from Adidas. Priced at $200 or £159, this innovative sock-like footwear design is hailed as “the foldable future of footwear.”

Following the release of Donda, West faced backlash for making antisemitic statements, resulting in severed ties with Adidas, the brand behind the successful Yeezy trainers. The new Yzy Pod marks West’s foray into independent footwear design.

Gosha Rubchinskiy, a Russian designer, has been appointed as the head of design at West’s Yeezy company. Rubchinskiy, previously associated with Comme des Garçons, left the company to operate independently while leading Yeezy. His arrival adds an interesting layer to West’s fashion ventures.

Despite the delay, when Vultures eventually hits the shelves, fans can anticipate collaborations with artists like Chris Brown, Kodak Black, Young Thug, and producer Timbaland. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj’s latest album, Pink Friday 2, has received positive reviews, with The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis praising Minaj’s abilities and humor in the four-star review.