Music / NewsKanye West announces album release dateThe rapper also dropped new track ‘Real Friends’ and previewed ‘No More Parties in LA’ShareLink copied ✔️January 9, 2016MusicNewsTextDaisy Jones Finally, after three years of false rumours, tentative teasing and staggered song releases, Kanye West’s seventh album Swish is almost upon us. Last night, the rapper took to twitter to announce that the long-awaited follow-up to Yeezus will arrive February 11, 2016. Sharing only the date, we still don’t have a tracklist for the album, although over the past couple of years West has released “Only One”, “All Day”, “Wolves” (which was debuted at fashion week) “Facts” and, as of yesterday, “Real Friends” and a snippet of a Kendrick Lamar collaboration “No More Parties in LA”. Swish February 11 16— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 9, 2016 New track “Real Friends” (below) has already been met with a lot of praise, with fans comparing it to 808s & Heartbreak-era Kanye. “Who your real friends? We all came from the bottom,” he raps over a minimal beat and a light, heart-tugging piano loop. “I’m always blaming you, but what’s sad, you’re not the problem.” Although the track really shines when Kanye sings, his words twisting into Auto-Tuned patterns like a brand new, alien-like instrument. It’s an affecting, contemplative track that reminds you that Yeezy’s mammoth-sized ego might be a little bit justified. The short snippet of Kendrick Lamar collab “No More Parties in LA”, which appears at the end of the track, also sounds quite incredible. “Hey baby you forgot your Ray Bans, and my sheets still orange from your spray tan,” he raps before Kendrick’s deep, scratchy vocals kick in, making lyrical shapes over the uplifting, throwback sample. Listen to both tracks below: Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREListen to Sissy Misfit’s essential afters playlistICE Out, the Grammys, and the fight for cultural power in the USAdanolaWhat went down at Lila Moss’ intimate Adanola dinner in LondonGrammys 2026: The biggest snubs from this year’s awardsThe only tracks you need to hear from January 2026This new event series aims to bring spirituality back to live musicMargo XS on the sound of transness: ‘Malleable, synthetic and glossy’The Boy who cried Terrified: Ranking all the tracks on fakemink’s new EPA massive exhibition on Black British music is coming to V&A EastAtmospheric dream-pop artist Maria Somerville shares her offline favouritesA 24-hour London will save the city’s nightlife, says new report‘It’s a revolution’: Nigeria’s new-gen rappers are hitting the mainstreamEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy