Wouldn't Leave

Album: Ye (2018)
Charted: 24
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Songfacts®:

  • In May 2018, Kanye West engaged in controversial TMZ live interview in which he revealed he was addicted to opioids and suggested that African-Americans simply chose to be imprisoned for centuries by white slavemasters. Much of Ye's content was sparked by the backlash he received for his comments. In the case of this song the criticism came from Kanye's own home.
  • In the first verse West reveals that wife Kim Kardashian called him "screaming" over his "slavery was a choice" comments.

    My wife callin', screamin', say we 'bout to lose it all
    Had to calm her down 'cause she couldn't breathe
    Told her she could leave me now, but she wouldn't leave


    During the Ye listening party in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, West quipped regarding Kim's reaction, "This is what they mean for better or for worse huh?"
  • Throughout the song, West salutes his wife for not leaving him despite his past errors such as a Sway in the morning rant and his TMZ Live shenanigans. He also shouts out other women who stick by their man through thick and thin, like Kim has done with him.
  • "Wouldn't Leave" features uncredited vocals by PartyNextDoor (on the chorus), Jeremih (the bridge) and Ty Dolla Sign (the outro).
  • The song contains sanctified shout outs sampled from "Baptizing Scene", written and performed by Reverend W.A. Donaldson (from Alan Lomax's 1960 compilation Sounds of the South). The same track was previously sampled by Kanye on "Niggas in Paris" from his 2011 collaboration album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne.

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