The Life of Pablo is the seventh studio album by American rapper Kanye West. It will be released on February 12, 2016 by GOOD Music, Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings.

In November 2013, West began working on his seventh album,^[3][4] initially titled So Help Me God and slated for release in 2014. ^[5] This version of the album, which never materialized, included several tracks which were released such as "God Level" (released as part of an Adidas World Cup promo),^[6] "Tell Your Friends" (later given to The Weeknd), "3500" (given to Travis Scott)^[7] "All Day" and "Only One". In February 2015, the only tracks from this version appearing to make the final cut for The Life of Pablo are "Famous" (formerly titled "Nina Chop") and "Wolves", which West performed on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary episode.^[8][9]

In May 2015, West renamed the album SWISH but clarified that it still could be subject to change. On January 26, 2016, West posted the finalized track listing on his twitter account,^[10] along with another tentative title of the album, called Waves.^[11][12] On February 4, West confirmed on Big Boy's Neighborhood radio show, that he still didn't have a final album title.^[13] On February 9, West tweeted that the acronym of the album title was T.L.O.P. It was revealed the next day via Twitter that the album title was The Life of Pablo.^[14] West tweeted the album cover on February 11, 2016.^[15] West also debuted the album during his Yeezy Season 3 event on the same day.^[16]

Multiple reports cited the album was written and recorded in several locations, including Los Angeles, Mexico, the Isle of Wight and Florence, Italy. During West's recording time in Los Angeles, it was rumored to be at Shangri-La Studios, which is the home base of Yeezus executive producer Rick Rubin. American singer Ty Dolla Sign, reported his recording experience with West and Paul McCartney, saying they were "...in Mexico, at this big house. The back of the house had no walls and no doors; it was just open [and facing] the ocean. You would think he would want the mic enclosed and all that but we just had the doors open, and it came out perfect."^[17] The production in Mexico, occurred with McCartney and frequent collaborator Rihanna.^[18] American rappers Pusha T and Consequence confirmed that they had ended their feud, in order to work with West on his seventh album, with Consequence saying in an interview: "Pusha [T] and I deaded everything and we creatively vibed with Kanye for this new LP."^[19]

In a April 2014 interview with Self-Titled, GOOD Music's producer Evian Christ, was quoted as saying, “Kanye wants something that sounds a bit like Otis Redding, a bit like Mobb Deep.” Christ explained while that West isn’t always musically clear, he just seems "...interested in pushing aesthetic boundaries as far into the Avant as possible. Kanye is the one dude who’s like, ‘This is not experimental enough. This is too poppy. Make something else.’ The other guys are like, ‘We don’t get it.'” Christ, admitted that Kanye’s "a dream to work with", adding that "...no one else gives you that level of creative freedom. When he wants you to work to a blueprint, the blueprint is: ‘Don’t make a rap beat. Anything but a rap beat.'"^[20]

In a May 2014 interview with Billboard, James Fauntleroy of Cocaine 80s, spoke of his recording sessions with West and said, "I went in there and did some stuff on that shit. I sang shit on there and left. We'll see how it turns out, when I went in it was early, [during] the early stages. I know there will be a lot more other people, a lot of interjections." Also in May 2014, Atlanta-based producer Mike Will Made It, has been quoted as saying "Kanye has been trying new ideas and has been reaching out to me for new ideas, Whether or not it's the "Black Skinhead Remix", we don't know, but it's definitely dope what we have so far, [We’re] just working, period. It depends on where the music is lands, but hopefully we do something on his next album."^[21]

In a March 2015 interview with MTV, Big Sean spoke about the multiple recording locations involved this album, whilst promoting his own third studio album, Dark Sky Paradise: "...We done did a couple, to like Mexico, like how we did Hawaii before and stuff like that. We work as unit for sure, that’s all I’m gonna say I’m not gonna drop nothing else."^[22] In a October 2015 interview with The Fader, Post Malone, who (along with Ty Dolla Sign) is featured on the track "Fade", discussed his experiences with West: “I met Kanye at Kylie Jenner’s party and Kanye was like, ‘Let’s make something.’ So I went over to Ye’s and we just started working and then we just started talking. And we just kept on going. I went in the studio with Kanye and we just recorded the scratch vocals and then I wrote over it… He was just a normal guy, like me, and super cool. He was wearing all camo, just all camo. He was very quiet and he was very, very humble.”^[23]

On January 27, 2016, West revealed an update of the final track listing on his official Twitter account, which has the album's opening track, titled "Nina Chop" replacing by the new song, titled "Famous". This updated track listing also revealed a number of potential collaborators, which includes Earl Sweatshirt, Chance the Rapper, The-Dream, Tyler, the Creator, OFWGK†Δ, The World Famous Tony Williams, Diddy, A$AP Rocky, KiD CuDi and French Montana, as well as a returning of his previous production collaborators such as Mike Dean, Hudson Mohawke and Noah Goldstein, as well as new production collaborators with Plain Pat and Vicious.^[1][24][25] In February 2015, while West was continuing to work on the album, he confirmed that the album was at about 80% completion. He went on to say: "I'm trying to get it finished. I'm trying to get it to the people… Release dates is played out. So the surprise is going to be a surprise. There go the surprise... [It’s] cookout music that just feels good. My last album was protest music. I was like, 'I'm going to take my ball and go home.'"^[26]

On December 31, 2014, West released a single titled "Only One", a collaboration with English musician Paul McCartney, who also handled the song's production, alongside Mike Dean. The track's music video, featuring West and his daughter, with direction by Spike Jonze, was released on January 21, 2015.^[27] In March 2015, West officially released a single titled "All Day", which had originally leaked online in un-mastered form, in August 2014.^[28] The song was later remixed, featuring a new guest verse from Kendrick Lamar.

On February 12, 2015, during the Adidas Yeezy 'Season 1' fashion show event held in New York City, West premiered a new track titled "Wolves". The track, which features guest vocals from American rapper Vic Mensa and Australian singer-songwriter Sia, was produced by Cashmere Cat and Sinjin Hawke.^[29] On February 15, 2015, West performed a medley of "Jesus Walks", "Only One" and "Wolves", on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.

Later that month, on February 25, West performed a live rendition of the previously leaked song "All Day", during his appearance at the 2015's Brit Awards.^[30] On September 16 of the same year, during the Adidas Yeezy 'Season 2' fashion show event, West premiered another song to be included on the album, titled "Fade". The song features guest vocals from American recording artists Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign.^[31]

On January 8, 2016, Kim Kardashian announced via Twitter the release of "Real Friends", the album's actual first single, will initiate the return of West's GOOD Fridays.^[32] West has previously done a weekly free music giveaway leading up to the release of his critically lauded fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. "Real Friends" was released the day it was announced via SoundCloud simultaneously with the album's (then titled SWISH) release date and a snippet of the forthcoming GOOD Friday release, titled "No More Parties in LA", which features guest vocals from a fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.^[33][34] "No More Parties in L.A." had its proper release the following week, also via West's Soundcloud account. The song, which was produced by Madlib and West, contains a sample of "Suzie Thundertussy" performed by Walter Morrison.^[35]

Sample credits

• "Famous" contains a sample of "Bam Bam" performed by Sister Nancy.^[37]
• "Father Stretch My Hands" contains a sample from "Father I Stretch My Hands" performed by Pastor T.L. Barrett
• "Fade" contains samples of "Mystery of Love" performed by Mr. Fingers from the album Mystery of Love, "Deep Inside" performed by Hardrive from the album Deep Inside, and the 1966's song "(I Know) I'm Losing You" performed by Rare Earth from the album Ecology (1970).^[38]
• "Real Friends" contains samples of "Friends" performed by Whodini from the album Escape (1984).^[39]