‘That train has left the station’

Nicki Minaj denied Kanye West’s request to clear his use of her verse from their 2018 track, New Body, on his new album, Vultures. 

Despite the 46-year-old rapper’s public appeal to Minaj, 41, she ultimately shut down the idea on her Instagram Live as she pointed out that she did not want to redirect any momentum from her record, Pink Friday 2, to his latest release, which is an upcoming joint project with Ty Dolla $ign. 

‘Now, regarding Kanye, that train has left the station, okay?’ she said in the video. ‘No disrespect in any way. I just put out a brand new album. Why would I put out a song that’s been out for three years? Come on, guys.’ 

Her statement came shortly after he tweeted a screenshot of a text between him and Minaj, in which he asks: ‘Hi it’s ye, may I call you about clearing new body on the new album.’

The text seemingly went unreplied. 

West, Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign first recorded New Body five years ago, but it was  ultimately scrapped.

After Minaj’s verse on New Body leaked, and went viral on TikTok in 2020, West began reconsidering his decision not to include it on his album. 

‘The public adored New Body,’ Minaj told Hot 106 last year. ‘New Body is the biggest hit record that never came out. … Everybody knows that’s the hit that got away.’ 

While he never responded publicly to her stating that their track was a hit that slipped between their fingers, rumors began to circulate that it would be featured on Vultures after ‘what sounded like the 2018 version of the song’ was played at a listening party in Miami, according to Page Six. 

Earlier this week, West and Ty Dolla $ign announced their Vultures album rave in Las Vegas, which took place along S Decatur Boulevard on Thursday at midnight.

‘Tickets to attend the in-person event and the livestream’ were priced at $2,000, according to Hypebeast. 

At a similar event, held in Miami, the rappers received support from Freddie Gibbs, Offset and Lil Durk. 

At the event, West was seen hugging Kid Cudi, who appeared to be featured on the father-of-four’s new record. 

Their friendly embrace came as a surprise to some fans as Cudi slammed West last year and explicitly said they were not on good terms. 

In response to footage of them hugging, one fan tweeted: ‘Kanye West x Kid Cudi are officially back. I’m crying right now. I really can’t believe this is happening.’

Following the release of their track Rock N Roll with Pusha T, Cudi tweeted: ‘I did this song a year ago when I was still cool w Kanye.’ 

‘I am not cool w that man. He’s not my friend and I only cleared the song for Pusha cuz thats my guy. This is the last song u will hear me on w Kanye,’ he fired. 

Cudi used to be so tight with his 45-year-old ex-mentor they co-headlined the Glow in the Dark Tour in 2008 and put out an album together as Kids See Ghosts in 2018.

‘I’ve been on every one of that man’s albums. He’s only been on two of mine. That should tell you something,’ the Day ‘N’ Nite told Esquire in August 2022. ‘And don’t think I didn’t ask.’