Sean "Diddy" Combs' ongoing trial for sex trafficking and racketeering has sparked creative flames, inspiring a new musical venture. Christian "King" Combs, the scion of Bad Boy Records' tycoon, has joined forces with Kanye "Ye" West to release "Never Stop," a seven-track EP debuted on June 27th, including an anthem titled "Diddy Free."
The chorus of "Diddy Free" opens with a defiant declaration: "N---as ain't gonna rest till we witness Diddy's freedom," setting the stage for King's fiery verse. He kicks off with, "Look, when things get sketchy, they try to paint themselves as victims," followed by a scathing critique of his critics: "Fuck the world, the critics, and the so-called witnesses / My face is clean, yet they dirty my image with lies."
In "Lonely Road," an updated rendition of their earlier song "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine," which marked Ye's first vocal appearance since his incarceration woes began, North West, Ye's 12-year-old daughter with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, also lends her vocal talents. The tween croons, "Coming on my own for a long time / Lonely roads still guide me to sunshine," adding depth to the bridge with, "Running through the jungle like a cheetah's ride / Surrounded by phonies I can't even tolerate."
The three-minute track concludes with a snippet of Diddy and Ye's intro from the original version, paying homage to their bond and the journey they've shared. Credits for the EP reveal that Ye produced and composed all the new tracks, with King heavily contributing to the lyrics, infusing them with his unique perspective.
Previously, Ye accused Kim of attempting to stifle North's participation in the project. In a since-deleted screenshot shared on X (formerly Twitter) in February, Kim allegedly texted Ye, stating she "sent paperwork to ensure North wouldn't be part of the Diddy song for her protection." When Kim reportedly reminded Ye that she owned the trademark to their daughter's name, Ye responded with a threat that hinted at legal battles and public fallout: "Amend it or I'm going to war. Neither of us will recover from the public backslash. You'll have to kill me first." (Kim's representative declined to comment at the time when approached by E! News.)
Music isn't the sole medium through which Ye has shown his unwavering support for Diddy, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. On X in February, Ye penned, "FREE PUFF," referring to Diddy by one of his many monikers, adding, "PUFF WE LOVE YOU." Ye's solidarity was further displayed on June 13th when he attended a hearing at a New York City courthouse to lend moral support to Diddy during his legal proceedings.
