Nicki Minaj and Kanye West’s collaboration, “New Body”, was a highly anticipated track that was originally intended for Kanye’s Yandhi album in 2019. However, after much hype and excitement, the song never saw the light of day. During a recent interview with Hot 106, Nicki Minaj revealed the reasons behind the track’s shelving, citing Kanye’s decision to shift his focus to gospel music as a key factor.
Kanye West’s Gospel Era Delayed the Release
Minaj explained that Kanye made her rewrite her “New Body” verse four times to match his spiritual and creative direction at the time. “The public adored ‘New Body.’ Like, ‘New Body’ is the biggest hit record that never came out,” Minaj said. Despite the song’s potential, the collaboration remained in limbo as Kanye’s transition into his gospel era led to the track’s eventual shelving.
She added, “Had ‘New Body’ been out when he was not in his gospel era, then it would’ve seen the light of day. But, it didn’t, so it wasn’t meant to be.”
“New Body”: The Hit That Got Away
Nicki further reflected on how the song became known as “the hit that got away.” Fans had embraced the leaked version of the track, which was initially shared online, and Minaj acknowledged that people had grown fond of the original, even if it never officially released. She concluded that the timing was simply not right, but emphasized that the song, in its original form, would remain a fan favorite.
Previous Attempts to Release the Song
In October 2019, Nicki revealed that Kanye had asked her to re-record her verse in order to make the song fit the gospel theme for his album Jesus Is King. However, Nicki admitted that she and Kanye were not on the same page creatively at that time, making it difficult to see eye to eye on the changes.
Despite these setbacks, in June 2020, a leaked version of the song went viral on TikTok, sparking renewed interest in the track. Nicki even teased reaching out to Kanye about the possibility of officially releasing the song. Ty Dolla $ign, one of the song’s collaborators, also referenced the situation in his track “Status”, revealing his own frustration with the track’s delay.
Conclusion: The Song That Could Have Been
While “New Body” remains a missed opportunity for both Nicki Minaj and Kanye West, Minaj’s reflections on the song serve as a reminder of how creative differences and changes in an artist’s direction can impact the fate of a track. Despite the disappointment of its non-release, “New Body” continues to hold a special place in fans’ hearts as one of the biggest hits that never was.
