If you’ve been anywhere near the chaotic orbit of Ye—the artist formerly and forever known as Kanye West—you know that "normal" isn't in his vocabulary. But even for a guy who once wore a full-head mask to a wedding, the release of a track featuring both his 11-year-old daughter, North West, and the embattled mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs felt like a fever dream.
It wasn’t just a song. It was a lightning rod.
The track, titled "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" (often shortened to just "Lonely Roads"), hit the internet like a freight train in March 2025. It didn't land on Spotify or Apple Music at first. Nope. Kanye did what Kanye does: he posted it on X (Twitter) in the middle of the night and then deleted it almost as quickly as it went up.
But the internet never forgets. And the drama behind this specific collaboration is way messier than the actual beat.
The Song That Sparked a Legal War
The core of the controversy isn't just that Diddy is on the track while facing massive federal charges. It’s that North West is on there with him.
Honestly, the timeline of how this song came together is wild. According to reports from TMZ and legal filings that leaked shortly after, North had gone to visit her dad at the studio—the first time she’d seen him in weeks. Kanye reportedly told her they were recording something for his "Sunday Service" project. Something wholesome. Something spiritual.
Instead, those vocals ended up on "Lonely Roads," a song that opens with a recorded phone call from Diddy, presumably from a federal detention center.
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What’s actually said on the track?
The song starts with Diddy’s voice. He sounds tired but grateful. He’s thanking Kanye for "taking care of his kids" and saying that "ain't nobody else reached out." Kanye responds with a heavy dose of loyalty, telling Diddy, "I love you so much, man. It’s like you raised me."
Then comes North. She’s rapping, harmonizing, doing that "Miss Westie" thing that turned her into a Billboard-charting artist with "Talking / Once Again." But hearing a child's voice sandwiched between a father defending a man in the middle of a sex-trafficking trial and the man himself? That didn't sit right with a lot of people.
Especially not Kim Kardashian.
Kim’s Attempt to Block the Release
Before the song even dropped, the behind-the-scenes text messages were flying. Kanye, in true fashion, shared screenshots of what appeared to be a legal war with Kim.
Kim apparently tried to file an emergency injunction to stop North from appearing on the song. Her argument was simple: protection. She didn't want her daughter’s brand or childhood associated with the Diddy headlines. In the leaked texts, she mentioned trying to trademark North’s name specifically so she could block these kinds of "problematic" moves.
Kanye’s response? "Amend it or I’m going to war."
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He released it anyway.
Why Kanye is Doubling Down on Diddy
You might be wondering why Ye is sticking his neck out for Diddy right now. Most celebrities are running for the hills, scrubbing their Instagrams of any photos taken at a "White Party."
But Kanye has always had a complicated "big brother" relationship with Puff. Back in 2006, Ye produced "Everything I Love" for Diddy’s Press Play album. In 2022, he stood on the BET stage and gave Diddy a Lifetime Achievement Award, credited him for "inspiring his choices" (even his "wife choices," which is an awkward quote in hindsight).
They’ve had beef, too. When Diddy called Kanye’s "White Lives Matter" shirts "tone deaf," Kanye posted their private texts and told him "no one threatens me."
Yet, by February 2025, the tune changed. Kanye started posting "Free Puff" and even tried to sell Sean John collaboration merch to split the profits with Diddy's family. To Kanye, this seems to be less about the specific allegations and more about his obsession with "the system" and "cancel culture." He sees himself in Diddy—two giants being "taken down" by the powers that be.
Is This Part of North’s Album?
There’s been a lot of chatter about whether "Lonely Roads" was meant for North West's debut album, Elementary School Dropout.
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The short answer is: probably not. While North is a featured artist on the track, the song eventually found a permanent home on the Never Stop EP, a 7-track project Kanye executive produced for Diddy’s son, King Combs.
Released in June 2025, Never Stop is essentially a tribute and a defense of the Combs family. North appears on the opening track, but the rest of the EP is King Combs and Ye trying to reclaim the "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" energy.
The Reality of the "Kanye Diddy North West Song"
Let's be real for a second. This isn't a song you're going to hear on the radio. It’s a "moment" in a very dark and confusing timeline for hip-hop.
- The Musicality: It’s actually a decent track. Kanye’s production is atmospheric, and Jasmine Williams (a Yeezy artist) carries the hook beautifully.
- The Ethics: This is where it falls apart. Using an 11-year-old as a shield or a statement in a federal racketeering case is... a lot.
- The Legal Fallout: This song has basically become Exhibit A in the ongoing custody and branding battles between Kim and Kanye.
If you're looking for the song, you'll mostly find it on re-uploads on YouTube or obscure SoundCloud links. It’s not "officially" on the major streamers under Kanye’s main profile because of the legal red tape and the sample clearances—or lack thereof.
What You Should Watch For Next
The story isn't over just because the song is out. The fallout is actually just beginning. If you’re following this saga, here are the real-world threads to keep an eye on:
- The Trademark Battle: Watch if Kim Kardashian successfully gains sole control over North’s professional "likeness." This would prevent Kanye from using her vocals without a signature.
- The Never Stop EP Performance: There are rumors of a "listening event" for King Combs’ project. If North shows up to perform "Lonely Roads," expect the internet to break again.
- Diddy’s Trial: As the legal proceedings in New York continue through 2026, any artist associated with him is under a microscope. Kanye has already shown up at the courthouse once; he likely isn't done making statements.
If you want to understand the music, you have to understand the mess. This wasn't a collaboration born out of a "vibe" in the studio. It was a calculated, provocative move by a father who uses his art as a weapon—even when his kids are the ones holding it.
To keep up with the latest updates on the Never Stop EP or the status of Elementary School Dropout, your best bet is to monitor the YZY legal filings and the King Combs official socials, as that's where the most "permanent" versions of this music seem to live.