"THIS ONE HERE" (previously know as “TIME”) is a song by Kanye West that released as a part of his 2025 demo studio album, BULLY V1.[1] The song features additional vocals from Don Toliver that were replaced with AI as well as completely reworked production from Kanye West.
Production[]
The song features production from Kanye himself as well as either No I.D. or James Blake (the bass sample used dates back to the WAR sessions, though it is unclear who of the two producers of the initial beat originally sampled the song for the beat).[2] The song features a very prominent sample of Lou Reed's 1972 song "Walk on the Wild Side". The song is played 4/4 time in 106.9 BPM and in the key of C# Major.
Background[]
Kanye West first premiered "THIS ONE HERE" at a party in London on September 26, 2022. The song appeared in an IG live by Naomi Campbell, which led to James Blake to confirm that he produced the song. He also produced two other songs played at the party, titled "What I Would Have Said At Virgil’s Funeral" and (unofficially) "Never Coming Back".[3][4]
The song sounds introspective or uplifting in nature, making use of backing vocals and a building instrumental. Based on leaks, the song's chorus can be interpreted as "yo' time" or "show time," hence the song title.[5] On July 21, 2024, James confirmed that "Showtime" was indeed the title of the song.[6] Despite this, trusted leaker Luit stated it was not named "Showtime", leaving the real name of the song unclear, though it has been theorized the song had just been simply named "Time" as it was said to have served as a working title for the song when it was brought back later. It has also been confirmed several reference tracks have been recorded for the song after Kanye's initial takes; one of these likely Fat Money as he was working with Kanye amidst these sessions and the third verse in the release song sounds very similar to him.
It was also confirmed to have been brought back into reconsideration for YEBU under the name "Rolling", though this was later proven to be false information.[7]
Some time in late-2024, the song was brought back into consideration for the solo album Kanye had been working on at the time, BULLY. The production had been completely redone and stripped back to just its bass and Don Toliver would record a feature for it likely some time in October as this is when he was working with Ye and Japan that was later ran through AI and replaced with Kanye vocals.[8] On January 23rd, 2025 snippets of two versions of the songs made for this era leaked amidst a potential groupbuy for the WAR-era version song revealing it had been brought back, serving as one of the few reasons the group-buy had been cancelled, the other being the seller had offered to sell the song for five figures.[9]
BULLY Film[]
On March 18th of 2025 the song would release as a part of the BULLY visual film that had been made for the album as the ninth track.[10] Kanye would later take to X (fka Twitter) and state in a Tweet that he released it as he had grown a disdain for AI technology which the project was primarily made out of and would be reworking the album in its entirety to re-release in the future.[11] It is possible a new version of the song without AI exists, though there is no confirmation and the only song confirmed to have been worked on past the film release is "MELROSE".
The film and the links to the download for every film posted by Ye would later be taken down, likely as a result of Ye not clearing the Pomme sample on the following track "HIGHS AND LOWS" as the project was taken down just shortly after it was confirmed Pomme had knowledge of the song existing and stated she would be taking action.[12]
On May 1st, Ye would go on stream with Sneako and play multiple WAR-era tracks. When asked about "Showtime", Ye would state it's on there, and then proceed to play the first minute of the song before changing tracks. When asked by the chat to "release the song even with mumble", he would ask his team in the room to help clear the opens.[13]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus: Kanye West & Don Toliver]
To waste, no time (Kick out that ego right out of the door)
Right now, showtime
Come on, it's go time
Come on, it's go time (I'm going to war, babe, I'm going to war)
Don't waste, no time
Right now, it's showtime
Come on, it's go time (Kick out that ego right out of the door)
Come on, it's go time (I'm going to war, babe, I'm going to war)
[Verse 1: Don Toliver]
Yes, I need this here, I've been fighting for
I've been fighting for my life
Yes, I need this here, I've been fighting for
I've been fighting for my life (Come on, go time)
[Chorus: Kanye West & Don Toliver]
To waste
Kick out that ego right out of the door
Come on
I'm going to war, babe, I'm going to war
Kick out that ego right out of the door
Come on
I'm going to war, babe, I'm going to war
[Refrain: Kanye West]
(This one here, this fire, fire) I'm outside my body, you right
Lights on, showtime
(This one here is five-five) I'm outside my body, you right
Go in, go time
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
This that new phone
This that healed and moved on
This that life that you want
You can't wait for it too long
No, I don't wanna hold out too long
When I'm in that mode, can't do wrong
And you know we on go, we too gone
Taking off, five, four, three, two, one
Let's go, like—
[Refrain: Kanye West & Don Toliver]
(This one here, this fire, fire) I'm outside my body, you right
Lights on, showtime
(This one here, this fire, fire) I'm outside my body, you right
Go in, go time
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
This that new us
Started from the ground and moved up
You ain't got love for yourself
You ain't never felt a true love
I can see where your heart is
Broken pieces before us
When the evening is darkest
I know dawn is upon us
[Bridge: Kanye West]
Come on!
We came ready, ready, for the rising sun
Rising sun gon' come out (Come on)
We came ready, ready, for the rising sun
[Refrain: Kanye West & Don Toliver]
(This one here, this fire, fire)
I'm outside my body, you right
Lights on, showtime
(This one here is five-five)
I'm outside my body, you right
Go in, go time
Trivia[]
- "THIS ONE HERE" is one of the only songs alongside "MELROSE" that featured real vocals in any capacity on the BULLY film track selection.
References[]
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/2401fd4fd56001044c2edfb4b24b3685
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/b045776a5b5695985fa5f2ca6ff5df93
- ↑ "Kanye West previews new songs made with James Blake in London" by Alex Gallagher. NME. September 27, 2022.
- ↑ "As with the other two" by @jamesblake on Twitter. September 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Showtime" by Kanye West on Genius. Retrieved on September 27, 2022.
- ↑ https://x.com/yeunrlsd/status/1815014033495331152
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/GoodAssSub/comments/1grp90g/showtime_is_actually_titled_rolling/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/GoodAssSub/comments/1fxjpqk/baby_keem_and_don_toliver_together_in_a_club_in/
- ↑ https://krakenfiles.com/view/rLxj4t68My/file.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIkI9kjnJ1U
- ↑ https://x.com/kanyewest/status/1902208914319667445
- ↑ https://x.com/yeunrlsd/status/1903417052905242784
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=jN4sEGwPAHfQm5oG&v=zSnhMyIZsxg&feature=youtu.be
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