Kanye West and Rick Rubin are reteaming to work on West’s upcoming seventh album. Previously, the two worked together on Kanye’s 2013 album Yeezus. In an interview with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Rubin said that he’s currently "looking at vocal ideas" for West’s new album.
The collaboration came in legendary Kanye fashion. While working on Yeezus, he approached Rubin five weeks prior to its scheduled release date to rework the album. Originally planning to include 16 tracks, Kanye instead took Rubin’s advice and cut the final track listing to just 10 songs.
"Maybe you should make it more concise,” said Rubin. “Maybe it is two albums. Maybe this is just the first half.”
Rubin is best known as co-founder of Def Jam Records. Partnering with Russell Simmons, Rubin helped launch the careers of LL Cool J and Run DMC. After parting with Def Jam, Rick founded the label Def American Records in 1988, which would later become American Recordings. Signing a number of heavy metal, rock and alternative rock artist, Rubin was also the co-president of Columbia Records from 2007 through 2012. While at Columbia he also served as producer on Adele’s album 21, which he won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2012.
Although there is no official release date on the Rubin produced follow-up to Yeezus, Q-Tip will be on board to assist in producing duties that will likely bring an eclectic, rock influenced, classic hip hop vibe to the progressive sounds of Kanye West.
