In a different timeline, perhaps, it’s easy to imagine the Backstreet Boys-interpolating “Everybody” becoming a massive mainstream hit for the artist formerly known as Kanye West. But in this one, the song remains a staple of Ye’s listening party events and live performances despite never having been released in an official capacity.
Ye again pulled out the Vultures-era track at his first of two planned shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday (April 1), slotting it toward the end of his catalog-spanning set.
With Ye now several months removed from his full-page Wall Street Journal ad in which he detailed his struggles with bipolar disorder and affirmed that he’s “not a Nazi or an antisemite,” plus shared an apology and an expression of hope for eventual forgiveness, it’s hard not to wonder what may come of the long-teased song, if anything, or whether it will continue to solely exist in a live context.
Though the song has been played at multiple Ye-led events since it was first teased in late 2023, it didn’t make it onto either of his and Ty Dolla Sign’s Vultures projects. As of this writing, it remains without a formal release, though no shortage of livestream-ripped versions can be found on YouTube and elsewhere.
“Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” the 1997 Backstreet Boys hit interpolated in Ye’s own “Everybody,” is credited as being written by Max Martin and the late Denniz Pop. Speculation has persisted ever since Ye’s track was first teased that he had possibly tried, but failed, to get approval from the writers.
“Everybody” is far from alone when it comes to unreleased Ye material, including numerous tracks that have become fan-favorites without getting an official release. Bully itself, notably, originally surfaced in a very different form last year.
