N0rth4evr is the debut extended play by American musician North West. It was released on May 1, 2026, through media company Gamma. Announced just two days before its release, it is a rage, emo, hyperpop, and alternative metal EP consisting of six tracks that depict West's perspective as a celebrity child through fame, flexing, and isolation. Preceding its release, West collaborated with her father Kanye West on three tracks, FKA Twigs, produced for Lil Novi and Skaiwater, and released her solo single debut with "Piercing on My Hand".
In promotion of the EP, West released a music video for the self-titled track, opened a pop-up exhibition for two days, and made her debut solo performance at Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash festival in Chicago. A co-headlining tour with Molly Santana was set to take place in August 2026, but was cancelled a few days before the tour began. The music video for "Aishite ()" was released shortly after its cancellation. The following month, West performed her first headlining concert at The Vic Theatre in Chicago. N0rth4evr received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics, complimenting her distinct artistic identity, dense production, and narrative perspective as a celebrity child.
Background
North West is the eldest child of rapper and record producer Kanye West and media personality Kim Kardashian. She began her music career with a guest verse on ¥$'s (comprising Kanye and Ty Dolla Sign) single "Talking / Once Again", which was later included on the group's album Vultures 1 (2024) in February 2024. The following month, West announced her debut album Elementary School Dropout, which has yet to be released. In April, she co-directed and wrote the music video for "Talking / Once Again".
In August 2024, North and her sister Chicago were featured on "Bomb" from ¥$'s album Vultures 2 (2024), in which North rapped in Japanese. She would later contribute a rap verse in Japanese to "Childlike Things" from FKA Twigs's album Eusexua (2025) in January 2025. In March, she appeared alongside Jasmine Williams, King Combs, and Sean Combs on her father's track, "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine", which was uploaded to X and received criticism from multiple publications. The song later released as "Lonely Roads" from King Combs' EP Never Stop (2025) three months later with Kanye's involvement.
After signing to media company Gamma, West released her debut solo single, "Piercing on My Hand", on February 5, 2026. Prior to its release, she previewed the song during Kanye's performance in Mexico City on January 30, and later performed it alongside "Talking" during the latter's two SoFi Stadium performances on April 1 and 3. That year, West received her first production credit by producing rapper Mag!c's track "Justswagup" with a guest feature from Lil Novi, Lil Wayne's son, in January. She produced "Blink Twice" from Skaiwater's album Wonderful (2026) the following month, and on May 1, the release day of N0rth4evr, was featured on "So Let's Have Some Fun" from Edward Skeletrix's album Body of Work (2026).
Composition Overview N0rth4evr is a rage, emo, hyperpop, and alternative metal EP with elements of Jersey club and punk rock. A six-track EP at a running time of eleven minutes, it features maximalist production, "buzzing" synthesizers, and hints of electric guitar. Tracks from the EP open with a Japanese tag that states "ノースちゃん (North-chan)".
Dazed described N0rth4evr as emphasizing "Carti-inspired maximalism" with Jersey club bass line melodies and pluggnb influences and compared its individual track names to Roblox usernames and Discord chats, while Complex emphasized it as a blend of metal guitar riffs, autotune, and punk rap. West produced and wrote all of the tracks on N0rth4evr.
Tracks
Opening with "H0w Sh0uld I F33l", the track features a sample from Meg & Dia's "Monster" (2006), especially the chorus "Monster, how should I feel? / Creatures lie here, looking through the window". The Jersey club-styled track emphasizes West's vulnerability using metaphoric lyrics from "All this money turn my heart to a black hole" to "In the back of the Lamb', it get lonely". "Die" opens up with a sample of JudyPhonic's trance-based chorus from "Shinitai-chan" before evolving into maximalist production as West flexes lyrically. The self-titled track is described by Vivian Medithi of The Fader as nu-metal-influenced track that collapses into a "grandiose, Travis Scott-esque breakdown." The reviewer also compared the song to Slayr's "Flashout Freestyle" (2025) and punk-rage musician Ezcodylee.
"This Tim3" swings into a "thumping club beat" while looping a sample of singer Social Repose's rock-based cover of Mumford & Sons' "Little Lion Man" (2009). Bringing the EP's "emo sensibility into focus", the track is described as revolving around a post-punk beats coated in hyperpop influences. "W0ah" is lyrically based on West's worldview with an inherited celebrity lifestyle over crunching basslines while sampling Swedish group Caramell, writing that she's been "signing autographs since elementary". Concluding with "Aishite ()", the track takes inspiration from Vocaloid reminiscent of Hatsune Miku while sampling Japanese musician Kikuo's "Love Me, Love Me, Love Me" (2015), folding its chorus into the production. Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop considered it to be the darkest track on the EP, as West makes references to feeling betrayed by others. Lyrically, West describes her isolation as a result of inherited fame, as she sings "Can't be no one's friend, I can't let nobody in" on a drumless hook.
Promotion and release
On April 29, 2026, West announced N0rth4evr, subsequently releasing the EP's self-titled track's music video the following day. Directed by Ty Akimoto and Mack Ishida, the music video features her dressed in early-2000s emo and punk attire with "striped arm sleeves, spiked wrist cuffs, and Converse sneakers", and included a shot of an iPod. It also features a look similar to found footage films including The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007). The same day, she announced a pop-up exhibition with Complex on May 1 and 2. The exhibition was set up with "immersive visuals", an ice cream stand, and limited-edition merchandise. Kanye and Bianca Censori attended the pop-up exhibition on its first day, where he took pictures and signed merchandise for fans. Kim Kardashian attended the event the following day.
Just before the release of N0rth4evr, West released merchandise supporting the EP on the website n0rth4evr.shop, including vinyl (regular and multi-colored) and CD prints, T-shirts, a layered long-sleeve shirt, keychain, arm warmers, spike bracelet, key necklace, sticker pack, journal, and faux fur hat. On May 1, 2026, N0rth4evr was released to streaming services through Gamma. On its release, The Source complimented it to be a "major milestone" for West, being twelve years old at the time. Upon its release, West received support from several members of the Kardashian family, including Rob, Khloé Kardashian, and Kris Jenner, by posting pictures of themselves listening to the EP on Instagram.
On June 12, 2026, West made her debut solo performance at Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash festival in Chicago, where she performed tracks from the EP. The performance lasted fifteen minutes, with Lil Novi making an appearance to perform "Mula tha Root of All Evil". Kanye shared support for her appearance by reposting a clip of West performing "Talking" on his Instagram Stories. On June 16, West and fellow rage artist Molly Santana announced a co-headlining tour titled the Kimokawaii Tour, which was set to begin on August 5, in Dallas and set to conclude on August 27, in Los Angeles. However, the tour was cancelled on July 31, a few days before it was set to begin, for undisclosed reasons.
On August 7, 2026, West released the music video for "Aishite ()", which features her at the settings of an abandoned school and arcade. The music video is based on eerie visuals reminiscent of a "horror anime series, with blood dripping down the screen throughout the video." The same day, West made a guest appearance at Kanye's Portugal concert, where she performed "H0w Sh0uld I F33l". On August 24, she participated in an interview with Marios Mystidis of Dazed, where West revealed that she's "currently obsessed with" rehearsing every day, and that she uses prayer as a pre-show ritual. On August 28, she announced a one-night concert at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, which took place on September 5.
Critical reception
N0rth4evr received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics. Jeff Ihaza of Rolling Stone complimented the EP as a brief but impactful project in which she transforms her public lifestyle into creative material, establishing a distinct artistic identity and personal mythology. Vivian Medithi of The Fader described the EP as finding "wild beauty in the chaos of growing up", but commented that it leans too heavily on her privileged background. While acknowledging her access to many resources and industry connections shapes the EP, Medithi suggests that they're used "in service of worldbuilding."
Ileyah of Ratings Game Music characterizes N0rth4evr as a personal project in which West uses her unfiltered expression through dense production. While not considering it highly replayable, the review considers it to demonstrate her potential as a musician. Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop presented a more critical approach, commenting that while multiple aspects of the EP feel underdeveloped, West's artistry brings her ahead at a young age, and that the "early moment in her career" would leave areas for potential and growth.
Track listing All tracks are produced by North West.
Notes "H0w Sh0uld I F33l" is stylized as "H0w Sh0uld ! F33l". "Die" is stylized as "D!e". "This Tim3" is stylized as "Th!s T!m3".
Personnel Credits are adapted from Tidal.
North West – vocals, writing, production Will Frenchman – writing, programming, recording (all tracks); mixing (4, 6) Colin Leonard – mastering Ruby Mitchelle – writing Jacob Richards – assistant mixing Landon Rime – assistant mixing and assistant recording Jaycen Joshua – mixing (1–3, 5) Garrett Podgorski – lead guitar (1, 3, 5–6); writing (3) Michael Hernandez – assistant recording (1, 3–5) Dia Frampton – writing (1) Meg Frampton – writing (1)
Esther Conteh – writing (2) Josh Sage – assistant recording (2) Juliet Simmons – vocals, writing (2) Switch (すいっち) – writing (2) Edward Dwane – writing (4) Benjamin Lovett – writing (4) Winston Marshall – writing (4) Marcus Mumford – writing (4) Juha Myllu La – writing (5) Jorge Vasconcelo – writing (5)
Notes
References
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