If you’re a hip-hop fan who keeps up with leaks and unreleased tracks, chances are you’ve already heard of Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “New Body.” The song has been floating around since 2018 and famously includes a feature from Nicki Minaj. Despite years of fan demand, however, Nicki has reportedly continued to block its official release.
As a result, Ye and Ty have kept the record in the vault, waiting for the right moment to put it out. After so much time has passed, many fans had all but accepted that the track might never see an official release.
That outlook may have shifted slightly last night when Ty Dolla $ign played the song during a livestream on social media. In the clip, he lets the track run before quickly cutting it off just as an unidentified female verse begins. The voice doesn’t appear to belong to Nicki Minaj, though. Instead, many listeners believe it sounds strikingly similar to Ice Spice, sparking speculation that a new version of the song may now feature the Bronx rapper.
While some fans may interpret the apparent addition of Ice Spice as a replacement for Nicki Minaj, it’s worth noting that Nicki has long been unwilling to clear her verse for release. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign decided to bring in another female artist to help complete the track. Choosing a rising star with major cultural momentum like Ice Spice would certainly make sense.
At this point, it’s unclear when the rumored verse was recorded, or whether this updated version of “New Body” will ever officially see the light of day. Still, the brief preview has reignited excitement among fans, many of whom had already given up hope of ever hearing the song released. If it does eventually arrive, Ye supporters will likely be celebrating the moment for a long time.
