Kanye West Returns With New Single and Video "Wash Us in the Blood"

Kanye West has returned with a new single and music video titled “Wash Us in the Blood” featuring Travis Scott and additional mixing duties from Dr. Dre. The track is the first offering from his forthcoming album God’s Country, the follow-up to 2019’s JESUS IS KING, and features artwork and direction from renowned cinematographer Arthur Jafa.

The project was initially teased in GQ’s April 2020 issue, describing a track called “Wash in the Blood” that featured “hard drums and Yeezus-like industrial horror noises that constantly shotgun-fires a rapping, dancing, moshing West across the concrete patio like it’s an arena stage.”

The official release feels very much in line with the iconoclastic Yeezus from 2013 — there’s thunderous drums and garish analog synths, heavy industrial underpinnings, and a revitalized Kanye West that brings back the pre-JESUS IS KING lyricist. The song continues to build on his revitalized appreciation for God, but equally takes on the sociopolitical, with Ye addressing the broken justice system (“No choice to sell drugs/No choice, locked up”) and its affects on the marginalized. This mirrors Kanye’s recent social justice initiatives, as he donated $2 million USD to various causes, paying for George Floyd’s daughter’s college tuition and marched with Chicago Public Schools protesters in his hometown.

You can watch the video in the gallery above, and stream the single on services including Spotify and Apple Music below. The single is also available to pre-order from Kanye West’s official online shop in different formats including a 12-inch picture disc, 7-inch red vinyl, red cassette, CD and standalone digital single, all of which feature artwork by Arthur Jafa.

In related news, Kanye recently announced that some of his YEEZY GAP line will be produced in Wyoming and teased his KIDS SEE GHOSTS animated show with Kid Cudi and Takashi Murakami.