Ye and King Combs put on for Diddy with a surprise seven-track EP titled “NEVER STOP.”
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TOP 5 SONGS
5. KIM
Both Kanye West and King Combs have had important Kims in their lives—but for King, “KIM” is a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, Kim Porter. Backed by a dramatic and emotional instrumental that could easily bring you to tears, King Combs reflects on the pain of her loss, expressing a willingness to give up everything just to have her back. While the deep vocal effect at the start of the track may not be for everyone, it fades out beautifully, letting us hear his raw, unfiltered voice. His poise and vulnerability shine through as he delivers one of his most personal and moving tracks to date.
4. PEOPLE LIKE ME
If you’re still interested in hearing Kanye West rap—which, honestly, some of you might not be—check out “PEOPLE LIKE ME.” Ye opens the track with a verse where he talks about folks stealing his flow and fully embraces his bad guy persona. His flow is solid, but I can’t help but notice it sounds like he’s got food in his mouth—kind of like the Ye we heard on “Through The Wire.”
King Combs shines on this track with what I think is his best verse. He rides the beat confidently, reflecting on having a hustling dad and the importance of having the right support system. My only gripe? The beat isn’t doing it for me. Funny how the songs I like the beats on tend to have weaker raps, and the ones with better raps come with beats I’m not feeling. Can’t seem to win.
3. LONELY ROADS (Ft. North West)
I genuinely like everything about this track, except what King Combs brings to the table. From the emotionally charged production to the perfectly paced tempo, the standout vocal performance on the hook, and yes, even North West’s verse (which adds a sly, unexpected layer)—everything hits the mark.
Lyrically, King Combs starts strong, offering a heartfelt nod to his Bad Boy lineage. But somewhere along the way, his flow veers off-kilter, making his verse feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the track. Still, despite the slip, this is a genuinely good listen with replay value.
2. REPEAT ME
On “REPEAT ME,” Kanye West experiments with Jersey Club rhythms layered under a soulful sample, creating a track that’s both danceable and emotionally textured. King Combs taps into the vibe perfectly, delivering a start-and-stop flow that mirrors the song’s push-and-pull narrative about a complicated relationship with a girl who might just be a freak. His cool, nonchalant delivery sells the track’s energy well, making this one of the more subtly standout moments on the album. It’s not loud, but it definitely sounds solid.
1. SOULS OUTRO
The very first thing I thought when I heard the beat for “SOULS OUTRO” was, why the hell did Kanye give King Combs this beat? This instrumental—built around an extra soulful sample, triumphant crescendos, and an overall aura that feels larger than life—sounds like something tailor-made for a J. Cole. That said, King Combs actually holds his own here. He goes back and forth with the sample, rides the beat surprisingly well, and delivers bold bars about wanting a real woman in his corner.
You could definitely argue that NEVER STOP has too many forgettable moments, but “SOULS OUTRO” isn’t one of them—it’s a standout.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. LONELY ROADS (Ft. North West) (3.5/5)
2. KIM (3.5/5)
3. PEOPLE LIKE ME (3.5/5)
4. DIDDY FREE (3/5)
5. REPEAT ME (3.5/5)
6. THE LIST (3/5)
7. SOULS OUTRO (4.5/5)
RGM RATING
(70%)
You know who King Combs reminds me of? Bronny James. He flashes potential and probably does deserve a shot at the rap game, but I just don’t think he’s good enough yet. On NEVER STOP, he’s handed some excellent Ye production, and honestly, I don’t think he rises to the occasion.
Across the album, King Combs struggles with consistency. Some tracks find him completely off-flow, others feel dull, and at times he just sounds out of sync with the beats—beats that, to be clear, are far from the problem. Where he does shine is when he opens up about his personal life on tracks like “KIM,” offering a glimpse of emotional depth, while still channeling that braggadocious Bad Boy energy his lineage is known for. But overall, the album falls slightly flat. It feels more like a rushed drop than a defining statement. Combs might have the resources, but right now, he’s not completely moving the needle.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
