Wolves

Album: The Life of Pablo (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This moody tune finds a wounded Kanye West using Auto-Tune to croon some lyrics about feeling "lost and beat up" by some haters (the wolves), only to find solace in his love for Kim Kardishan. Chicago rapper Vic Mensa is featured in the middle while Sia appears near the end, with both continuing the song's saved by love theme.
  • West premiered the track during a fashion show in New York on February 12, where he debuted his new Yeezy 750 Boost trainer collaboration with Adidas. The event was broadcast in fifty movie theaters across the globe.
  • Kanye West performed the song during Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special on February 15, 2015 along with Vic Mensa and Sia. It was the final part of a three-song medley along with "Jesus Walks" and "Only One."
  • Speaking on WWPR (Power 105.1)/New York's The Breakfast Club, West revealed the song came from a discussion with Drake about the pair possibly collaborating on an album called 'Wolves.'
  • Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat supplied the beat along with Canadian producer Sinjin Hawke. Known to his family as Magnus August Høiberg, Casmere Cat garnered attention for his remixes of Lana Del Rey and 2 Chainz, before gaining a mainstream audience with his work for such artists as Kanye West, Kid Ink ("Body Language", Ariana Grande ("Be My Baby") and Charli XCX "Break The Rules.")
  • Sia croons the second verse. She continues the "Wolves" imagery by singing of "yellow eyes" and being "too wild" a reference to the depression and drug addiction she endured. Like West, the Australian songstress found a love that took her out of her dark place - she informs us, "I found you, oh Jesus."
  • The version that appears as the closing track on The Life of Pablo is different with new verses from Kanye West, an outro by Frank Ocean, but without Vic Mensa and Sia's contributions.

    West first worked with Frank Ocean along with Jay-Z on the Watch The Throne tracks "No Church in The Wild" and "Made In America" when Ocean was a little known R&B singer.
  • The echo and drums song you hear at the 1:27 mark are sampled from Sugar Minott's "Walking Dub" a track from the Jamaican reggae producer's 1979 album Ghetto-ology.
  • Kanye West was still editing the song several weeks after the release of The Life Of Pablo. He shared a reworked version on March 15, 2016, which brings back Vic Mensa and Sia's vocals. Frank Ocean's outro was made into its own 38-second track titled "Frank's Track." West said he'd worked on the revamped song for three weeks and called the album-in-progress a, "living breathing changing creative expression."
  • The 7-minute black-and-white video was directed by Steven Klein and doubles as an ad campaign for fashion label Balmain. A tearful Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are seen in the same Balmain outfits they wore at the Met Gala back in May 2016 and the clip was shot during Balmain's Met Gala after-party.

    The video, which, like the track, features Sia and Vic Mensa, also stars a host of models. Jourdan Dunn, Kylie Jenner, Cindy Crawford, Maria Borges and Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing all make cameos in the visual.

Comments: 1

  • Trevor O from NowhereIn the beginning of the song where it goes ooooh oh oh oh oh oh oh, what is the original song called?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.