Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus’ leaks, Internet goes crazy

LOS ANGELES ― “Yeezus,” the highly anticipated new album from Kanye West, leaked online on Friday morning, resulting in immediate Twitter trending and sending less-ethical fans all over the world to various illegal download and mirror sites to get a free copy.

The back cover of the CD has also leaked, which shows the many samples and songwriters involved in West’s newest construction. Among those sampled include Nina Simone, whose version of “Strange Fruit” gets center stage on “Blood on the Leaves.” The title takes its name from the lyrics to the song, which describes in horrifying detail the lynching of a black man.

Other samples include work by dancehall artists Capleton and Beenie Man, blues artist Latimore, rapper/producer Marley Marl and, most curiously, Hungarian prog rock band Omega on “New Slaves.” Collaborators also include Daft Punk, Frank Ocean, Justin Vernon, Kid Cudi, Chief Keef and others.

Though the leak was inevitable, West recently brushed off any concerns he had about sales numbers for the album, his sixth solo release. “Honestly at this point, I could give a ... about selling a million records as long as I put out an album for the summer that y’all can rock to for all ... summer,” he told fans at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York last weekend.

“Yeezus” officially comes out on Tuesday.