Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine

"Lonely Roads" (originally "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine") is a song by American rappers King Combs, Kanye West and North West, featuring singer Jasmine Williams.^[a] The song originally featured King Combs' father Diddy. It was written by West, Combs, North, and Williams themselves, alongside Carlos Coleman, Mario Winans, Stevie J, and Justin Dior Combs; the latter three produced the track alongside West.

It was exclusively released to West's X account as "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" on March 15, 2025, who claimed the song was for an upcoming Diddy album executively produced by him. On June 27, the song was released as the opening track to West and King Combs' collaborative extended play (EP) Never Stop under the shortened title "Lonely Roads", with the vocals from Diddy and West removed. Its release was followed by a music video for the song, released on September 19.

Background

Despite having previously called out Diddy in 2021 and 2022, West showed support for his freedom in February 2025, tweeting at president Donald Trump to pardon him.^[1] Later in May, when asked if he would consider pardoning Diddy, Trump said he wouldn't "rule it out";^[2] it's unclear if the reporters question was related to West's tweets.

Prior to the songs release, West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian texted him, informing him that she had trademarked North's name to prevent her from featuring on the song. She claimed that they had previously agreed to let her trademark their children's names during their marriage.^[3]

"I asked you at the time if I can trademark her name. You said yes. When she's 18, it goes to her. So stop, I sent paperwork over so she wouldn't be in the Diddy song to protect her. One person has to trademark! We agreed when they were both i would get all of our kids names and trademarks So no one else would take them."^[4]

West would strongly stand by his decision to release the song, telling Kardashian to "amend" the trademark or he'd "[go] to war. And neither of us will recover from the public fallout. You're going to have to kill me."^[5]

Release and reception

ye (@kanyewest) tweeted:

LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE new song by PUFF DADDY feat. His son KING COMBS my daughter NORTH WEST and new Yeezy artist from Chicago Jasmine Williams

March 15, 2025^[6]

"Lonely Roads" was released to West's X account as "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" on March 15, 2025. In a tweet made along with the release, he revealed that Jasmine Williams, a previously obscure artist, had been signed to his YZY record label prior to the song's release.^[3] The song was later featured on Never Stop, a by King Combs executive produced by West, released on June 27, 2025 under the shortened title "Lonely Roads".^[7] This version of the song removes the intro phone call between West and Diddy, and originally credited West as a main artist alongside King Combs.^[8][9]

Caitlin Moran of The Times called North's guest verse "in no way a useful career step for her", seeing it as only "[allowing] West to continue his demented psychological warfare against his ex-wife — at the expense of their child."^[5]

Music video

On September 18, Combs released a music video for "Lonely Roads". The video explores what Combs describes as "one of the darkest times” in his life.^[10][11] The music video documents Combs spending time with his siblings at their father's home.^[10][11] Certain shots contain Combs' late mother, Kim Porter, and Diddy.^[12]

Notes

References