Producer Ben Bronfman Releases Early Demo Of Kanye West's "New Slaves" + More

Producer Benjamin Bronfman has dropped a treat for Kanye West fans with the release of an early demo of the track that would become his Yeezus LP standout "New Slaves." The track entitled "Cruel Cold World" was created by Bronfman's production outfit Teachers and reportedly given to West in 2012. The track followed West's work with Bronfman on the single "Monster" from his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy LP, which dropped in 2010. The demo surfaces as fans anticipate new music from Kanye West, which is expected to arrive sometime in the coming months. Bronfman explained the evolution of the recording and his thoughts on the final track in a recent discussion with Rolling Stone:

"He kept saying, 'Just make it hot, make it really dope,'" recalls Bronfman. "He didn't really get into specifics, which is funny – he's the type of person who will get really specific in person, but not on the phone." Working at SMT Studios in Manhattan, Bronfman laid down a spare synth line and drum rhythm, then recorded a guide vocal of himself singing the words, "Cruel, cold winter." "I heard that they were working on a follow-up to [2012's G.O.O.D. Music LP] Cruel Summer," says Bronfman. "So I was just kind of riffing."

He sent "Cruel Cold Winter" plus seven or eight other beats to West, who was recording in Paris. And then: total radio silence. "I didn't hear a fucking thing," Bronfman says with a laugh. Their next contact didn't come until May 15th, 2013, at West's Adult Swim Upfronts performance at Roseland Ballroom in New York: "I got word, like, 'One of your tracks made it. It's ill. Come to the show, we'll talk about it there.'"

After the show, Bronfman attended a secret Yeezus listening party at a back room in Roseland. West was there, as were about 50 others, including Santigold, Theophilus London and Lana Del Rey producer Emile Haynie – "and then a bunch of girls," Bronfman adds. "That kind of situation."

As soon as he heard the completed version of "New Slaves," Bronfman says, he loved the way West and his co-producers had developed and built on "Cruel Cold Winter." "He almost accentuated the track more," he says. "The only part he took was the beginning part – he made it even more minimalistic."

The demo arrives alongside news that Kanye West has turned down a nine-day Las Vegas residency reportedly worth $4.5 million. According to TMZ, Axis at Planet Hollywood reportedly offered West $500,000 per show - a sum that comes in just above the payout commanded by Celine Dion, who is currently the highest paid act in Las Vegas at $495k per show. Check the track above to listen to "Cruel Cold World." Download the track via teachers.fm. Read the full article via Rolling Stone. Stay tuned for more from Kanye West.

Spotted at RS.