North West, the 12-year-old daughter of rapper Kanye West and media personality Kim Kardashian, has unexpectedly pivoted into the realm of nü-metal and kawaii metal. Her brand-new single, “#N0rth4evr“, serves as the focal point of her newly released debut EP, N0rth4evr, which sees the young artist experimenting with a surprising mix of heavy genres, including emo rap, trap metal, and hyperpop.
Fully embracing an early-internet, AOL Instant Messenger aesthetic, the track listing features heavily stylized, symbol-laden titles such as “H0w Sh0uld ! f33l” and “D!e“. Keeping in line with the recent mainstream trend of adopting heavy music visuals, the EP’s cover art boasts a traditional, illegible metal logo design.
To accompany the aggressive title track, co-directors Ty Akimoto and Mack Ishida crafted a chaotic, glitched-out music video that perfectly captures the heavier, frenetic energy of her freshman release.
Following in the footsteps of artists like Willow Smith, another offspring of a famous musician who successfully transitioned from childhood pop to guitar-driven rock, North West‘s impending teenage years seem to be sparking a shift toward an edgier, darker sound. Whether this heavy aesthetic marks a permanent stylistic evolution or a temporary musical exploration remains to be seen.
Earlier in October, North West dominated Halloween social media, drawing massive attention to the Japanese metal-pop group Babymetal.
In a TikTok video, North and two of her friends were dressed in Babymetal‘s signature stage style. The costumes featured the band’s red and black tutus, armor-like bodices, and black combat boots. The trio was seen dancing, mimicking guitar playing, and singing along to a Babymetal track, leading to a notable surge in online searches and engagement for the band.
In a 2021 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Kim Kardashian described her daughter’s style as “goth-inspired” and noted that she listened to bands like Black Sabbath. That admission famously prompted Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager of Ozzy Osbourne, to publicly welcome North to the metal community.
Kim Kardashian has been vocal in defending her daughter’s confidence and self-expression, as well as her own approach to parenting. Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Kim explained that North is unfazed by the backlash.
“She’ll be like, ‘Mom, I saw this and I don’t really care if someone says they don’t like my blue hair, or my this or that,’” Kim shared. “And she’s really confident and is like, ‘I probably wouldn’t be hanging out with those people.’”
Kim also called for more understanding as she raises her children as a single mother.
“I just think anyone that’s raising kids, especially four kids by myself, I’m doing the best that I can, and my babies are good babies,” she stated. “So, I just urge everyone to not be judgmental and to have grace.”
N0rth4evr track listing:
- “H0w Sh0uld ! f33l“
- “D!e“
- “#N0rth4evr“
- “Th!s t!m3“
- “W0ah“
- “Aishite (愛して)“
