No Child Left Behind (song)

"No Child Left Behind" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song includes vocals from fellow American rapper Vory. It was performed by the Sunday Service Choir on Halloween 2021, with additional contributions from Justin Bieber. In July 2021, the song was used in a Beats by Dre commercial during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which stars Sha'Carri Richardson.

"No Child Left Behind"
Song by Kanye West featuring Vory
from the album Donda
Released	August 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)
Recorded	May - August 2021
Length	2:58
Label	GOOD Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Kanye West Tavoris Hollins Jahmal Gwin Mike Lévy Jahshua Brown Douglas Brown Frankie Smith
Producer(s)	Kanye West BoogzDaBeast Cashmere Brown Gesaffelstein

Background

During Donda's first public listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 22, 2021, "No Child Left Behind" was previewed by West, with vocals from Vory,^[1] but was previously previewed as a one-minute snippet in a Beats by Dre commercial featuring Sha'Carri Richardson, prior to the listening party.^[2][3][4] In the commercial, West suggested that the album would be released on July 23,^[5] and the ad would also air at the NBA Finals.^[6] Shortly after the commercial aired, French producer Gesaffelstein stated that he had produced the song.^[7] Speaking to XXL about working with West, Vory mentioned the faith the rapper has put in him musically, explaining that they are understanding of one another while saying their "vibe is crazy". Vory detailed that even West's childhood friends recognize the vibe, saying of them collaborating, "You would think y'all have known each other for years." The rapper recalled that West originally set out to create an entirely different song titled "Never Abandon Your Child", until he told him to use a different saying of the same meaning, specifying that a quote would be preferable. Vory also stated that West advised him to gain a proper fanbase by putting careful thought into creating a discography, rather than gathering popularity via gimmicks or internet skills.^[8]

Release and promotion

On August 29, 2021, "No Child Left Behind" was included as the 23rd track on West's 10th studio album Donda, while it stands as the last track before the second versions of songs.^[9][10] A collaboration with West and athlete Sha'Carri Richardson for Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals was teased via Beats by Dre's Twitter account on July 20, 2021, with the account mentioning the game number alongside tagging West and Richardson.^[11] That same day, a Beats by Dre commercial that stars Richardson and was edited by West premiered during Game Six of the finals, scored by a one-minute excerpt of "No Child Left Behind", marking one of the first snippets from the album.^[12][2][13] For the conclusion of the second Donda listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 5, 2021, the song was played as West rose to the ceiling by harness,^[14] in a manner that was described by Variety as resembling an ascent to heaven.^[15][16] On October 31, 2021, West's group the Sunday Service Choir performed a gospel rendition of the song as the opener for their Halloween concert at an undisclosed rooftop location.^[17] During the performance, Canadian singer Justin Bieber contributed harmonies.^[18]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart performance for "No Child Left Behind" Chart (2021) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[19] 31 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[20] 42 Denmark (Tracklisten)^[21] 38 France (SNEP)^[22] 117 Global 200 (Billboard)^[23] 42 Iceland (Plötutíðindi)^[24] 17 Lithuania (AGATA)^[25] 40 Norway (VG-lista)^[26] 29 Portugal (AFP)^[27] 63 South Africa (RISA)^[28] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[29] 36 US Billboard Hot 100^[30] 53 US Christian Songs (Billboard)^[31] 15 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)^[32] 15

Year-end charts 2021 year-end chart performance for "No Child Left Behind" Chart (2021) Position US Christian Songs (Billboard)^[33] 55 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)^[34] 19

References

1. Brooks, Clarissa (July 23, 2021). "Inside Kanye West's emotional Donda listening party in Atlanta". Dazed. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
2. Waite, Thom (21 July 2021). "Kanye West teases new song 'No Child Left Behind' ahead of Donda release". Dazed. from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
3. Espinoza, Joshua (21 July 2021). "Kanye West Debuts New Song "No Child Left Behind" in Beats Commercial, Announces "DONDA" Release Date". Complex. from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
4. D'Souza, Shaad (20 July 2021). "Kanye West shares snippet of new song, confirms Donda is out Friday". The Fader. from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
5. Woods, Aliea (20 July 2021). . XXL. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
6. Legaspi, Althea (20 July 2021). "Kanye West Announces 'Donda' LP Release Date in Ad Aired During NBA Finals Game 6". Rolling Stone. from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
7. Spilsbury, Jack (22 July 2021). . We Rave You. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
8. Rindner, Grant (November 9, 2021). "Vory Interview – Working on Kanye West's Donda, New Album & More". XXL. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
9. Thomas, Fred. "Donda – Kanye West". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
10. Wilson, Carl (August 30, 2021). "Congrats, Kanye West: You've Achieved Peak Jackass-dom". Slate. from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
11. Espinoza, Joshua (July 21, 2021). "Kanye Debuts New Song 'No Child Left Behind' in Beats Commercial, Announces 'Donda' Release Date". Complex. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
12. Atkinson, Katie (July 20, 2021). "Kanye West 'Donda' Song Preview & Release Date in Sha'Carri Richardson Ad". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
13. "Kanye West 'No Child Left Behind' lyrics meaning explained". Capital Xtra. July 22, 2021. from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
14. Smith, Ryan (6 August 2021). . Newsweek. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
15. Ihaza, Jeff (August 6, 2021). "Kanye West's 'Donda': Everything We Know About New Album". Rolling Stone. from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
16. Bolden, Janee (August 6, 2021). "Kanye West Soars Toward the Heavens – Literally – During Second 'Donda' Album-Listening Event". Variety. from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
17. Saponara, Michael (October 31, 2021). "Kanye West Performs Halloween Sunday Service". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
18. Blanchet, Brenton (October 31, 2021). "Watch Kanye West Perform at Sunday Service with Justin Bieber, Roddy Ricch, and More". Complex. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
19. "Kanye West – No Child Left Behind". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
20. "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
21. "Track Top-40 Uge 35, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
22. "Kanye West – No Child Left Behind" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
23. "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
24. "Tónlistinn – Lög – Vika 35 – 2021". Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
25. "2021 35-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 3, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
26. "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021–35". VG-lista. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
27. "Kanye West – No Child Left Behind". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
28. . Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
29. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 35". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
30. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
31. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
32. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
33. "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
34. "Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.