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Fans are saying Taylor Swift's new single sounds a lot like a Kanye West song

By Kirsten Acuna
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kanye west taylor swift
If you think the beginning of Swift's latest single sounds familiar, you're not alone.  Drew Angerer/Getty Images, Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Taylor Swift released a new song from her upcoming album Saturday. 
  • It's called "...Ready For It?."
  • Swift raps along to heavy beats throughout the song.
  • Fans think the heavy bass channels some of the sounds from Kanye West's "Yeezus" and other albums.
  • A fan played one of West's songs alongside Swift's "...Ready For It?" and the beats from the two sound awfully similar.


Taylor Swift gave fans a few surprises over the long holiday weekend. 

Swift teased the release of a new song on ABC Friday night before dropping the second single from her upcoming sixth studio album in full the following morning.

While fans were celebrating the surprise release of "...Ready For It?," the vibe of the new single caught some listeners off guard. Not only does the three-minute track show the former country singer rapping about a relationship, but it also begins with over 10 seconds of loud, heavy beats which continue to drop throughout the song.

Many immediately thought it channeled her rocky relationship with Kanye West over the years since the rapper hijacked Swift's 2009 MTV VMA win. 

The beats reminded fans of the distorted and heavy bass and drum beats of West's 2013 album, "Yeezus." 

It even reminded fans of a few other tunes from the rapper. 

Others couldn't shake that it reminded them of another West song, "Hell of a Life," from his 2010 album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."

You can take a listen to the beginning of both songs here:

Fans already found many possible references to Kanye West in Swift's first new single, "Look What You Made Me Do," and its accompanying video. And then there's Swift's merchandise for her new album that eerily looks like a clone of West's Yeezy clothing line.

kanye west clothes taylor swift
An example of a sweatshirt from Kanye West's fashion line versus one from Swift's tour merchandise. The two share similar fonts.  Pablo Supply and Taylor Swift Store

If the beat at the start of "...Ready For It?" is meant to be a reference to 'Ye, it wouldn't be a big surprise. 

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Kirsten Acuna headshot
Kirsten Acuna
Kirsten Acuna was a correspondent on Business Insider's Entertainment team covering TV, movies, and theme parks. She is Businness Insider's resident expert on all things "The Walking Dead." YKirsten covers superheroes and all things Disney (Marvel, Pixar, and live-action remakes). She is a verified film critic on Rotten Tomatoes. Kirsten has previously written for TV Guide and Time Out New York Kids. She joined Business Insider's entertainment team in 2012 as a reporter, helping to build the team from two people. She holds a degree in magazine journalism and minors in both English and child family studies from Syracuse University.Follow her on Twitter @KirstenAcuna.
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