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"Junya" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features vocals from fellow rapper Playboi Carti. Lyrically, the rappers pay tribute to Junya Watanabe and reference their watches made by him. The song's second part, "Junya pt 2", was also included on the album and features vocals from Ty Dolla Sign.

Background

The song serves as a tribute to Japanese designer Junya Watanabe from West and Playboi Carti, who boast of their watches made by him. "Junya" also features West referencing Giannis Antetokounmpo of the basketball team Milwaukee Bucks, who had won Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals around the same time the song was first previewed during a listening party for the album at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium in July. In June 2023, footage leaked to Instagram of West and Playboi Carti working on the song in the studio. The footage reportedly came from the rapper's unreleased documentary for Donda and shows him at the starting stage for the album. After having been mentioned in the song, Watanabe became more relevant across fashion culture. The song contains a diss towards Canadian musician Drake from West as he alludes to the delayed 2021 release of Certified Lover Boy and declares: "Why can't losers never lose in peace?/Ain't nobody 'round me losing sleep." This stands along with "Pure Souls" as one of the multiple occasions that West dissed Drake on the record.

Part 2

A second part of the song was released under the title of "Junya pt 2" as part of Donda on August 29, 2021. The track maintained the same producers as original, with vocals from American singer Ty Dolla Sign added. West had previously guested Ty Dolla Sign on his tracks "Only One" (2014), "Real Friends" (2016), and "Everything We Need" (2019), while the singer featured him on his 2020 single "Ego Death" and “Track 6” both from the singer’s third album Featuring Ty Dolla Sign. "Junya pt 2" marked West and Ty Dolla Sign's last collaboration until Vultures 1 in 2024, their debut studio album released as ¥$.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

1. Furness, Joseph (August 13, 2021). "Kanye West's Donda: The Fashion References dropped". Farfetch. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
2. Levy, Piet (July 23, 2021). "Kanye West raps about the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo on new album 'Donda'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
3. Fisher, Caroline (June 14, 2023). "Kanye West Works With Playboi Carti In Leaked 'Dond' Documentary Footage". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
4. Silbert, Jake (November 1, 2021). "Kanye & Supreme Gave Junya Watanabe a New Life". Highsnobiety. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
5. Willman, Chris (August 29, 2021). "Kanye West Obsesses About Jesus, Kim, His Mother, Himself and Drake in Overstuffed, Fascinating 'Donda': Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
6. O'Connor, Roisin (August 30, 2021). "Kanye West review, Donda: Marilyn Manson's inexcusable presence leaves a sour taste that no amount of gospel can cleanse". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
7. ^ Grant, Rindner (April 7, 2023). "Inside the Latest Chapter of the Kanye West-Drake Beef". GQ. Retrieved June 30, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. Thomas, Fred. "Donda – Kanye West". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
9. Lavin, Will (August 30, 2021). "Ariana Grande isn't featured on Kanye West's 'Donda' – see the full list of credits". NME. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
10. Peters, Mitchell (October 15, 2023). "Kanye West Planning to Perform New Album With Ty Dolla $ign at Concert in Italy". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
11. Renshaw, David (December 11, 2023). "Kanye West says his album with Ty Dolla $ign is coming out this week". The Fader. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
12. "Kanye West – Junya". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
13. "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
14. "Kanye West – Junya" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
15. "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
16. "Tónlistinn – Lög - Vika 35 – 2021". Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
17. "2021 35-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 3, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
18. "Kanye West – Junya". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
19. "ČNS IFPI – Singles Digital Top 100, 35th week of 2021" (in Slovak). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
20. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 27/08/2021 to 02/09/2021". The Official South African Charts. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
21. "Kanye West – Junya". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
22. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
23. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
24. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
25. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
26. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021". No. 1644. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 6, 2021. p. 4.
27. "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
28. "Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.

• 2021 songs
• Kanye West songs
• Song recordings produced by Digital Nas
• Song recordings produced by Kanye West
• Songs written by Consequence (rapper)
• Songs written by Cyhi the Prynce
• Songs written by Digital Nas
• Songs written by Malik Yusef
• Songs written by Playboi Carti
• Songs written by Pusha T
• Songs written by Ty Dolla Sign