The song was released for digital download and streaming as a standalone single by GOOD Music and Def Jam three days later.

"Ye vs. the People" received mixed reviews from music critics, who were somewhat divided in their opinions towards the political nature of it.

recalled in the post that he had spent the previous day "wit Kanye... Long term work in progress, No Doubt.

says to West about the consequences of 2017-2021 US president Donald Trump's policies and rhetoric that when lives are lost, "as artists that gives us an obligation to stand up against all of that kind of shit.

"[6] West explains to him that he put a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat on to force "an evolution" due to knowing "so much more in the past three days because I'm getting this energy, positive or negative," in agreement or disagreement with Trump.

"[6] After their discussion, the two begin to record "Ye vs. the People" in the footage, with the song being based on the debate they had earlier.

"[8] He explained by stating he "wanted to pick" West's brain and "get his thoughts" to grasp "a better understanding of where he was coming from and what he was attempting to say," but T.I.

"[8] According to T.I., they decided to record "Ye vs. the People" at the end of the period for detailing the conversation's highlights even though the rapper revealed he "never thought" West would release the song due to "the blatant honesty," as T.I.

suggests West's right-wing political views are bigger than his own "selfish agenda," also complaining to him about Trump's lack of a response to police brutality in the US.

[9][22] West boasts about wearing a MAGA hat, claiming that doing so added empathy to the campaign slogan.

expresses disappointment in West for having worn "a dusty ass hat to represent the same views as white supremacy.

[20] West premiered the song by playing it on a loop for Los Angeles radio station Power 106 on April 27, 2018.

[6] On April 30, 2018, "Ye vs. the People" was released for digital download and streaming as a single by West's record labels GOOD Music and Def Jam.

[a][26] "Ye vs. the People" was met with mixed reviews from music critics, who were generally split in their feelings towards its political nature.

"[20] Writing for National Review, Armond White commented that the song "mops up" Kendrick Lamar's "litany of immiserated ghetto complaints by using hip-hop" for revival of African-American discourse alongside stating West "urges his widened audience to rethink the current controversy" with his "exploration of musical styles and public address.

"[16] Sam Moore of NME described the song as "far superior" to "Lift Yourself" and highlighted the "excellently-crafted" sample-driven instrumental, as well as opining that the "plain-talking" from T.I.

"[27] Stereogum critic Tom Breihan derided the song by pointing out it is "slapdash, thrown-together" and an attempt at commenting on West's Trump support that is "rushed and ill-thought-out" to the same extent as a bad Saturday Night Live (SNL) cold open.

while noting it for being "downright cringe-worthy in almost every respect" and even worse than "Lift Yourself", as well as criticizing West's "ignorance" in his "thoughts and ideas" presented against T.I.

[28] The song outperformed the simultaneous debut of West's "Lift Yourself", which opened at number five on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100.

"Ye vs. the People" received 7.4 million streams and 12,000 downloads in its first week, debuting at number 32 on the US Digital Song Sales chart.