Session with Kanye West

“Only One“, the first collaboration between Kanye West and Paul McCartney released, was written early 2014. More work on this song was done in September 2014. It’s unlikely Paul McCartney was part of those September sessions.

We know about those September sessions, through an interview with Ty Dolla $ign, who contributed backing vocals on “Only One“, and also contributed to “FourFiveSeconds“, the collaboration between Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney.

[In] like 24 hours, [we recorded] seven songs or nine songs that day. I was like, ‘I’m here with Kanye, I’m not gonna waste my time.’ They really wanted me to stay for like a week, but I only had like two days, ’cause I was about to start the [Under the Influence of Music] tour.

He was open to my input, like, ‘do whatever you want to do. Here’s your mic. Do you need anything?’ I’m like ‘Awesome! Let’s get it!’

[We were] in Mexico, at this big house. The back of the house had no walls and no doors; it was just open [and facing] the ocean. You would think he would want the mic enclosed and all that but we just had the doors open, and it came out perfect.

Me, Rihanna, ‘Ye and Paul [McCartney] got a song about to drop as well… It’s gonna drop soon. I heard they shot the video recently. I don’t know what the final title is, but I know it’s crazy so just be looking out for [it].

Ty Dolla $ign – from Ty Dolla $ign Says He, Kanye West, Rihanna, and Paul McCartney Are Dropping A Song Together | Pitchfork, January 3, 2015

Session activities

1. Only One

   Written by Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Kirby Lauryen, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Donda West

   Recording