Lil Novi and North West have officially arrived as a next-generation hip-hop duo.
The son of Lil Wayne and singer Nivea, and the daughter of Kanye “Ye” West and Kim Kardashian, respectively, released their collaborative single “MULA THA ROOT OF ALL EVIL” on Friday (June 5) via Young Money Entertainment. The 2:17 track is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and other major platforms.
Built around booming 808s, cartoonish synths and a chaotic, rage-influenced trap sound, the song finds Lil Novi (born Neal Carter) delivering punchy, boast-heavy bars that echo his father’s energetic style with Playboi Carti-adjacent flows. North West, who receives a co-producer credit alongside VRTN (Parad1se), contributes a confident verse that includes the lines, “Said I’m fallin’ off, they dreamin’ / If it ain’t ’bout a bag, I’m leavin’ / Too much ice, I’m freezin’,” while name-dropping “Yeezy and Weezy.”
The hook cleverly flips the biblical adage into a flex: “If they say money the root of all evil then I’m a demon,” repeated with ad-libs for maximum anthemic effect. The production blends industrial and video game-like textures, creating a dark, high-energy backdrop that matches the track’s money-obsessed, prideful theme.
The official music video, directed by Mack Ishida and Ty Akimoto, leans into a cinematic, edgy industrial aesthetic with dramatic lighting, masked figures and flashes of cash. It has quickly begun accumulating views on YouTube following its release.
This marks the latest creative link-up between the young artists. Earlier this year, North West produced the track “Justswagup” for Lil Novi and Mag!c as part of their Young Money Mötley Krëw crew, signaling an ongoing partnership between the two camps.
The collaboration carries symbolic weight in hip-hop circles, as Lil Wayne and Ye — who collaborated on tracks including “Barry Bonds” during their respective peaks — now see their children stepping into the spotlight together. Social media reactions have been quick to brand the pairing a “torch-passing” moment, with many fans dubbing them “Baby Yeezy and Weezy.”
Reception has been largely positive among younger listeners, who are praising the track’s infectious energy, polished delivery for the artists’ ages (Novi is approximately 16, North around 12-13) and its fit within the current rage/trap landscape. While some online commentary has touched on familiar “nepo baby” critiques and called for additional refinement, the song’s rapid traction and cultural buzz suggest it has already made an impact in its first 24 hours.
Lil Novi has been building momentum with consistent releases under the Mötley Krëw banner, while North West continues expanding her role as both a producer and recording artist. “MULA THA ROOT OF ALL EVIL” serves as a bold introduction to what could be the future of these influential hip-hop lineages.
