North West, 13, has stepped further into music with the release of a new track from her debut EP N0rth4evr, drawing attention for its heavy themes and striking visuals.
The song, titled Aishite — a Japanese phrase meaning “love me” — arrived on August 6 and has already prompted discussion online because of its emotional and unsettling lyrics.
Across the track, North touches on trust, pain, isolation and the idea of needing to be rescued, giving the release a notably dark tone.
She is the eldest child of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who are also parents to Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and seven-year-old Psalm.
Part of the song includes the line:
“Ain’t nobody finna save me / Ay, and it’s drivin’ me crazy.”
Another section of the lyrics says:
“Just love me, everyone betrays mе…. She pretend they ain’t usin’ me again / Can’t be no one’s friend, I can’t let nobody in / Can’t depend on anyone, the sufferin’ won’t end.”
Elsewhere in the track, North references her controversial piercings, insisting they are not a passing phase, while also rapping about people speaking behind her back.
The 13-year-old appears to have a bridge piercing alongside several other surface and dermal piercings.
Last year, she sparked concern after seemingly showing off hand piercings, with specialists warning that such placements can carry a heightened risk of infection.
Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, said at the time that the piercing is a ‘risky’ choice for anyone to make.
“Dermal piercings, particularly those placed on the finger, carry risks that can easily be underestimated or attributed to more familiar concerns.”
Dr Grant also warned:
“The area is frequently exposed to bacteria through everyday activities, and even small breaks in the surrounding skin can allow an infection to take hold.
“Signs may include increasing redness, warmth, swelling or an unusual discharge, and these can worsen if left unaddressed.”
North’s new release has also generated conversation because of its horror-inspired music video, which was directed by Ty Akimoto and racked up 41,000 views within 24 hours. The gothic-themed visuals show North haunting the halls of a school and an arcade, wearing heavy dark makeup, faux facial piercings, skull and crossbones painted on her lips, fingerless gloves, metal accessories, and combat boots.
The music video’s release comes a week after North canceled her co-headlining tour with rapper Molly Santana, which had been scheduled to kick off on August 5. The tour was due to travel from Dallas to Los Angeles and run through August 27. North announced the cancellation on Instagram Stories, saying she was “really excited to go on tour w molly santana” but “sadly it isn’t happening anymore,” though she did not provide an explanation for why.
Some listeners focused on the sadness in the lyrics and responded with concern.
“This song is really sad. I was depressed at 13 too, hopefully North gets the love and support she needs from somewhere.”
“Honestly when I was her age I was also angsty and I’m sure there’s a lot of confusing emotions about her life and experiences at an early age. I hope she is able to express and come to terms with who she wants to be.”
“This is so sad, sending you much love North,” added another.
Others were more enthusiastic about the release itself, praising both the track and its visual style.
One fan wrote:
“Love the music video so much! I know so much effort was put into this! Talented and bright girl.”
Several others also said the song simply “goes hard.”
Aishite is the final track on North’s debut EP N0rth4evr, which she released on May 1. The six-track project features a blend of emo, trap, punk, and metal influences, with production involving experimental use of distortion and deeply processed vocals. Other songs on the EP include “H0w Sh0uld I f33l,” “D!e,” “#N0rth4evr,” “Th!s t!m3,” and “W0ah,” each exploring themes of identity, fame, and adolescent angst.