On November 14, 2014, Thomas was sentenced to 7 years in juvenile detention for his crime. His tracks featured rappers Nas, Drag-On, and R&B singer Carl Thomas. He also crafted hit tracks for Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. Fresh off shelling out the prior year touring the environment with U2 on their Vertigo Tour, West felt encouraged to compose anthemic rap tracks that could work far more effectively in significant arenas.