On November 14, 2014, Thomas was sentenced to seven decades in juvenile detention for his crime. His tracks featured rappers Nas, Drag-On, and R&B singer Carl Thomas. He also crafted strike tracks for Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. Fresh off expending the former calendar year touring the globe with U2 on their Vertigo Tour, West felt inspired to compose anthemic rap songs that could operate far more competently in big arenas.