: A date stamp ( May 22, 2014 ). This suggests the instrumental was in a completed or "reference" state nearly two years before the album's official release in February 2016. Context in Music History
: Most likely refers to Kanye West , as "Waves" is a well-known track from his 2016 album The Life of Pablo . KW Waves Ref Instr @ 111 BPM (5 22 14) mp3
: Short for "Reference Instrumental." This indicates the track is a version of the beat intended for the artist or engineers to use as a backing track while recording vocals or checking the mix. : A date stamp ( May 22, 2014 )
: The title of the song. Interestingly, the song went through multiple name changes (originally titled "So Help Me God," then "SWISH," then "Waves") before the album's release. : Short for "Reference Instrumental
Finding such a file often reveals early production choices—such as different sample chops or drum patterns—before the final layering (like the famous Ennio Morricone sample or Chris Brown's vocals) was added.
This specific file is often cited in online music "leak" trackers and fan communities (like those on Reddit or specialized music forums) that document the evolution of Kanye West's albums. It provides a "snapshot" of the track's development during the So Help Me God / SWISH era.
: Specifies the tempo as 111 Beats Per Minute , which is the technical speed of the track.