The Controversial Return of the Most Cancelled Rapper, Mr. West-With the help of Ty Dolla $ign

Vultures 1 Review

‘They say I talk with so much emphasis, Ooh they so sensitive.’

No one in the year 2010 upon hearing these lyrics, on ‘Can't Tell Me Nothing’, fully understood to the furthest extent that Kanye would be cashing in, on that statement in years to come.

A studio album from Ye and Ty Dolla $ign, nearly a year after the events that occurred in 2022 that got Ye ‘cancelled’ for the umpteenth time (because I have lost count), is the last thing anyone expected. But to say Vultures isn't one of the most anticipated releases would be an understatement.

Spotify announced that Kanye had already surpassed 1 billion streams this year on February 5, 2024, so this anticipation is accurately reflected in the streams leading up to the release. 

In the lead-up to the album's release, Ye and Ty Dolla $ign had several live listening events beginning in Miami. Artists in attendance include but are not limited to, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Kodak Black Chris Brown Offset Etc.  These artists were on stage but didn't sing live, so fans could focus on the recordings.

2 weeks before the Album release,  Ye announced that the album would be released in 3 parts, with the first installment released on 2/9/24. The tracklist was also revealed consisting of 18 tracks, and multiple A list featured artists including Charlie Wilson, Quavo, Future, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Lil Durk, Kid Cudi, Playboi Carti, Freddie Gibbs, YG, James Blake and most notably his eldest daughter North West.  

A week before the official album release, another listening party was held in Ye’s hometown of Chicago, along with the release of a visual for ‘Talking/Once Again’, featuring North West. While getting her hair braided, North energetically raps ‘It’s your Bestie, Miss Miss Westie, Don’t Try to Test Me, It’s Gonna Get Messy. Just Just Bless Me’ This visual also displays Ty Dolla $ign with his daughter and is a beautiful display of Black Fatherhood in Hip-Hop. 

However, upon official album release on the morning of February 10th (on the 20th Anniversary of College Dropout), several songs played at listening parties such as Everybody, Slide, and Time Moving Slow were missing, most likely due to uncleared samples. Also, the album was released on Tidal and Apple Music only - leaving Spotify users in disarray.

The album cover art displays Ye, dressed in black, facing forward and wearing a hockey mask, while his wife, Bianca Censori, is wearing only stockings and facing backward, exposing her entire backside.

On December 26th, 2023,   Ye gave a formal apology to the Jewish Community but many questioned the sincerity after hearing several controversial lyrics on the album.

‘How am I antisemitic, I just [slept with] a Jewish [girl]’ raps Ye on ‘Vultures.’ ‘Crazy, Bipolar, Antisemite. And I’m Still the King’ Ye raps on ‘King’, the last track on the album.

Another controversial song on the album is ‘Carnival’ featuring Playboi Carti where Ye compares himself to Jesus Christ, Bill Cosby, Diddy, and R. Kelly, and references Taylor Swift. Though these lines can be interpreted literally, the artist is likely comparing himself to them in the metaphorical sense concerning the crucifixion of Jesus, the banning of R Kelly’s music, and how easily Cosby's legacy was forgotten when the accusations first emerged. Even so, these lyrics were still distastefully delivered and insensitive to victims of sexual assault. Not to mention, Ye’s prolonged infatuation with Taylor Swift is largely misunderstood by the general public and becoming an area of concern. The album is a true reflection of Ye's vulgarity, full of abrasive bars, eyebrow-raising lyrics, and spirit-unsettling references.

Vultures 1 is not his most cohesive body of work, likely reflecting the instability of the artist's personal life, and in many ways, the album sounds unfinished. While Ty's melodic contributions are refreshing, he often sounds like a background artist rather than a co-artist sharing the spotlight on a joint compilation.

Though the overall production and feature list are of superior quality,  the first installment for Vultures will most likely not be remembered as a top pick in the artist portfolio.

The 2nd installment is scheduled to be released on March 8th and the 3rd installment on April 5th- But in true Ye fashion, the release date is expected to be delayed. 

One can assume that the latest anti-Semitic outburst won't be the last time we hear Ye express himself in an offensive or culturally insensitive way. Sadly, making it challenging for fans to support him guilt-free.

It's as if he's using controversy and alleged cancellations as ammunition to push his musicianship to the next more abrasive level. With every cancellation, his creative process improves but his desire to generate shock value is also heightened. 

Even so, the talent and skill of an artist cannot be taken away by any brand or company, and his music will always speak for itself, generating mass appeal and high recognition. 

But whether his artistic form of expression will land him on the right side of history, at this point, no one can be sure. 

Easy Listening, The Urban Music Enthusiast.