Kanye West Drops New Album ‘Bully’ in Unconventional Release
Kanye West has released an early version of his new album, Bully, but in a format that strays from traditional streaming methods. Instead of a standard album rollout, the project debuted as a 45-minute music video on YouTube and Apple Music over the weekend.
Titled BULLY V1, the video is the same black-and-white short film that West previously leaked amid one of his latest social media rants. Directed by Hype Williams, the visual follows West’s nine-year-old son, Saint, battling waves of wrestlers in a ring, armed with a mallet.
Musically, the album’s streaming version differs from previous expectations. It features nine songs instead of ten, with the Playboi Carti and Ty Dolla $ign-assisted track, “Melrose,” missing due to ongoing tensions between West and the two artists. The album’s sequencing has also been rearranged, and the only featured artist on this version is Mexican star Peso Pluma, who appears on “Last Breath,” a song that sees West rapping partially in Spanish.
While full production credits remain unreleased, Kanye previously claimed that he personally crafted every beat on the album. Rich with soulful samples, emotive loops, and raw boom-bap drums, Bully showcases some of his most refined production in recent years. However, vocals on nearly half the album were created using AI technology, a fact West has openly admitted.
Originally, Bully was slated for an official release on June 15, aligning with his daughter North West’s birthday. However, it remains uncertain whether that date will stand, especially given West’s recent statements about potentially boycotting streaming platforms for future releases.
Additionally, the fate of Vultures 3, the final installment in his trilogy with Ty Dolla $ign, is now unclear. In recent weeks, West has publicly criticized Ty and other collaborators, further casting doubt on the project’s completion.
Despite the controversy surrounding him, Bully signals that Kanye West remains as unpredictable as ever – both musically and in his approach to releasing new material.
