Scoop of the Day
Kanye West has unveiled a preliminary version of his album, Bully, on certain streaming platforms, although not in the traditional sense.
Over the weekend, the polarizing hip-hop icon released this incomplete project as a 45-minute music video on both YouTube and Apple Music. Entitled BULLY V1, the video features the same short film that Kanye shared last week during another one of his fiery rants on social media.
Ye’s Story
The monochromatic visuals, crafted by Ye and skillfully edited by Hype Williams, center on the rapper’s nine-year-old son, Saint, as he bravely battles a multitude of wrestlers wielding a mallet in the wrestling ring. However, the streaming version of the project presents some notable differences when it comes to the music. BULLY V1 includes nine tracks instead of the originally planned ten, with the collaborative song “Melrose,” featuring Playboi Carti and Ty Dolla $ign, being omitted from the lineup, attributed to Kanye’s ongoing disagreements with both artists.
Influences + Technology
Infused with rich vintage soul samples, moving loops, and gritty boom-bap drums that could easily complement a Griselda track, this album showcases some of the finest production work from the Chicago artist in years. However, the same level of care wasn’t applied to the vocal performances; approximately half of the singing-dominant album was recorded using AI technology, a fact that Kanye himself has acknowledged.
What’s To Be Expected For The Album Release?!
The founder of G.O.O.D. Music had earlier announced that Bully would be officially released on June 15th, aligning with his daughter North’s birthday. However, the status of this release remains uncertain, particularly in light of his recent social media comments hinting at a potential boycott of streaming platforms for future projects.
Additionally, the future of the third installment in his Vultures trilogy with Ty Dolla $ign is also shrouded in ambiguity, especially as Kanye has made critical remarks about him and other collaborators in the past few weeks.
